Michelangelo and David – Italy Florence

Cari Amici,

And I am still being humbled. I had a big setback last Saturday after thinking that I was better and could work in the studio and afterwards visit a friend outside the city. And I have spent most of the time since then sleeping or being fed. I do not think I have ever felt this tired for this long. And my friend Eduardo just sent me a message inviting me to another costume party this weekend . . . Was missing Hélène’s cross-dressing party not enough? I am still sick, but anxious to get back to my life here in Florence.

But, all whining aside, I have finally published my latest art newsletter!
And some of it is not even a repeat of this blog! (click on the link to read the news)

And so, now, while I crawl back to sleep some more, I leave you with this image I took in a store window in Florence. Back in the States, it is popular to create a generic fiberglass sculpture edition, usually of some subject that is important to a specific community and ask many artists to paint one of the edition in whichever way they please. Michelangelo’s “David” has suffered no less. Here he is in some of his glory. Enjoy!

PS Happy Birthday (Buon Compleanno!) to Rudy and John.

http://www.borsheimarts.com/news/2008_05.htm

Emergency Room Visit in Florence Italy

Cari Amici,

Well, thank you Gene P. for suggesting that I have pneumonia! That snapped me out of a week’s lethargy. And after a long debate, I saw a dottore today. I was hoping it would be less expensive visiting the Pronto Soccorso [Emergency Room, or First Aid; although one of my language texts translates it to mean: casualty (department)]

I had to wait a while before being seen and since I have difficulty sitting anyway, and was falling asleep a lot, I decided to move to another area of the waiting room (without people) and stretch out on my tummy over three wooden chairs. Alas, it was not to be – at least not in a Florentine hospital. The woman who chastised me gave me a look as if I should just picture myself as she said, “Non e bella!” (“That is not beautiful!”) I had heard and read that Italians are sometimes very concerned about appearances and expect people to look their best, but I did not realize this concept extended in a building full of sick people!

It was kinda fun to get wheeled around like a little princess and I had a good laugh. One attendant was carrying a full bed-pan and as he rounded the corner of the hallway, he almost spilled it on me. Yikes! The man exclaimed, “oofa – cerco per il bagno.” (Oops, I am looking for the bathroom.) But the attendant who was wheeling me around was not fooled and joked with him, “Ah, caffé!” An easy laugh, but I took it.

Anyway, my X-rays revealed that my lungs are clean, but I am now on drugs and was told to lay around for the next 7 days until I kick this influenza. I doubt I have that ability after wasting my last five beautiful days bed-ridden (and not in the good way), as well as losing out of my Monday opportunity to street paint.

So, I leave you with these beautiful hand-painted and designed eggs by my artist roommate Dragana. She boiled the eggs first and then added her design in watercolor paints all by hand and then sealed them with fingernail polish. These images do not do them justice at all. How charming and colorful they are!

Independence Day for Italy

Cari Amici,
Oggi (Today) is Independence Day in Italia. But I am not feeling it. Nor will I get to see how the Italians celebrate. For weeks now I have had a tosse (cough), but in the last few days, I have “progressed.” Each morning I start the heater in the studio and prepare to create my latest charcoal drawing from a male model, but I cannot seem to make it through the three-hour session without needing to curl up on the couch. Now, the chills have set in and I am feeling a bit devastated because the weather has been incredibly lovely for the first time this week.

So, today, while I recoup, I leave you with these images that I took last week. I was wandering al centro in a wee bit of rain and returned to this alley that houses Florence’s only round tower. Or at least that is what I overheard a tour guide say while I contemplated my next image. She also said that this tower housed women prisoners (I forget the crimes they allegedly committed) and that the tower is sometimes referred to as the Straw Tower because the women slept on straw.

The Byzantine Tower of Pagliazza hails from the 6th century while the neighboring Medieval Church of San Michele in Palchetto is a 12th century addition. Today, you too, may have the experience of sleeping in Florence’s round tower, but since the building is now part of a 4-star hotel, you might be disappointed that you would not be sleeping on straw. (Mi dispiace.) Named after Florence’s most famous architect, The Hotel Brunelleschi houses 96 rooms, some overlooking his Duomo.

And adesso, I crawl back under the covers . . .

Hotel Brunelleschi Firenze, Via De Calzaioli, Piazza Santa Elisabetta, 3, 50122 Firenze, Italia; Tel. +(011 39 05527370; Web site: www.hotelbrunelleschi.it

Wisteria e Primavera in Florence, Italy

Cari Amici,
I live outside the city central now. While it makes my life more complicated, I do enjoy hearing the birds more while I am actually home and not in the studio. And I am learning more about this lovely city of Florence as I walk more around her.

La Primavera (spring) is here, but most days, you would not know it. It is raining more than last year, my friends say, and so, I am hoping the Arno River will get a bit cleaner and the plants a lot greener.


I include here some of the images I took along a street near my new home of wisteria, one of my favorite vines. These fragrant cascading flowers are beginning to blanket the sidewalks. In this way and in their purple color, they remind me of the jacaranda trees in Florida.

Look for an exhibit of my work in Florence, Italy, May 22-24. More information to follow.
Thank you for reading.

Move to a New Apartment in Florence, Italy

Cari Amici,

It feels weird being out of touch for this long, but events got away from me. I was coerced into moving out of my apartment when I realized that the contract I signed up for was not the contract I found myself living with. I was left homeless in June and it is difficult to affordably rent an apartment for only one month, especially near the summer. I am grateful for the many friends here who supported me and to Inga, James, and Jason who showed up at night to help me move the first load.

So, the night of the 15th was my first night in a new flat in Florence, Italy. I found some lovely women to room with and they speak very little English! So, although I am no longer living inside the central part of Florence, I like the energy in my new home. However, I also contracted some annoying cough and cold. Allora, I will have to get settled in slowly to accommodate my work and healing schedule.

The first night en route to my new place, some of my friends and I caught this lovely sunset over the Ponte Vecchio. Trust me, my image does no justice. It was great to share the awe with people I know. What a beautiful night!

Last night, I stopped in at the High Bar on Via Dei Renai, 27/A. Owned by Luigi and Laura, Florentines who lived and met in London years ago, the High Bar is very neighborhood oriented. Some of my paintings hang in this space. Luigi is the kind of bartender one imagines: he can choose something to cures what ails you and he listens to your problems better than most priests (and without the obligatory ‘Hail Mary’s penance afterwards), giving advice if he thinks it is warranted. They both know most of their visitors by name, and often know what is new in their lives.

So, last night, I took my laptop back from storage in a friend’s flat and went to the High Bar to get connected again. I told Luigi of my raffraddore and he suggested a nice hot tea with limone, menta, e miele (lemon, mint, and honey). I also enjoyed the aperitivo that he had prepared for the evening. My favorites being the unusual combination of chickpeas and oranges in a sauce for dipping pita bread and crostini with red cabbage.

So, thank you for the e-mails I received. I apologize for worrying some, but I am in a healthier space now. Buona notte e grazie!

Original Oil Painting Mario The Naked Gondolier

Cari Amici,
Back in November, I did a sketch in a white pencil on a dark charcoal paper of an Italian model named Mario. Another “light emerging from darkness” image of a fairly classical style standing pose of a nude male figure.

I liked the shapes so much that I decided to make this study of Mario into one of my Naked Gondoliers painting series. (Mario is actually the first one completed in this painting series.) And so, I have painted this lovely male figure in oil on canvas in my favorite sepia tones: Mario, The Naked Gondolier. I wanted just a hint of Venice in the image, so there is a dark curve of a bridge behind Mario’s head and a gondola under his feet. There is a slight hint of light rippling in dark water to the right. I love the mysterious qualities of this image and may keep exploring these ideas.

Mario measures 45 cm x 30 cm (approximately 17.5 x 12 inches). This oilo sul tela (oil on canvas) will sell for $600, plus shipping and insurance from Italia $25.
I take PayPal here or I can send you an invoice via e-mail.

------

And for those who are drawn to the original pencil drawing of the standing male figure, “Study for Mario The Naked Gondolier” is also available. The figure is about 42 centimeters (just over 16 inches) tall. I drew in the light shapes only with a white pencil on a dark charcoal grey Canson paper.

The paper for framing purposes is around 47 x 30 cm, not counting what would be under the mat and frame. The drawing is signed and dated 7 November 2007.

The original drawing of Mario sells for $200, plus $20 shipping and handling.

And again, thank for your making the dream possible.

Pastries and Pals In Florence, Italy

Cari Amici,
When I was not painting today, I took some time out for visiting friends. Lisa’s husband John has been visiting Florence from Florida. John became one of my first readers of this blog, I think, shortly after I met Lisa last September. And so today, he got to be surrounded by chicks. We three met up with Skye and Anna at Piazza Salvemini en route to I Dolci di Patrizio Cosi – one of the best pastry shops in Florence. My favorites are Fruttini Misti, mixed little fruits in small pie crusts.

After leaving Patrizio Cosi, we walked down Borgo degli Albizi. I include an image here of one of my favorite courtyards in centro. I never tire of it. Now there are beautiful red flowers – perhaps hibiscus – in the pot.

While Skye and Anna were exploring shops around Piazza della Repubblica, Lisa, John, and I went up to the terrazza on the top floor of La Rinascente that I referenced recently. Lisa treated us to a couple of beers and we enjoyed the sun warming up the day. For sitting around doing virtually nothing, it was a pretty good way to go. A wonderfully warm older Italian woman took two shots of us that I include here. And as she and her party left, she wished us a “Buono soggiorno.” (Have a good stay.)

Soon after, Anna headed off for another walk before sundown and John and Lisa headed back to their place. Skye was still angling for some shopping, so I went with her. We stopped in at some big name department store not too far from the Duomo. Skye was enchanted with the clothes there, while I was less enchanted with the sales staff – one woman in particular.

Knowing that Skye would buy what she was trying on, I felt entitled enough to ask this saleswoman where the restroom was. She actually looked me up and down before saying, “Il bagno e rotto.” (The bathroom is broken.) Now, I am no fashion queen to be sure, but that was just rude!

Later, as I was foolin’ around with my Canon, she told me, “NO fotos!” Feeling a bit annoyed, bored, and rather unappealing, I sat down in an orange area near the fitting rooms where Skye was. And I used my snapshot camera to take this self-portrait. Orange is supposed to make one feel happy. Sometimes I think that only chocolate and good friends can do that.