Mimmo Paladino Alligators Sculpture

Dear Art Lover,

     In the underground portion of the Museo Marino Marini in Florence, Italy, is the place for contemporary [living now] guest artists.  When I was there recently, Mimmo Paladino’s work was on exhibit with another artist.  I have written about his work before and am “accidentally discovering” him as a sensitive and inspired conceptual and interesting artist.

     Giovanna, the docent and a friend of my friend Kumiko, explained to us that the people are sleeping here, while the alligators pause at the edges.  The repeated patterns of obviously one mold brought cohesion to the work, even when the artist created slightly different compositions with each one.  The figures reminded me of the frozen corpses of Pompeii that I had seen in my mother’s slides back in the 70s.  Together with the beautiful dark lighting, I felt a bit at home here.

     You may see the dark passages that Kumi and I explored after skipping over a little rope intended to keep us out.  We found another exhibition room, although much smaller, and we could have gone another way… the museum’s intended way.  Hahah.. but I liked the dark passages and seeing more of the building itself.

Helpful related links:

http://museomarinomarini.it/

https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-museums/museum-marino-marini.html

https://www.visittuscany.com/en/ideas/ancient-modern-and-contemporary-the-marino-marini-museum/

     Past posts on sculptor Mimmo Paladino:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2012/11/the-kindness-of-strangers-and-angry-nun.html

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2015/10/florence-italy-mimmo-paladino-sculpture.html

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2012/11/florence-italy-firenze-italia.html

     Past posts on other aspects of this space:

Rucellai Chapel and Sepulcre:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2017/10/alberti-rucellai-sepulchre-chapel.html

The sculptures by Marino Marini in Florence, Italy:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2017/10/marino-marini-sculptures.html

The drawings by Marino Marini:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2017/10/marino-marini-drawings.html

The architecture:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2017/10/architecture-san-pancrazio-marino.html

Rucellai Chapel:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2017/10/alberti-rucellai-sepulchre-chapel.html

Peace,

Kelly Borsheim, artist

http://BorsheimArts.com

P.S. IF original art, while affordable, is STILL a bit out of your budget, or the piece you adored has sold?  Or do you like arty things in different formats, to surround yourself with art?  Looking for a gift?  See my store online for pillow, phone cases, shower curtains, towels, tote bags, and yes, even prints on metal, wood, canvas, and so much more:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-kelly-borsheim.html

Santa Fortunata Sorrento Italia

Dear Art Lover,

     I left Florence, Italy, with a large wide, but narrow box containing nine paintings (three on wood panels), surrounded by clothes and black squid-ink spaghetti for my family.  My backpack had all of my electronic gadgets that I needed for work in the US and a big pad of paper with two boxes of pastels.  That was my idea of traveling light for my flight.  In addition, I had an extra bag with food and random things that I anticipated using up during my last couple of days in Italia for a while.  After a train ride to Napoli (Naples) and catching the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento, I knew that I was not having a good time.

     A man running a luggage storage facility at the station in Sorrento saved me.  I delighted when he told me that there was indeed a Mailboxes, Etc. nearby.  He charged me only five euro to store my box of art at the station overnight.  Feeling much lighter, I walked around in the rain to buy bus tickets to go to the campground, Santa Fortunata.  This second image is right outside of the station just before a 30-minute thunder and lightning storm passed over us.

     The SantaFortunata is a campground that also has cabins supplied with linens.  Mine was in a lovely location up a dirt path with a good view of the distant volcano Vesuvius.  I was thrilled with myself for leaving that awkward and heavy box behind!  A nearby restaurant provided a light dinner for takeout as I settled in for some computer work, creating images and files for art shipping.  Soon, I was deep asleep in this lovely haven.

     The next morning the birds were singing.  I took the bus back into downtown Sorrento carrying an empty backpack.  The guys at Mailboxes Etc. went with me to pick up my art box and allowed me to remove most of the stuff that surrounded the art.  They had to repackage it all anyway and also verify that I was shipping what I claimed to be shipping.  They copied my new digital files for the Customs paperwork that allows art to leave Italia.  Everything went well.  I then met a man named Giovanni de Liso selling luggage who also created nice Italian scenic paintings.  We had a wonderful chat after I purchased a small suitcase and he gave me advice on good local places to eat. 

     Around town are several bronze sculptures by Arnaldo Pomodoro.  He is quite famous with a bronze sphere with similar geometric shapes emerging from it as one of the sculptures at the Vatican Museum.  They are all well cared for and the patina seems new to me.  This is impressive, especially for a coastal town.   

   

     In the afternoon I headed back to Santa Fortunata and brought my computer down to the beach at the bottom of their cliffs.  It was so relaxing to make “my office” at the edge of the sea.  It was so good to swim again and then work beside the music of the waves.

 

    It was the pattern during my visit for an evening storm to roll-in.  It was so exciting to be there with the wind whipping around and the rain hitting my metal roof.  The morning after was clear and gorgeous.  I would recommend this place as a great home base for visiting the areas around Vesuvius, such as Pompei (Pompeii in English) and Ercolano (Herculaneum in English).

http://www.santafortunata.com/en/

Tanti auguri di buon compleanno, carissima Susanna! 

Peace,

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

New Years Eve Lascivious Sculpture

Dear Art-loving friend,

     In 2009 I began a tradition for this blog.  With the idea of living closer to the Earth, more Natural, as it were, I decided to celebrate the coming of a new year with an NYE blog post featuring naughty art; art forms not unlike some of the art you might see in Pompeii, Italy.  Many consider Pompeii to be full of erotic art, and fair enough.  Those Italians thought of a male erection as a sign of prosperity and fertility, i.e., a wondrous event to celebrate and enjoy the fruits or gifts the gods have given us.  Their homes often featured at the entrance a mosaic of some incredibly endowed human of the male persuasion.  It was not considered obscene.  It was seen as a welcoming wish for prosperity and abundance.

     I suspect that most figurative artists, at least, create some erotic art at some point in their lives.  I can say that safely since eroticism is quite personal and thus, the boundaries blurred for some people.  I suppose anything goes with just the right audience.

     In any event, I feel that I have been slacking off over the last several years in this particular genre. I had hoped to create at least one piece of intentionally erotic each year.  I have a few pieces in the works, but to be honest, I am trying to make my work at bit more … hmm.. subtle is not the word, GRAND?  but you will just have to wait and see for yourself.

     While I was visiting the Carusi Studios of marble carving in Carrara back in November, I saw a marble sculpture outside from an unknown artist.  Many artists use their studio space (the Carusi no doubt know, but I forgot to ask and today is the sharing day…)  I will admit that for all of the putti or just babies in art that I have seen, these two kinda gave me the creeps.  I think of them as the “lascivious babies” because seriously, have you ever seen such a passionate, sexy kiss between young ones?

    

I know that children enjoy mimicking adults, but these two seem far too young for that.  So, what is up?  However, the work is beautifully executed and also, the large belly of the baby girl made me think of how some artworks tell stories in that they show something of the past, present, and future in the same artwork.  Sometimes that means depicting a couple in the foreground (usually representing the present time) and then repeating them in the background (future and/or past, depending on where they are located in the painting, for example).  The big belly here serves to remind us that “one thing leads to another.”  This is not unlike the common placement in the US of the sexy lingerie shops existing RIGHT NEXT to the maternity stores.

     So. . . um, enjoy (?) these kissing babies.  Maybe even creepy romance is still better than war.  And let us work to make 2015 a year of peace and love and tons of fun!

Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm,

Kelly

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor, painter, writer, teacher

http://BorsheimArts.com

Hindsight and Daydreaming

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

For the last several New Year's Eve postings, I thought I would have a little fun and share something with you in the spirit of the culture of Pompeii (pre-volcanic explosion!):  Namely, some naughty art.  Pompei, Italia (as it is spelled in Italian), is rather famouse for its art.  The entryways of many homes and public spaces sported mosaics and fresco of, for example, a man with a giant phallus.  American tastes often dictate [ahem...] that this is simply... er, too much.

However, people who live closer to the Earth tend to openly celebrate human (and even animal) sexuality and see it as a natural part of living, as they saw spirituality.  So, to be greeted by an exaggerated male member was actually a wish or even a prayer, if you like, for fertile growth and prosperity in all areas of life, even economics. 

In this "down week" between Christmas and New Years' I have tried to remain at home alone (unsuccessfully, I must admit), working on my art and reflecting on all of the things that I might have done differently in 2013.  I wish sometimes that I did not ALWAYS put people ahead of my art.  Or rather, I need a balance, but more importantly, I need to learn how to avoid getting caught up in other people's drama.  And learn how to extricate myself from it sooner than later, once I recognize a negative situation.  [I did send a message to my former landladies wishing them happy holidays in an effort to let them know that I blame them less for my losing my home this spring and was happy to receive a lovely response.]

So, this year, I want to share with you two charcoal drawings that I created from live models.  "Hindsight" and "Daydreaming."  Both activities are worth doing (in moderation) and today, I celebrate them.  So, in 2014, it is my wish that we all keep reflecting, dreaming, and learning how to love and how to live closer to our Earth.  Happy 2014!


P.S.  I have recently updated my Web site and have added a page specifically for "Naughty Art."  That way, if it is just not your thing, you may choose to avoid clicking on those words.

Hindsight and Daydreaming

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

For the last several New Year’s Eve postings, I thought I would have a little fun and share something with you in the spirit of the culture of Pompeii (pre-volcanic explosion!):  Namely, some naughty art.  Pompei, Italia, (as it is spelled in Italian) is rather famous for its art.  The entryways of many homes and public spaces sported mosaics and fresco of, for example, a man with a giant phallus.  American tastes often dictate [ahem…] that this is simply… er, too much.

 
However, people who live closer to the Earth tend to openly celebrate human (and even animal) sexuality and see it as a natural part of living, as they saw spirituality.  So, to be greeted by an exaggerated male member was actually a wish or even a prayer, if you like, for fertile growth and prosperity in all areas of life, even economics.


In this “down week” between Christmas and New Years’ I have tried to remain at home alone (unsuccessfully, I must admit), working on my art and reflecting on all of the things that I might have done differently in 2013.  I wish sometimes that I did not ALWAYS put people ahead of my art.  Or rather, I need a balance; but more importantly, I need to learn how to avoid getting caught up in other people’s drama.  And learn how to extricate myself from it sooner than later, once I recognize a negative situation.

So, this year, I want to share with you two charcoal drawings that I created from live models.  “Hindsight” and “Daydreaming.”  Both activities are worth doing (in moderation) and today, I celebrate them.  So, in 2014, it is my wish that we all keep reflecting, dreaming, and learning how to love and how to live closer to our Earth.  Happy 2014! 


http://www.borsheimarts.com/charcoal-drawing/2009/hindsight.htm

http://www.borsheimarts.com/charcoal-drawing/2009/daydreaming.htm

P.S.  I have recently updated my Web site and have added a page specifically for “Naughty Art.”  That way, if it is just not your thing, do not click on those words. 

Art and the Nude

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),
For the past two years on my New Year’s Eve blog entry, I have shared more erotic art than I usually dish up for you. In the line of thinking similar to that of those living in Pompeii centuries ago, it was my way of wishing you a sensuous, joyful, lush, and prosperous new year.

However, this year I have not had the time to create something along this vein. Sad, really since I believe that art is the safe place in which we can explore all aspects of our humanity. That said, I still want to wish you a thoughtful abundance for the coming year. I hope that you can become more spontaneous (I linked this word because many people misuse it) and express yourself more often.

I recently wrote a little bit about my holiday with friends on Captiva Island, Florida. I stayed in artist Robert Rauschenberg’s former beach house there, owned by his collaborating partner and long-time friend, Darryl Pottorf. In entering the place, I found myself intrigued by a composition in red, black, browns, and white. I had this strange urge to photograph myself nude in front of it. This does not really belong on my “erotic art” posting because I do not know how to explain that I was not thinking sexual thoughts when this idea came to mind. Maybe more like “Nature Girl,” I dunno. That night, I did pose for my timer, but fully clothed, boots and all…

One evening, Darryl walked me over to the painting before we headed back to his place for dinner with more friends. He explained most of the objects or shapes in the composition. This was a painting about Robert Rauschenberg (Bob) and Darryl. Darryl’s art is very personal. It made me wonder if I should lose the thought of taking nude shots with this beautifully sentimental work of art. But the idea persisted and I did not believe that I was thinking anything disrespectful. So one night towards the end of my visit, I woke up just before 3 a.m. and went to work, careful not to disturb the other occupant in the house. I was back in bed by 4 a.m. I hope you enjoy this image, but more: I wish you truly beautiful experiences from each day forward.

Links to the other New Year’s Eve posts:
• New Year’s Eve 2010: “Anthurium”
  
• New Year’s Eve 2009: “Tesoro!”