What Ever Happened to Livia Livi?

I've been lucky enough (and hopefully everybody has been so fortunate) to meet people along the arc of life who've had, besides the usual suspects (long-term friends, family, colleagues) a really positive impact. Hasn't mattered how long -- a day, a few weeks, a couple of years -- I still remember many of them as if they're right in front of me, and would like to write a few things in thanks, maybe even hope to get back in touch with them, the one's who are still alive and kicking. These posts will be interspersed with the usual thoughts on culture and the world.

First, I want to thank Luma for sending a link to her homage to Iggy Pop and the Iggy tribute CD, We Will Fall. And to say I hope Brazil does well in the World Cup finals, especially now that Sweden lost to Germany:

http://luzdeluma.blogspot.com/2005/11/tributo-iggy-pop.html

Thanks, Luma!

In London Town

During my ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) library internship with the Central Architectural Practice of English Heritage back in the early 1990s, I boarded first with the Adams Family off Clapham Common, and then with the related Dunbars not too far from Hyde Park, off Manchester Square (home to the Wallace Collection, a happening art gallery and museum). After a few days, that's where I met Livia Livi, who came in from Italy to hang out in London, see some hot spots, do things with various friends (one specific thing was to see Black Ice). The Dunbar family was in the habit of taking on international boarders -- it provided extra income and entertainment, as they loved to chat and learn about people from around the world. I'd just missed some apparently "bad and wild" young French women, which made me feel like I'd missed out on something, but when Livia came on board, all was well. I liked her instantly -- very friendly, engaging, worldly, and chic in a relaxed kind of way. It soon became apparent that she was both a sculptor and a poet, and that she had a number of friends in the arts world all over the place, including London. She'd stayed with the Dunbars before, and filled me in about them somewhat, as well. She asked if I'd like to go to a play (she loved Shakespeare), have coffee, roam around London in between her planned gigs. I jumped at the opportunity, and had great fun with her. She was great! Such a warm person, the best of all things Italian and European.

A few weeks later, I had to go back to the States, and we parted promising to keep in touch. We did, for about two years, but somewhere during our various movements (I moved to Philadelphia, she moved around in Italy -- was born in Florence, launched in Milan during the momentous year 1968 -- and lived in Rome / Roma last time we corresponded), we lost the thread. But I remember well, and thank her for being such a kind, wonderful person. Somewhere in my "archives" and "files" I have some of her poetry (in Italian) that she sent along. In any case, I hope she has since thrived and is still enjoying life, wherever she is.

ICOMOS provided a perfect opportunity for people under thirty to see some historic part of the world and get paid enough to enjoy the experience. Sadly, they no longer have funds to cover interns, and rely on volunteers to fill the slots these days. Here's a link to their website: http://www.icomos.org/

I chose London first, Paris second, Madrid third; others were sent to hot spots in Yugoslavia, which was falling apart; the Baltic states (ditto.) and other dodgy locales. If memory serves, six of us were chosen for England, Wales, and Scotland.

These kinds of programs are worth looking into, especially for the younger set, and particularly if they're paid internships.

p.s. The good news is that US/ICOMOS still covers expenses for their internships. You have to be a grad. student or a "young professional," but 2007 is just around the corner, and 2008-09 just around that one:

http://www.icomos.org/usicomos/

then go to: Intern_Program/US_Citizens/US_Citizen_Application_Info.html

Ciao! (picked up from Livia Livi ;)