FT Letter: From fashion to theatre, dreams survive in war

I’m an artist and also a mother and I first came to Florence as an art loving
teenager. There is an energy that seems to run through all aspects of our
lives and creates patterns of connection across time and place. Now my
Italian Greek British son has married his Colombian love in the city where he
grew up and has decided to put down roots. Guests came from far and wide.
The day started early: morning coffee with Marco and friends in Cafe Rivoire
before we crossed the Piazza Signoria to the Palazzo Vecchio and the
beautiful Sala Rossa where the ceremony took place. The representative of
the Florence Commune Was visibly moved as he quoted English and
Lebanese poets and added his own poetic message for the couple.
The reception was hosted by our friends at villa Il Palmerino where we were
able to enjoy the evening from sunset to midnight under benevolent skies as
a local friend had negotiated with the gods to move the threatening clouds
away from us. Everyone joined in Greek and Latin dancing in the little
amphitheatre.
Palmerino has a long history of bringing together creative people both from
the local community and internationally. I’ve been involved in so many
creative collaborations there: exhibitions, events, talks, residential art courses
and art classes for local people, including the Ballet of the Nations, written by
Vernon Lee, a previous owner and resident, during the first World War and
performed these days at il Palmerino. So it was serendipitous to find that on
this day, buying the Financial Times from a local Florentine street vendor, I
should find that they had published my letter highlighting the importance of
creativity and dreams, especially in wartime. My letter refers to the decision to
publish Vogue Ukraine in an embattled country as a symbol of humanity and
hope . I mentioned Marco’s Athenian grandmother who was an actress during
the Nazi occupation of the city and somehow it brought her closer to us on
the special day.

https://www.ft.com/content/8bf8d77b-1f1b-4100-bad1-7c9ca98b4c89