Room of Wonders

We are thrilled to present to you the latest issue of Blending, which explores the fascinating world of Wunderkammer and Cabinets of Curiosity. In this issue, our students will take you on a journey through time and space, utilizing a jumping-off point of these unique collections that were once the pride and joy of aristocrats and scholars. As always, our team of writers and photographers has worked tirelessly to bring you a visually stunning and thought-provoking issue. We hope that it inspires you to embrace your own sense of curiosity and wonder and perhaps even start your own cabinet of curiosities. Thank you for your continued reading, and enjoy this issue of Blending.

Cover by Olivia Corvelli

Benvenuto Cellini: Between Fact and Fiction

In this Issue of Blending Magazine, we explore the theme for the Fall 2022 student exhibit that is inspired by the autobiography of the Renaissance artist and goldsmith, Benvenuto Cellini. Some highlights of this issue include: “Fashion Photography: Real or AI-Generated?” by Katya Fredericksen, which explores the new frontiers of technology and simulation in fashion, and “What’s in a self-portrait?” where the students of Advance Painting courses explore the variety found in a self-portrait. Many more articles, illustrations, and comic strips await you in these pages. We hope you will enjoy reading this issue just as much as we enjoyed putting it together!

Cover by Tess Longley

Adriano Olivetti: Building Utopia

The Spring 2022 issue of Blending Magazine is inspired by the figure and legacy of Adriano Olivetti - the renowned Italian engineer, politician, and industrialist - taking inspiration from his ideas and the way he tackled issues of work, sustainability and design. The issue features a profile of Adriano Olivetti himself, a helpful guide on how to set up an urban garden, and exploration on how the fashion world is changing and fostering new attitudes towards gender and sexuality.

To See, Once More, The Stars

The latest issue of Blending Magazine explores the Fall 2021 final student exhibit theme, To See, Once More, The Stars. Inspired by the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri’s death, we seek to celebrate the man and his works, and the impact this author has had worldwide. This semester’s publication features student-written articles such as Shining Through Hell, the testimony of a nurse who worked during the pandemic. Not Dante’s Florence describes how the religious landscape has changed over the centuries. And in Appropriating Hell, we see how the fashion industry has appropriated Dantean imagery in recent decades. Allow us to guide you through this journey.

Cover image courtesy of Maria Maddocks

The Possible City

The latest issue of Blending Magazine is inspired by the Spring 2021 final student exhibit theme, The Possible City. Our writers explored Florence by seeking new communities, observing the changes of the city, and looking for possible visions of the city’s future. Examples include how artists are re-thinking exhibit spaces, how Florentine startups aim to create more secure and sustainable communities, and how the future of travel and tourism will shape the city of Florence. We hope this issue will open new possibilities for our readers as much as it did for our students

Cover image courtesy of Carina Bandoni