NEW YORK 2011 SAGA 2:

GIULIANO FIORENZOLI VISIT
New York City

In 1982, I lived for four months in Florence, Italy. Giuliano was my professer/guide/mentor for my Parson's School of Design study tour of that I took for a month.

He was a delight as well as inspirational. We studied in Rome, Florence and then Venice.

Touring with and learning from Giuliano was like a breath of Florentine fresh air. He was effusive, charming, bright, informative and personable. (Plus he gave me an "A" for the graduate course.)

IT HAPPENED! I did see Giuliano in his studio on a trip to NYC in late October 2011.

We had a wonderful visit. We talked of many things: our Italian adventure, his teaching at Pratt Institute, about his daughter going to Harvard, about the architect Bruce Goff, etc. (I told him about Bill Murphy having worked for Mr. Goff in Frank Lloyd Wright's Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Giuliano wants Bill to come talk to his Pratt students about Goff!)

Giuliano much appreciated the gift of a copy of my book, "My Italian Adventure." He reciprocated with a jar of capers he grew from his island home in the Mediterranean. The capers were preserved in olive oil from his post-modern Tuscan villa. (This is the villa we had visited as a class when I was in Italy on my 1982 tour.)

His work reminded me of Bruce Goff's architecture: very creative and organic. He let me photograph some of it.

It was such a warm, delightful visit. We hugged good-bye.

Giuliano said I could stay at his Tuscan villa anytime I wanted!!!!!! He's there in the summer. He would arrange it with his brother, the caretaker, anytime I wanted to go! I couldn't believe such a great, generous offer. Maybe I'll take him up on it—wouldn't that be fantastic!!