RED #4

final painting

Red #4   Oil, wax on panel    50x50cm

 

one of the first stages of the painting

This painting was a challenge for me both mentally and physically. 

Begun at the end of 2014 it has taken  months to arrive at a conclusion. I started with the paint that was left on my palette, no ideas, I didn't want to waste the paint but just wanted to cover the panel as a start.

Continuing, I had difficulty putting my head and heart into what I was doing.  Then with the new year, my flu session and other challenges caused a major block.  I was stuck, working but without a vision of what I was doing. This happens at times. Until, suddenly, reason sets in unexplainably, and the road straightens.

The path is clear.

See Blog Post:  Presenting a New Year Resolution.

Visit to the Museum 0f 20th Century Italian Art on a cold, sunny February morning

Santa Maria Novella

  

The Museum of 20th Century Italian Art in Florence is a jewel that has recently been added to the vast number of art museums in this city and is just across the piazza from the famous church of Santa Maria Novella in the heart of the city (near the train station) The white marble facade was literally glittering under the brilliant light of this morning's sun.

This museum is set in what was once the 13th century Hospital of St. Paul  recently restored to house this collection of approximately 300 works of  art including paintings, sculpture, video, installations and documents. The museum presents an itinerary that passes from the '90's to the 20th century, reconstructing the cultural period when Florence was at the center of the national and international cultural scene.

I realize that, with very few exceptions, contemporary Italian art and artists are not well known outside of europe  but I wanted to share  my visit to this new museum with you. The collection ranges from the avantguard of the early  1900's to the artistic expressions of the past few decades  including  futurism and  informal art. You will see  well known Italian artists such as Sironi, De Chirico, Giorgio Morandi, de Pisis, Lucio Fontana, just to name a few worth noting. But you will also be introduced to lesser known artists, as I was, who will invite you to appreciate their art work as well.

Following are photos that I was able to take in the museum  because now, in Italy, without a flash, photos in art museums are allowed:

Alberto Viani - "IL Pastore dell'Essere"  - 1963

The Cloister of the ancient Church of St. Paolo

Cloister and 1st Floor Colonade

Installation by Maurizio Nannucci  -  1988

The actual show begins on the second floor. 

 .

"Superarchitecture"  1966-1967

Remo Salvadori "Spazio per un Racconto N.2"  1967

Mario Oddone Cavaglieri  "I Fidanzati"    1919

I discovered Alberto Magnelli. Born in Florence, self taught, he later moved to France where he lived and worked. There is a small video in his section, black and white, in French with English subtitles, where, fascinated, I spent at least twenty minutes watching and listening. What struck me were his words about a painting. - Whether it be figurative or abstract, a painting must be looked at thousands of times to be appreciated. Each time something new will be seen if the artist has been sincere and has tried to express a concept.-

Alberto Magnelli   "Contadini col carro"  1914

Sound shower
In the next 2 photos you can see at the upper left hand corner a long transparent tube attached to the ceiling. Curious,  I asked what they were and  was told  "a sound shower". A perfect term. These "showers" are used  to concentrate sounds and  direct them, whether they be in the form of words, music or any other "noise",  to one selected and specific area without disturbing the rest of a room or gallery. This first "shower" transmitted a symphony written in honor of the artist, Antonio Donghi, whose paintings were on the wall directly below. The next produced  an interview with the specific artist whose work is hung on the wall. I had never seen this type of technology used before in a museum and found it very effective.

 sound shower - Donghi "Fiori (Dalie)"  1923

sound shower

My hope is that if and when you are a visitor in Florence you will take time to visit this museum.              

For more info and photos go to;

 http://www.museonovecento.it

NEW DECISIONS

desktop full of proofs

the basic idea for logo

2014 went out with a huge bang

(many bangs if you remember). We in Florence were hit by a "swarm" of unsettling earthquakes that

led all to think that the new year had to be better.

 

Then with the New Year, not the first day but shortly afterward, the FLU decided to hit our house. First my husband then me. Today was my first day out.

 I was on the verge of consulting my friend Suzanne White, alias High Priestess of Chinese and Western Astrology just to assure myself that these "Influenza Days" will have no bearing on what will be my destiny in the next year.

ButI've answered my own question remembering my resolution in my last post about scheduling my time more efficiently in order to apply myself for longer periods in the studio.

Believe it or not, sneezing, coughing, feverish or

not, I did some heavy duty work during this sick leave.

A week prior to the New Year, an article appeared in our newspaper publishing a public competition for the township of San Casciano V.P. They were asking for participants to design a logo for a newly formed group of museums in Chianti and Valdarno. This attracted me, why not? I wanted to participate. Illustration is not my strong point. There was little time, the deadline was on the 8th of January, but I did what I could.

It wasn't the final outcome that was important to me. It was the fact that I was putting myself into play, "sticking my neck out" as they say, trying a new possibility . . .

a new horizon, reaching out to new adventures.  The same will be happening in February when I will be applying for a juried show in Pontremoli, a sea- coast town near Carrara, where Michelangelo selected his marble.

I have a sudden feeling of freedom. . .a revelation for the new year!

PRESENTING A NEW YEAR resolution

.

 I didn't intend to start the new year by showing  an unfinished painting but I don't  have much time left to do anything about that now. My time has been used up with holiday trimmings and anticipation of the new year leaving my painting by the wayside as often is the case.

But this is where my NEW YEAR RESOLUTIOIN comes into  play. As of tomorrow, January1st, 2015,  that long awaited painting schedule has to be formulated AND respected. More than time, it is the waste of time that I have to combat.. . A revolution  within the resolution. My wishes for happiness and resolutions of all problems to all in the new year that is upon us.

A PAINTING DAY. . . .

"Connections  Red"        50cmx50cm      oil,wax on  wood panel

I've been away from the studio for weeks now.  Working for the annual Bazaar sponsored by the American International League of Florence which aids local charities in need.  It happens every year at this time and I enjoy it I  admit.  We fashioned some fun hat/headbands with a lot of fru-fru ribbons, tulle and sequins. Hope they sell. I also made lavender sachets using old embroidered linens and tulle (check my facebook page). Soo, because of this time away from painting and household duties, today was programed to be ironing day.  . . . but, I never made it to my ironing board.  Started out early making the changes, additions to the last, almost finished panel I have been contemplating in the studio and there it is. A time to absorb and (as Janice Mason Steeves, my mentor, says) a pause to listen to your painting is  important  for moving on. I know that this pause has given me a stronger urge to get back to the studio, to continue.  I have several other paintings waiting to be finished. Nothing will stop me this time. 

A SPECIAL DAY. . .

Entry in " XXIII Premio Nazionale di Pittura" di Città di Civitella 2014

What made this day "special?  I was just supposed to go to Civitella to retrieve my painting, an ordinary procedure when you participate in a show outside of your own territory, and then return home. And since the town is in the vacinity of Arezzo, city famous for its goldsmiths and more, I was convinced that it was in a flat valley.
 It was a beautiful, sunny day, crisp temps but not cold.  We decided to make a day of it. . .to eat out somewhere nice and wait for the cerimony of awards at 3o'clock and then head for home. The drive was south toward Rome on the state highway. . . the warm sun though the windshield  made me  drowsy. Until


slowly the  road through a dense wooded area started to climb and we saw Civitella far ahead at the peak of a hill in front of us.

Civitella dates back to the Roman Empire and became an important fortress in defence during the many battles between Arezzo, Siena and Florence. It is important for its cultural  manifestations including this show as well as a sculpture show in the spring.

The medieville walls of the town are still visible

We stopped in the first piazza where we found a lovely wine bar-restaurant.

The restaurant is at the lower righthand corner of the photo next to the stairs that take you to the center of  town.

From the window of the dining room the view was amazing taking our eyes over vineyards, olive groves and breeding farms as far as the peaks of the  lower Appennine mountains

This area, the Valley of the Chiana, is the official zone where chainina cattle are raised and bred. Chianina beef is the only meat that can be used to prepare  the official "Florentine Steak".

Town Hall of Civitella nella Valley della Chiana home of a lovely modern art gallery.

 So this was my "Special" day. No prize but just a lovely, quiet day to remember.

Feeling "at home" in my NEW studio

my painting space

About 4 months have gone by since I made the big move from the studio in the city to my studio at home.  I'm not settled in completely, but then there isn't any real hurry. My painting area is fine and I am working steadily every day.  There is no "schedule".  I paint when I have the time, whim, or urge.  Some days I start in the early morning forgetting about breakfast or brushing my teeth. Other days I just look, judge what I have done and think about what I'll do next. I know this isn't the best way to work but, for now, it suits me.  I knew that there would be challanges for me here at home,  a mixture of responsibilities to meet, things I like (gardening) and things I have to do (cooking and cleaning). But I am happy and enthusiastic.  I am even searching for new spaces to show my work and at the moment am in two shows,

Show at Gallery ART-ART, Impruneta

 

 one in the Gallery ART-ART in Impruneta that will close Nov. 1

and another, a juried show, in Arezzo that closes Oct. 26, this Sunday.

So, you see, I have been preparing these and am looking for other spaces in the future. The reason for showing my work is only to have a deadline, a date that I have to respect, a date when I have to produce a painting.

It spurrs me on, gives me a point to focus on.