EXCAVATING THE PAST, MOLDING THE FUTURE
On Display at the FSU Study Center in Florence; Gallery named for Ruth A. Owen
UNDERGRADUATE FSU STUDENTS ARE BUCHER-LOEWENSTEIN INTERNS
The Bucher-Loewenstein Cetamura museum interns for the summer of 2023, Eve Rozier and Illeana Sanders, opened their new exhibition as the centerpiece of a grand celebration of the founding of the Cetamura field excavation by the FSU Florence program back in 1973. On June 5, a full house in the Study Center library heard the explanation of the messages they created in the show “Excavating the Past, Molding our Future: Life at Cetamura Through the Years.”
Their talk was followed by a presentation by Patrick Rowe (Ph.D., FSU, 1989) on his memories of numerous years working on mapping at Cetamura, beginning in 1976. Dr. Rowe spoke to the audience from Tallahassee, by way of Zoom.
OPENING THE SHOW
Then came the ribbon cutting and celebration inside the Fine Arts Gallery at the Study Center. Viewers were able to see a roster of names of all the students who participated in the dig over its 50 years, as well as selected photos to reflect themes about why the Cetamura dig has been important. One whole wall of the gallery was dedicated to “Life on the Dig,” displaying old T-shirts and boots, digging tools and other memorabilia, along with an explanation of what goes into a trench supervisor’s backpack.
NAMING OF THE GALLERY FOR MS. OWEN
A special part of the opening of the exhibition was the naming of the gallery after Ruth A. Owen, who had been an undergrad major in classical archaeology attending the FSU Florence program in 1971. Dr. Jim Pitts, Director of FSU International Programs and Louis Blenman, Associate Director, unveiled the plaque honoring Ms. Owen, who recently made a major donation of scholarship funds for the Study Center.
GALA AT THE PALAZZO BORGHESE
The evening ended with a gala dinner at the Palazzo Borghese attended by faculty and staff of the Florence program along with VIPs participating in the Cetamura 50th anniversary celebration. Among the celebrants were Cetamura supporters Jill Adams, for many years an administrator for International Programs in Tallahassee, and Sue Capitani, who also served for many years, as executive secretary and subsequently as director of FSU Florence, escorted by their spouses, Todd and Fabio respectively.
