Mercato Centrale Fiorentino

Steve's love of the Mercato Centrale led to his painting of it for over thirty years. "The beauty of the market captured me!" Generations of amazing people have lived an amazing lifestyle of building lifelong relationships through providing the daily food for their neighbors - from fresh produce, to locally caught fish, to meats and cheeses. Crafters and businesses of all types lined the streets with their wares in front of their stores, leading to the market place. Residents and tourists alike shopped daily for the meals of the day, enjoying the seasonal selection.

Over time Steve's paintings have become an amazing, historical, collection of the ebb and flow of generations of Florentines living and working in the open market.

The "Old woman pictured with the gypsy lady"painting was a central character in the life cycle of the Mercato Centrale and a key inspiration to Steve's paintings of the market. When the old woman saw Steve's paintings of the market she kissed the top of his hand and with tear filled eyes she told him,

"I was born in the market place and I have lived and worked there for ninety years. You are the first person to have seen and captured the beauty I have lived during my lifetime." - Margarita

"The Gypsy Lady" by Steve Kalar

"Tourists" painting by Steve Kalar

Steve's adventure with the Mercato Centrale has led him to the end of his collection called, "The Tourists." They are the focal point of the Open Market today which has already changed this year, 2009, because the market has moved back outside this summer.

The Central Market has evolved into a modern day tourist attraction where cameras, cell phones, and electronic gadgets have become a part of the daily activities.