Animal Loves of My Life
Gianni Menichetti (2023)
In his book, VALI MYERS—A MEMOIR, Gianni writes:
The stories of this strange Valley of ‘Il Porto,’ where Vali lived and where I still live today, have been mostly preserved by oral tradition. There is nothing reliable about the stories in a true historical sense, but there are some interesting popular legends. I learned them from certain old folks I have known since my first year of living here, 1971.
Artist and poet Gianni Menichetti can be counted as one of ‘certain old folks’ himself now, one who knows and remembers so much, still living in the wild ‘Valley’ above the town of Positano with his family of animals. Over the years Gianni has preserved many beautiful animal legacies in both writings and in drawings, and this book contains some of his most treasured stories from the great vault of his memory.
Gianni Menichetti was born near Siena, Italy, in 1952. Since 1971 he has lived in the Wildlife Oasis of ‘Il Porto,’ a sanctuary of rare and savage beauty, the ‘kingdom by the sea’ of legendary Australian artist Vali Myers, whose extraordinary existence he shared for three decades. By her side, he dedicated himself to the protection of this wild place and to the care of countless animal creatures. Over the last twenty years, on his own, he has continued his promise to the Valley of Il Porto and its many animal inhabitants, and this book, edited by Romy Ashby, tells the stories of some of his favorites among them, illustrated with photographs and drawings.
“Since 1971 Gianni Menichetti has lived in the Valley by the sea in Positano, many of those years as consort to the mythic Australian artist Vali Myers, and for many years alone. First graced by Vali’s Saint Francis of Assisi gift of animal communication, Gianni has been nursemaid, midwife, caretaker, protector, and friend to hundreds of animals who have lived in peace in the beautiful wild Valley on the Amalfi Coast. In Animal Loves of My Life Gianni treats us to an intimate meeting with the unique animal friends from his and Vali’s life. This is a soothing book for harrowing times that will confer its magic on you forever.”
Penny Arcade NYC
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