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Bob Frassinetti Multiculturalism: My own Point of View. The Early Years. I’m a true multi-cultural man. I was born in Argentina a long time ago now. My British Mom and my Italian-Argentine Dad had me and my brother traveling around the world, discovering amazing fantasy lands such as British Guyana and other Caribbean locations at a young age. After living only a couple of years in my native Argentina I have lived around the world, I’m Argentine by heart and British at the same time. If I had to choose I would breakfast in London, lunch at the Guyana and Dinner in Buenos Aires… May be that explains a lot of me… I also lived for many years in England. My teen years and a bit more I spent them at Mount St. Mary’s College in Spinkhill, a small town near Sheffield in the English Midlands. This Jesuit boarding school was my home; my classmates were my family and some of the finest memories date from those years… I also travelled in the Bahamas, and back in those days one of my friends’ had a small mansion by the sea side, where I spent several summers there, and once a group of 4 chaps, young, loud, and amazingly famous stayed there while touring and making a movie called, “Help” … their names were John, Paul, Ringo and George. Yes, The Beatles, so I also got to know them. It was the 70s and England was bursting with enthusiasm, creativity and wittiness. I’m happy to know I witnessed those amazing times. I have no doubt about the fact that those early experiences in my life have shaped my mind, my soul and my interests, that today I see taking shape and body in the broad cultural project I develop passionately every day. As Latin as I am, thanks to my Pop’s influence, I feel deeply passionate about art, style, culture… As a Brit as I have come to be, I feel English is my mother tongue, the borderless language that allows us individuals to transcend geographical borders and limits, the language of my thoughts and my chats… Thanks to my lifetime experiences I’ve become who I am, and along the way many of my projects, those that start in one’s mind and come to take shape along the road of life, began to be real and my input in this modern global world. I’m a proud citizen of the world, who has chosen Buenos Aires has become home, and all of South America as my back yard. The Happy 90's. Early days of the Internet. ..... and because I love art and antiques I’ve been developing several collectibles oriented projects during the last 10 years. The first project I began to work on was the toy museum. I found myself finding in flea markets, fairs and old toy shops beautiful and rare toys made in Argentina about which there was no information available. I looked everywhere until I found out that I couldn’t find it ‘cause it didn’t exist. All the amazing Argentine made toys I collected were made during the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, and unlike other countries in the world who worry about their history and cultural legacy, we –as a society- have let them in forget. So at the same time I collected vintage and antique toys I began to develop a research group who was in charge of finding all loose pieces available to complete the puzzle of the Argentinean toy industry’s history. The result has been so far not only encouraging but amazing, for besides of understanding the true nature of some of our most marvellous items, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing many of the most outstanding Argentinean industrials. The Museum has grown ever since I blended the objects with the information about them. And it has become to be the first virtual museum on Argentinean toys in the country and in Latin America. The feedback we’ve received throughout these incredible years of hard and hearted work have gave us strength and passion to keep on developing what so far is has come to be a brilliant idea. At the same time the Museum grew and I began to discover the richness in Argentina’s cultural and social history through means of one of its material productions: toys. A ticking question my toy oriented research unveiled was that every culture reflexes their vision of the world through their objects, and I found out that many American models that were been produced in Argentina were been adapted to the Latin American cultural public. So I began to wonder about how an immigrant built country’s objects would reflect this, and it has been quite a great surprise, the blend of the indigenous, colonial and immigrant cultures is superb down here and the objects these past generations have left us are outstanding. This is how Art Dealer, as a cultural and collectibles project began. My initial knowledge of art and antiques, and my experience with cultural research at the Museum were the foundation for Art Dealer to begin to grow. At the same time, as I kept on travelling through the bewitching scenarios of the beautiful Argentina I began to understand a bit more about that eclectic and gorgeous culture that intrigued me so much about the objects of our forefathers. Precious treasures; hidden under the everyday life’s chores. To me this has been a discovering experience that has filled me with joy, and keeps on surprising me every day as a young child who begins to open up to the world’s marvels. When Argentina, during the 2001 crisis, began to open up to travellers from all over the world, who were coming to discover this wonderful place, I thought I had to share my experience with those who cherished culture, travelling, and discovering as much as I did. I also thought that if I were to travel overseas I’d love to do it the way the saying says: When in Rome, you do what Romans do… and nothing better than a Roman to show you how. To share my knowledge and discoveries, I design custom made tours, not only ‘cause I like to work on a personal basis, but because I deeply believe each of us is unique and has different interests and passions and mass produced standard culture leaves out –some times- very important things. And for Buenos Aires, as every other metropolis has something to offer to each and every one of us, likewise Argentina. Seven years have gone by now since I’ve began to picture this broad cultural project, and each and every one of the days I’ve worked to develop my idea have been amazing, with its ups and downs, inputs and changes of direction. I’m very glad and grateful to be able to do what I love most and to be able to share it with others who, as myself find this lifetime experience unique and beautiful. For more information: admin@frassinetti.com Read daily Up Dates on Art and Antiques for Buenos Aires, Argentina http://www.frassinetti.biz Argentina also exports antiques over 100 years old with the help of Bob Frassinetti Read all about the South of South Amerca, Argentina, chile and Uruguay on this link. « previous | next » View Full-Size Image La Nacion & Clarin, newspapers in Argentina Email: The Buenos Aires Toy Museum,Bob Frassinetti. Press here to go to the Toy Museum : The Buenos Aires Toy Museum. Created in 1996 and On Line since. Toy Museum from Argentina. http://www.the-ba-toymuseum.com/ Created in 1996 and still on line from Argentina. Bob Frassinetti. Copyright 2005.Updated 2010 Roberto Dario Frassinetti. .