The Department of Italian Studies and the Office of Global Engagement, Brown University is hosting a two-part event – a film screening on November 13 and roundtable panel discussion on November 14, 2024.
This panel will focus on climate change, through a conversation among scholars and community representatives from both Florence and Providence, linking global and local, scientific and humanistic perspectives about issues of flood vulnerability, infrastructure preservation, protection of the artistic and cultural patrimony, climate action, education, justice and community resilience.
Moderated by Cornelia Dean, a science writer and former Science Editor of The New York Times, author of “Making Sense of Science” (Harvard University Press).
Panelists
April Brown, Organizational Steward, Racial and Environmental Justice Committee
Enrica Caporali, Professor of Hydrology and Hydraulic Structures and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICEA), Coordinator of the Master’s degree in Geoengineering, the University of Florence; Chair Associate, UNESCO Prevention and Sustainable Management of Geo-Hydrological Hazards initiative
Manuel Cordero, Founder and Principal at CIVIC, a licensed architect in Rhode Island
Emanuele Di Lorenzo, Professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Brown University; Chairman and Co-founder of Ocean Visions; Special Advisor to the President on ocean and climate solutions at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Macarena Gomez-Barris, Timothy C. Forbes and Anne S. Harrison University Professor of Modern Culture and Media, Chair of Modern Culture and Media, Director of the Center for Environmental Humanities at the Cogut Institute for the Humanities, Brown University
Kyle McElroy, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island.
Date: Thursday, November 14
Time: 7 PM
Location: Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts
Address: 154 Angell St, Providence, RI 02906
Admission: Register Here
Mark your calendars for the Splendor of Florence’s Sott’Acqua Festival: A Tale of Two Cities Underwater, Nov. 9–17. Presented in collaboration with the Downtown Providence Park Network, the festival tells the powerful stories of Florence and Providence — two historic cities rebuilt after devastating floods — through a rich lineup of music, culinary arts, photo exhibitions, interactive tours and educational programs throughout Providence. At its heart, the festival honors the enduring spirit of these cities while addressing the pressing realities of climate change.
Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind festival that blends art, culture, education and science to celebrate 25 years of friendship and inspire a more resilient future.
Schedule of Events
Two Cities Underwater Photo Exhibit
Nov. 9–17
Location: Pavilion at Grace Church, 300 Westminster Street, Providence
The Pavilion at Grace Church will exhibit iconic photographs taken by photographer David Lees, documenting the 1966 flood in Florence and Providence Journal photos of downtown Providence after Hurricane Carol in 1954. See here for times.
Climate Ready Providence
Nov. 9 & 11, 4–6 p.m.
Location: Pavilion at Grace Church, 300 Westminster Street, Providence
Providence Resilience Partnership’s Executive Director, Michele Jalbert, will host an open discussion about the organization’s work to build “Climate Ready Providence” and provide information about resources and community-based involvement.
A Tuscan Trattoria
Nov. 12–16, 7 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: Hope & Main Downtown Makers Marketplace, 100 Westminster Street, Providence
Hope & Main Downtown Makers Marketplace will become a trattoria, serving typical Tuscan dishes in a menu created by Hope & Main graduate and local chef Erika Zanobini of Bottega Bocconi.
Up Close with Artemisia – Conserving a 17th Century Masterpiece
Nov. 15, 12–1 p.m.
Location: RISD’s Metcalf Auditorium, Chace Center, 20 N. Main Street, Providence
Elizabeth Wicks, painting conservator, discusses the methodology and technology behind her recent restoration work on Artemisia Gentileschi’s the “Allegory of Inclination” painting. Register here.
Renaissance Painting Techniques
Nov. 15, 1–3 p.m.
Location: Museum Galleries, RISD, 20 N. Main Street, Providence
Artist and RISD professor Bill Drew will present an overview of Renaissance painting materials and techniques. Demonstrations will include pure egg yolk tempura, egg-oil emulsion and more. Register here.
Boats on the Bay
Nov. 16
Location: Save The Bay Center, 100 Save the Bay Drive, Providence
Boat tours designed to introduce visitors to a working port and see how the natural history and shaping of Narragansett Bay influenced human history along the coastline. See here for times and registration info.
The Italian Opera Master Class
Nov. 16, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Location: Music Mansion, 88 Meeting Street, Providence
Maestro Matteo Pais of the Academy of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino will present a master class focusing on arias from the Italian operatic repertoire, with an emphasis on pronunciation, phrasing, style and more. Details and registration info here.
The Splendor of Italian Opera
Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Grace Episcopal Church, 300 Westminster Street, Providence
Singers from the Academy of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra present a concert featuring opera favorites by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and more at Grace Church. Register here.
Artemisia: Conserving a 17th Century Masterpiece
Nov. 17, 1–4 p.m.
Location: Providence Art Club, 11 Thomas Street, Providence
Elizabeth Wicks, painting conservator, discusses the methodology and technology behind her recent restoration work on Artemisia Gentileschi’s the “Allegory of Inclination” painting. This will be followed by a demonstration of Renaissance painting techniques by Professor Bill Drew. Register here.
Event information is subject to change. For a full listing of events, times and locations, visit the Splendor of Florence website.
