The latest addition to the Red series, Connections.Connections

Connections Red, #6   50 x 60cm   oil, wax on panel.

Everything's happening at once...!!!

Impact - 70x90cm oil on canvas

 The month of May sees me in shows on 4 different fronts. I honestly don't know how it all  happened in the same month. I didn't try I assure you because getting everything organized is proving to be complicated to say the least....framing, shipping, delivering,  etc. etc..

The first show will be inaugurated on April 25 in a mountain town called Pontremoli, in the province of Massa in the region of Liguria.  It is very near the beautiful white marble quarries in Carrara where Michelangelo chose his materials. This is an international juried show of artists and will last until May 10 with possibilities of personal shows to follow.

I will then be in another show at the Gallery IAC of Art-Art, Impruneta, running from May 2 thru May 10.  I will be presenting 4 paintings including the one you see above.  The theme is "Music".

Connections #6   50cmx60cm  Oil, wax on panel

From May 1st (a holiday in Italy) Mayday, thru to May 30
I will exhibit a variety of my work, 8 paintings, both on canvas and on paper, at the Bcc of Impruneta, the Cooperative Bank of Credit which is situated in the central piazza of the town of Impruneta. Every month the bank donates their window space to artisans and clients in the area as an important venue.The newest of my Connections series (at the right) will be one of the paintings included.

And last, but not least, because I did it last year as well and had a great time, I'll participate with Art-Art at the Slow Food and Art Fair that is held annually at Greve in Chianti. This is a one day event, on April 10 which is the clue of all my dates.  How I'll make it to remove everything  from everywhere I don't know.. . .I'll find a solution ...........

RED. . .Almost One Year.

Connections - Red 5    oil, wax on panel    50x50cm 

Almost a year has gone by since I decided to limit my palette with red as dominant color. (blog post "Red- - -Who's afraid ...") I started out very hesitant. Inspired by the force and brilliance of the color itself, I was still intimidated. By combining it with  black I intended to soften any harshness but that was silly as you can well imagine. That was the beginning.

Now that I am on my fifth painting with red as protagonist I'm feeling happily at ease, in fact, liking the choice. I've learned so much.  I can thank, (never enough), Janice Mason Steeves for her counseling: to play, to accept challenges, to simplify, to be aware of contrast, . . . . .

I don't have a general plan for the sequence of my paintings. I used to do drawings as preparation but now, one after the other, I rely on intuition.  One painting is naturally the stepping stone for the next.  Something just clicks in my mind inspiring the sequence. I've noticed in the recent paintings the appearence of new colors. From the begining using mostly red and black, now lights, yellows, oranges and greys, are  presenting themselves. A sign that red has become a part of me and not a fearsome, intrusive element?

My theme is always the human body, the spinal column in particular.  My next project, constantly on my mind, is to be able to put into words why this particular part of the body is so important for me.

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. 

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"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

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 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.