19 Jan.

The non-profit cultural association Open City Roma, which introduced the Open House event to Italy last May, now launches Open Mind Roma, a series of informal happenings and meetings designed to deepen our appreciation and knowledge of architecture. The first of these events, an encounter with American architect and artist Allan Wexler, takes place on Saturday 19 January in Rome’s Galleria di Architettura at 18,30.

Entitled “On the Fine Art of Applied Art” the New York based-Wexler will give a short talk examining the fine line between the disciplines of art and architecture, specifically figurative and applied art. Wexler has spent 30 years researching the interaction and blurring between sculpture and architecture.

He asks: “How does our built environment choreograph our daily lives and our interaction with others? My drawings, sculptures, utensils, furniture, buildings and installations unwrap the obscured meanings of objects and transform our ordinary everyday activities into theater.”

Wexler has an international reputation as an architect, artist and lecturer and has a long record of exhibitions, both in the US and Europe. Places are limited for his Rome lecture and guests are invited to make a minimum donation of €5 for the event which includes an aperitivo.

Last May’s inaugural Open City Roma allowed visitors to enjoy a free behind-the-scenes peek at an eclectic list of 100 venues with normally-limited public access. Dedicated to Rome's varied and sometimes hidden architectural design, the two-day initiative offered tours given by a large number of architects, volunteers and guides.  

 (18.30)

Galleria di Architettura “Come Se”, Via dei Bruzi 4-6, tel. 0644360248.