Customer Reviews

Vali Myers: A Memoir

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gianni Menichetti's moving tribute to his lover, muse and friend, the unforgettable, hugely talented, feisty and fiery, Australian artist, Vali Myers, is a very beautiful and compelling true life love story.

Those who know Vali's art work, know it is totally unique, as she was.
This sensitive memoir by Gianni, reminds me of Vincent van Gogh's sister in law and her son, fighting to have Vincent's paintings recognized for years after his death, so future generations could enjoy them. So too Vali will live on, in her paintings and in this wonderful book.

Finely presented, with quality plates and touching vignettes of Vali's and Gianni's life with their beloved animals, this book is not only a collector's piece, its also a fabulous read. The honesty in this memoir shines through. Gianni's love for Vali is timeless, whilst acknowledging the joys and difficulties of life with a woman of uncommon beauty and uncompromising spirit.

In 2009 I visited Gianni at the pavilion home he shared with Vali near Positano, Italy Vali's battle to keep the wild canyon safe from developers, has become Gianni's battle. We had a lot of fun filming there, which resulted in a short video on youtube called.
"His Savage Mistress" with Gianni's art and poetry and his tales of living with Vali. You can also find Gianni's website on Google for more photos and stories about him and Vali.

Vali Myers: A Memoir, Written by Vali's sometime lover and lifelong friend Gianni Menichetti was a wonderful read that bought both smiles and tears.
Vali and Gianni are very special people and the world could do with more of their kind. Artists , animal lovers and of course very early environmentalists who brave hardships and sometimes ridicule to save The Valley,Il Porto and the wildlife that lives there. It is a joy to be able to get a peek at their lives together and apart over such a long time but I would have loved more photos of them, the animals, the Valley and their art.
As a fellow Australian and artist I would hope that Vali's artwork will someday get to be seen in a permanent collection in Melbourne and I am sorry that I did not get to see her studio when I was last there and would like to know what has happened to it all. Shirley Clancy , Western Australia.This book was bought as a gift from my husband.

Gianni Menichetti's story of living with and loving Vali Myers is presented as more of a fireside tale then a researched and ordered memoir. This is, perhaps, as Vali would have told it herself. Facets of light and darkness are revealed in turn, each one showing another aspect of her remarkable life. I was left with the feeling that even now she she is still a powerful influence in the author's life. This is a beautifully-presented book, with many B&W and colour plates. Those who already love Vali's work and are inspired by her life will not be disappointed, nor will those who are meeting her for the first time.

Having met and spent time with Vali in Melbourne in the late 1990s, my husband lovingly bought me this book as a birthday present recently. What a fine choice it was. Vali was a brilliant, gifted artist who shared a love for animals more than anyone I've ever encountered. This memoir (penned by her friend and lover of 30 years Gianni Menichetti) introduced me to a world that Vali inhabited during her full and creatively rich life. Intimate and reverential, this gentle book reveals little vingnettes of Vali's often tumultuous life as seen through the eyes of Gianna Menichetti. From her humble beginnings in suburban pre-WWII Sydney, Vali evolved to be the true and original boheme, an utter eccentric. There was nothing contrived about Vali Myers, and she has inspired many, including other creatives such as Patti Smith and Tennessee Williams. She was completely engaging to be around, and seemed to effortlessly draw people in with her beautiful other-wordliness of wild hair and tattooed face. I ventured to Melbourne city late last year, hoping to return to her studio and view her works just one more time, but unfortunately it had been closed due to lack of funding. I believe there are other projects in the works to share the work and inspriation of Vali; everyone should have the opportunity to be touched by the magic that was Vali Myers. More information is available through [...]

I met Vali whilst she was living in Melbourne, about a year before she died. I was so happy to find a book written by someone who knew and loved her to tell her story. The book is easy to read and gives you a chance to hear the story of a wonderful, creative and talented woman who danced to the beat of her own drum. The book arrived long before I expected it to. Im so happy to own this book, and recommend it to anyone who is curious about Vali.