In the heart of Florence, facing the "Croce al Trebbio", nestled between
Piazza Santa Maria Novella and Via Tornabuoni, lies Babele, an unusual
Art and Book boutique. Opened in 1978 as the bookshop of the publisher
Franco Maria Ricci, since 1991 it has been managed by Laura Accordi Gattai.
With time, the little shop has acquired the stature of a veritable tower
of initiatives, enclosing various genres of artistic excellence, from the
sophisticated FMR publications to art books signed by the author, micropublishing, objects d'art and cards, graphics, canvases, small sculptures, sketches, brilliant drawings by illustrators and communications artists and still more,
discovered and presented for the pleasure of the curious connoisseur, designed to
provide unique and uncommon experiences.
All the objects are displayed in the small but perfectly arranged space of the boutique, in what appears to be casual disarray, like precious heirlooms
with intimate stories to tell, the very antithesis of the museum-like stillness of many modern art galleries.
Here, emotions are the thing, a special world with an almost magical atmosphere,
far from the daily hubbub. Good music, perhaps a few words with an artist or
author who has just dropped by, surrounded by "so many things one doesn't know
where to look": a happy, pressure-free shopping experience.
Here, people don't buy to satisfy a need, but to make their wishes come true.
Major events and shows:
Big Christmas party - December 21, 1991 - Group poetry reading
featuring political figures and entertainers.
The Bestiary - March 21, 1992 - Exhibit of paintings and drawings
by Maria Teresa Faini.
Prevert or 'the love' - September 25, 1992 - Presentation of the Art volume
by Paolo Calamai.
The loves of Zeus - November 28, 1992 - Presentation of the Art volume
by David Russell and Vittoria Pozzi.
Old girls - December 5, 1992 - Exhibit of "True Fakes", drawn from 19th century American folk art,
by Silvano Chellini.
Florilegia - November 6, 1993 - Exhibit of flower collages in Cibacopy,
by Elena Marietti.
"Mother-quarry" - January 22, 1994 - Presentation of Poem-sculptures in pietra serena
by Riccardo Nannini and Massimo Mori
Surfaces of the soul - May 26, 1994 - Personal exhibit
by Patrizia Zingaretti (mixed-media works on wood and canvas).
Between night and day - December 3, 1994 - Personal exhibit
by Patrizio Gervasoni (works with various techniques).
Nine lives for a cat - February 18, 1995 - Presentation of Art volume
by Sophie Fatus.
The lucky animals - December 2, 1995 - Personal exhibit
by Bernadette Kam Fu Lee (graphic works).
Between art and games - December 7, 1996 - Personal exhibit
by Osvaldo Menegazzi, painter, publisher and collector of Tarots cards and ancient card games.
Margin notes - April 15, 2000- Personal exhibit
by Fernando Cucci (paintings and sculptures).
Variations on a theme - May 26, 2000 - Personal exhibit by Marta Luppi (paintings)
Animals menagerie - October 21, 2000 - Exhibit of engravings, paintings and collages
by Romola Bellandi, Giovanna Di Marco and Sophie Fatus.
Illustrious words - October 20, 2001 - Personal exhibit by Caroline Gallois (engravings, paintings and graphic works).
Since 2001, production, collection and distribution in Italy of art volumes "I quaderni di Babele", unique items, made with different techniques like embroidery, painting , collage.
Light memories - November 16, 2002 - Personal exhibit of paintings
by Gianna Scoino.
Since 2002, presentation of NUAGES publishings and collaboration with the well-known homonymous Milan gallery.
Scratches, mistakes, cut-outs - November 29, 2003 - Personal exhibit by Emanuele Luzzati
(etchings ed aquatints made by the Genoa born artist, in collaboration with Alfredo Meconi from 1982 to 2003) and presentation of the catalo1gue.
Child hood dreams - May 8, 2004 - Personal exhibit
by Alberto Bryk (graphic works).
"Femineus" - November 27, 2004 - Exhibit of watercolors, engravings, pastels, oils and collages by Altan, Cemak, Costantini, Crepax, De Carlo, Fatus, Folon, Glaser, Luzzati, Matticchio, Mattotti, Perini, Prett, Rapaccini and others. Presentation of the catalogue “Femineus” published by Babele in 500 copies numbered and signed.
Books at a nail and 'mirabilia' - November 27, 2005 - Papers, sheets and memories narrated by the ancient operating approach of art craftsmen. Presentation of publishing brand company UNALUNA. Meeting with the publishers, with Renaisssance inspired music and buffet.
Lele's fantastic world - December 4, 2005 - Personal exhibit by Emanuele Luzzati (pastels, collages,books and engravings). Projection of short films by Master Luzzati that received Oscar nominations.
Sea Earth sea: marines of Tuscany and beyond - June 21, 2006 - Exhibit of watercolors, engravings, oils and collages
by Romola Bellandi, Giovanna Di Marco, Caroline Gallois, Patrizio Gervasoni.
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