Adjustable Bases Sculpture

Dear Art Lover,

    

     I mentioned in the last post that the legless-ness of the giant horse bronze sculpture made me wonder if the artist Gustavo Aceves intended to exhibit this piece closer to the ground or perhaps “floating” above water, as if the horse’s legs were submerged.

     In any event, the massive base elevating this sculpture is very interesting.  Having been married to an engineer, as well as having done a lot of weekend-type shows to sell my beeswax candles and later, my art, I have been fascinated with collapsing furniture design.  Or at least, flexible, in the sense of how to use it.  You might imagine how expensive it must be to create a support structure for every single public and temporary art exhibit a city might have. 

     So, look at the design of this base.  The strong rectangular beams are supported on round columns every so often.  Yet, they may attach in several different angles due to the pie-shaped wedges on the top of each pier.  Simple, wonderful, versatile!  Great.  Painted black, the support beams are almost ignored by the brain as far as aesthetics of the art go, but physically imposing enough to keep the viewer at a natural distance for protection of all concerned.  You may note that the leveling on the ground is done simply by adding slabs of plywood as needed to keep the pillars on the same plane.

Related posts:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2017/11/gustavo-aceves-horse-sculpture.html

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2017/10/gustavo-aceves-lapidarium-sculpture.html

Today, I would like to show you one of my pastel drawings.  Bologna, Italy, is famous for its porticos [covered walkways] and I was fascinated my first time in that city by how small this man I drew looked beside and within the architecture.  This image gives me peace and also curiosity, as I wondered what he was watching or thinking.  I liked also his child-like pose.  I hope that you do, too.

 

Shown Unframed, but comes with Museum Glass, frame, and mat

Please contact me if you are interested in this artwork.

"Pensive in Bologna"
23" x 17"
Pastel on Wallis Pro Paper
by Kelly Borsheim

$1500
[Framed with offset white mat, black wood frame, & Museum Glass, a non-reflective glass]

For close up views of the original art, click on this link:
http://www.borsheimarts.com/pastels/2010/PensiveInBologna.htm

Peace and thank you,

Kelly Borsheim, artist

http://BorsheimArts.com

Parco della Montagnola Bologna Paintings

Dear Art Lover,     

     My first time in Italy was in 2004.  My art [14 works, 3 bronze sculptures and 11 paintings] had arrived there a year earlier, thanks to a request from Museo Gilardi in Forte dei Marmi.  I backpacked around Italia for six weeks.  Anacapri and Firenze [Florence’s real name] were my favorite destinations, a hard choice to make with so much beauty and art around that country!

    Here is what I wrote on my Web site in 2005 about Bologna:

      Bologna, Italia

     I had not originally planned to go to Bologna. I was not avoiding it, I just did not know anything about it. However, one of the benefits of hosteling is meeting many travelers who give you feedback and tips along the journey. A girl named Anna that I spent a couple of days with in Perugia told me that she loved the energy in Bologna. Someone else said the same thing.

     So, after I left the Amalfi coast to head north for an art reception Cristiano Merra held for me at the Museo Gilardi, I had to figure out what to do with some extra time. I had originally planned to go to Caprise Michelangelo after leaving Cristiano's in Forte dei Marmi, Italia. But when I asked the hostel which bus to take, I began to understand that it was highly unlikely that I would find the birthplace of Michelangelo without a car. As it turned out, the hostel in Bologna had an opening . . .

     I look forward to returning to Bologna -- there is still so much more I have yet to see!

     I have been back to Bologna several times since then for a variety of reasons and usually not alone anymore and never for very long it seems.  But each time, I go back to visit my favorite sculptured fountain there in the Parco della Montagnola, Bologna.  It is not hard since it is quite near the central train station.

Parco della Montagnola, Bologna, Italy - The Fountain

     Traveling alone gives me guilt-free time to do as I like.  In 2004, I took time to paint this sculpture from several vantage points.  Here you may see an image that an Italian woman took of me at work one afternoon.  

For more images of Bologna, visit this page:  http://www.borsheimarts.com/painting/2005/bologna.htm

The August Art Sale continues… see postings here on my blog this month or the corresponding album on Facebook.  Offer ends 31 August 2015.  These works are located in Cedar Creek, near Austin, Texas.

Today’s listings:

Parco della Montagnola, Bologna

24" h X 36"   [plus a frame, not yet shown... will post in comments later]
Oil on Canvas
© 2005   Kelly Borsheim   - Offer:  $950

Study for Parco…
10 x 15 acrylic on watercolor paper
© 2004   Kelly Borsheim   - Offer:  $75

Torso Study, Parco…
15 x 10 acrylic on watercolor paper
© 2004   Kelly Borsheim   - Offer:  $75

Payment plans accepted; no finance charge, as usual.

Peace,

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor and painter

http://BorsheimArts.com

 P.S.  Happy birthday Nathan and Mark!

Art, Architecture and Food in Bologna Italy

Ohhh, I owe some darling readers a huge apology! A lot of people tell me that I am living the dream life because I live in Florence, Italy. And while I do love it here and know that it is where I need to be for the moment, life here is not always la bella vita. Since I last wrote to you, I have been on a short trip to Florida to spend some time with my family, was ill and in a lot of pain, and I have been living out of boxes for too long now. I have not written a blog entry in a while because I am having withdrawal pains from creating art, have been sorting out a new life in a new home and some changing relationships, and in general, not feeling myself.

Sometimes someone writes to me to ask if she may write a guest post on my blog. I recently decided to try this out until I can get my feet back on the ground and my head out of the clouds for a bit. Angie Picardo is my first guest blogger and she has chosen to write to you about Bologna, a city north and east of Firenze (Florence’s real name). The artwork is one of mine . . . as are each of the photographs. Thank you for reading!

Art, Architecture and Food in Bologna

Often overshadowed by its better-known neighbors, Bologna is quite a hidden gem. The city offers myriad rewards for the intrepid traveler intent on finding one of the best arts scenes that Italy has to offer.

Bologna’s origins date to 1000 BCE. It was first settled by the Etruscans and Celts, followed by the Romans, and then as a free municipality in the Middle Ages. The city boasts the oldest university in the world – University of Bologna – founded in 1088. Its thousands of students still contribute heavily to Bologna’s vibrant art and culture scene.

The city’s historic center is well-preserved, and it defines Bologna as an artistic and culturally important city. The architecture is distinctive for its warm colors, including vibrant reds, burnt oranges, and yellows. Miles of porticos extend throughout the town center. For museum buffs, the art is world-class. For example, the National Gallery (Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna) features a wide range of fine art, including Renaissance portraiture, Mannerism, works of Carracci, and paintings by Guido Reni. The Archeaological City Museum (Museo Civico Archaologico) contains artifacts from almost every stage of Bologna’s civilization. The Roman section features the statue attributed to Emperor Nero, and Etruscan artifacts include rich funeral attires from ancient tombs. Other notable museums include the Medieval Museum, the Municipal Ancient Art Collection, and the International Museum and Library of Music, each featuring impressive collections.

Bologna was named a “European Capital of Culture” in 2000. Because of this distinction, the city raised close to $10 million to transform an underdeveloped neighborhood into an arts district featuring the Manifattura delle Arti, or Factory of the Arts. Many formerly vacant spaces quickly became dynamic hubs of culture. For instance, a slaughterhouse in the area was refurbished as the Cinetica – an institute for film restoration and study – that features free screenings for the public. Art galleries and design studios have sprung up across the city, as young artists flock to join the creative resurgence in Bologna. These galleries include Galleria Neon, Agenzia 04, Metropolis Photogallery, and Stile Libero.

A number of sites have been created to facilitate mingling amongst the creative class. For example, Non mancare! (Don’t miss) the Zo Caffe which serves as a café, art gallery, and venue for ambient-music DJs. In addition, new destinations crop up every month. 2012 marked the long-awaited grand opening of the city’s modern art museum called MAMbo. The 9,500 square meter space brings innovative exhibits from some of the most dynamic artists of contemporary art, featuring nine permanent displays ranging from the latter half of the twentieth century to the present.

Bologna is also renowned for its cuisine; it stands out even in a country known for food. The abundance of classic Italian food has given rise to the town’s nickname, La Grassa, or “the Fat One.” Many Italian specialties originate from Bologna, including tortellini, mortadella and, of course, Bolognese sauce. A number of expansive food markets, including Mercato di Mezzo and Mercato delle Erbe, attract shoppers interested in the freshest local ingredients from nearby farms. Some of the best restaurants in the area – and it’s no easy feat to narrow it down! – include Da Marco (known for its seafood pasta), Diana and its old-fashioned ambience, La Terrazza’s classic Mediterranean fare, and Da Fabio. Visitors with a sweet tooth can find locally-made chocolate at Roccati, Lagana and Drogheria Gilberto, all of which feature fine candies, chocolates and pastries.

Visitors will be pleased with the Mediterranean weather, especially in March through October, when the warmest months allow outdoor enjoyment of food and drink.

Angie Picardo is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance and travel site dedicated to helping people learn how to get the most from their money, whether it’s booking flights for vacation or choosing between a traditional or Roth IRA. As an undergraduate, she spent time abroad in Florence and hopes to return to Italy for a trip to Bologna.

From Kelly: Happy Summer solstice for the northern hemisphere! We are certainly feeling the summer heat here in Firenze, but we are in the valley of many mountains. Perhaps Bologna is much cooler.

Pastel Pensive in Bologna

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Since I was a small child, I have had a habit of sitting and thinking (or maybe as the joke goes, “Sometimes I sit and think; sometimes I just sit.”). I like to watch people move. I like to watch how their bodies express their true emotions. I enjoy imagining the lives of others I see, but do not know. It intrigues me how people’s lives touch one another, no matter how briefly or seemingly insignificant.

This next pastel painting “Pensive in Bologna” that I created on handmade Wallis-brand paper was inspired by my first trip to Bologna, Italy, back in 2004. I went to Bologna after receiving many recommendations from travelers along my route. They all described Bologna as having “good energy.” It is a university town and the youth and inquiring minds do bring a certain something to the city that felt different than other places in Italy.

And then I saw this lone man, a grown man, gathering his legs in his arms as he sat in a sculpted doorway under a portico, for which Bologna is well-known. I have not forgotten him. And I sometimes catch myself wondering what his name is and what his life is like.

“Pensive in Bologna”
23” x 17”
Pastel painting on Wallis Professional Paper
$1200 + $20 shipping & handling

Happy Birthday, Peggy!

The Best Gelato in all of Europe Bologna Italy

My flight from Italia to Texas, US, began in Bologna early in the morning on the 12th. Allora, I took a train from Firenze to Bologna the night before and stayed in the house of my friend Medi. After dinner I was offered some homemade ice cream. Little did I know what a delight I was about to experience! While I had refused some of the food Medi and his roommate Andrea offered – too much cibo for me at one sitting – how could I refuse gelato?

I proceeded to eat PLENTY of the “best gelato in all of Europe,” according to The London Observer Magazine and Germany's Focus. They were not kidding. Medi’s roommate Andrea works at Il Gelatauro on Via San Vitale, 98/B, in Bologna, Italy, and it was certainly better than anything I have ever tasted in Florence. And that is no small statement.

In 1998, the Figliomeni brothers Gianni and Cosimo opened Il Gelatauro in Bologna. They use organic ingredients, including those from their own citrus grove, as well as a few fig and walnut trees in Calabria in Southern Italy. Besides gelato, they offer handmade chocolates and pastries, as well as selected wines, fruit preserves, and bright green krumiri cookies. Also, they put no vegetable fats in their dolci.

There was an assortment of flavors on our dinner table, but the pistachio was fantastic and probably my favorite of the evening. Bologna is an interesting and energetic city. While I did not see much of it this last trip to Italia, I really enjoyed my weeklong stay in Bologna in 2004. And Il Gelatauro is now on my list to visit and try some more flavors of gelato.

Some interesting links:
Il Gelatauro on Via San Vitale, 98/B, in Bologna, Italy
http://www.gelatauro.com

Fruit and Nuts - a brief history of figs, melons and pears; pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts, pinenuts and walnuts. Now, does this not sound great:
“The same Medieval tract suggested that pears be cooked in cinnamon, cloves and red wine, and served with butter, soft cheese and sugar on top.” I also love anything with ginger in it. Read more about my favorites – figs, fennel, and cloves:

http://www.gelatauro.com/pages-eng/ingredients.htm

An interesting history of various ingredients used in Il Gelatauro’s organic gelato:
http://www.gelatauro.com/pages-eng/icecream.htm


Other articles on gelateria in Italy/ Bologna
Read about the fabulous krumiri cookies made from Bronte pistachios made by Il Gelatauro:
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2006/10/molto_gelato_in.html


http://www.seriouseats.com/eating_out/2007/10/guide-to-gelato-in-bologna.html

Another reason to visit Bologna, Italia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portico