From Oct. 10-14, Roxana Nistor and Hazel Song were able to be immerse themselves in beautiful scenery, delicious food and insightful conversation centered around the arts, as they attended the FIDEM Arts Congress in Italy. Also, they were able to engage in exciting programs of talks from Italian leaders and other inspiring speakers from around the world
FIDEM, the International Art Medal Federation, was established in 1937. Its aims are to promote and diffuse the art of medals at international level, to make the art known and to guarantee recognition of its place among other arts by increasing awareness of the art, history and technology of art medals, mainly through publications and the organization of international events. FIDEM also organizes a congress every two years and an international exhibition of the art of medals in order to promote exchanges among artists and to make their work known internationally.
The congress format included 35 lectures divided into morning and afternoon sessions, some running concurrently in different rooms. All will be published in the proceedings Medallies. The opening session was chaired by FIDEM president Philip Attwood. A special after-hours tour of spaces were made available to view their collection of numerous Michelangelo and Donatello sculptures.
Nistor and Song emphasized that there were many highlights of this phenomenal event including the extraordinary privilege of having the Bargello Museum with its unique collection of Renaissance sculpture all to ourselves for a private evening reception. Also, a reception was held in the monumental Dante Room of the Biblioteca Nazionale, where the international exhibition of contemporary medals was staged. The exhibition remained open for Congress participants and the general public with free admittance. The final dinner was held in the Grand Hotel Baglioni's rooftop restaurant with its spectacular views over the city.
Nistor and Song enjoyed their experience and grew a greater appreciation for the global arts and culture ecosystem.
“Artists from all around the world were astonished by our new methods of making medals,” Song said.
