Altars Santa Trinita Church

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

In my last post I showed you a few images I took of the Church of Santa Trinita in Florence, Italy.

Almost every church that I can remember entering in Italy has more than one altar. In fact, the sides of the churches seem to have many different “mini-altars” creating – for me – almost the feeling of “information overload.” I mean that in a good way, in that almost all of these altars have an individual function, often dedicated to one specific holy identity. Each is filled with art. What a great collection any one church has!


I include here a few images I was able to take before being told not to take images. See how each of these altars, viewed separately, has its own personality? One is quite elaborate in its decoration, another relatively sparse. Sometimes the space lies behind gorgeously designed iron gates, to be opened upon invitation or a special event. Each is lovely and quite tranquil.

Santa Trinita Church in Florence Italy

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

The Church of Santa Trinita is across the river from my flat in Florence, Italy, not far from the ponte (bridge) by the same name. It is easy to recognize because of the figurative relief sculpture on the front of the church, above the door.


In this second image, I wanted to give you an overall feel of the inside of Santa Trinita. I really love the architecture in these Florentine churches, especially when the stones are alternated in color between the green and white marbles. And the frescoes on the ceilings and high on the walls always impress me with their magnitude of effort, if nothing else.


The Church of Santa Trinita appears to have it all: stained glass, frescoes, mosaics in stone (on the floors and walls), lovely arches, sculpture (of course!), fire, and paintings in several different styles.


The area behind the altar was open to tourists when I first arrived, but by the time I had walked to the back, a priest was shooing everyone out and closing off that part. I hope you enjoy today’s photos. I will be writing more about this church in the coming days.

If you like what you read, enjoy the photos, and would like to help support this blog(ger) / artist, click here . . .

Easter in Florence Italy

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Two years ago, I passed my first Pasqua in Italia – specifically in Florence (Firenze). I wrote about the parades and the Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart) here on this blog. Last Easter I was also in Firenze, but I was so busy preparing for my solo exhibit here that I missed out on all the festivities.

Last spring in Florence I met Lili, one of my blog readers. She and her sister Lucrecia had a wonderful time enjoying the Florentine Easter celebration and clued me in on a little known event: the blessing of the Crusadean relic. This year, it was my goal to see another part of the Florentine holiday.

So my flatmate Amit and I met my friend Susan at the Ponte (Bridge) San Trinita and walked across the Arno River to the Piazza del Limbo and into the Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro. It is here that the flintstones awarded the Pazzi family after the Crusades are blessed and then used to light the Holy Fire.



Now, just a disclaimer: While I subscribe to no religion of my own, I am not totally insensitive to the thoughts of others. There were a lot of cameras around from the press and other Italians and maybe a few strainieri (foreigners).

In the second image, the man on the left wearing the banner of Italy’s colors around his chest (with his back to us) is the Mayor of Firenze. I remember him campaigning last time I was here.

I had a strange feeling this year. While inside the church and as the mass was wrapping up, the parade of drummers outside arrived. The rhythmic cadence seemed loud and penetrating to me, while at the same time hypnotizing. I felt transported back to World War II and wondered if this was something close to how it might have felt to be in an old stone building while bombs and shots began to be fired all around you. Well, maybe I should not allow my mind to wander in church!

After we all left the church, the relics were paraded down to Palazzo Strozzi, where they joined the parade for the special cart. I have only included the photos up to the point in which both parades came together. Although the explosion was a little bit different this year, I did not stay long. Perhaps it is because I was so tired after having gotten up early to attend a church service or maybe because I am still adjusting to a life with people (when in Texas, a large majority of my time is spent working alone), but the crowds this morning made me feel … annoyed and a bit bored.
So, if you would like to read more about the Explosion of the Cart, visit my blog entry of Easter 2008

Buona Pasqua

Wine, Women, and Wood

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

In my last blog post, I invited you to Florence, Texas, to watch stone carvers at work and see an arts festival at The Vineyard. That happens both Saturday and Sunday.

Now, Saturday NIGHT, is a different kind of event. I will be leaving Florence around 4 p.m. and headed to south Austin. Won’t you join me?

27 March Saturday evening: 6 - 10 p.m.
"Wine, Women, and Wood"
The Curiouseum inside the Village Green South
6800 West Gate Boulevard
Austin, Texas

featuring Kelly's sculpture and 2-d figurative art paired with Fine French Woodworking by Brittany's Thierry Amisse! Add some wine, pate and a demonstration of Petanque (France's version of boccie), and we've (Susan and Ruth) got a VERY curvaceous evening planned! Live music too! For more info, call Susan Buhrman: 512.925.4085 or Ruth Glendinning 512.744.3411


Both events are FREE. Invite your friends too!
Thank you so much.

Stone Carving Competition Florence Texas

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

During my Open Studio back in February, two stone carvers, Brooke and Matt, visited me from the Florence, Texas area. I was invited to join them in a relatively new event, a very short carving competition and art festival at a vineyard.

While I am not very competitive with other people (preferring to push myself instead), I really am looking forward to meeting other stone carvers in this area not far from my Texas home.

I understand that art will be for sale, as well as there being a silent auction of a variety of items to help out the local library in Florence. So, come on out to The Vineyard, try some wine, and watch us carvers work!

27 & 28 March
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (but I leave around 4 p.m.)
Sunday hours: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. (with the Silent Auction closing at 4 p.m.)
“2010 Stone Carving Competition and Fine Arts Festival”
The Vineyard
8711 FM 487
Florence, Texas 76527
Contact: Kambrah Garland at 512-924-7447


Pictured here is a new marble carving that I have started and will probably be working on during the festival. I will also be exhibiting a few selected works of 3-dimensional art.
Come on out!

Portrait of a Young Artist Marley

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Back in February, in the heart of a colder-than-usual winter in central Texas, I had to admit that I would not be able to finish my marble sculpture “The Gymnast.” I am heading back to Italy soon and have so many other projects that I needed to wrap up before I leave.

So, here are a few images of how I have left her . . . for the time being. I also include a self portrait that I took on the day it snowed here: 23 Feb. For me, it was “a wasabi moment,” a phrase I coined after I enjoyed my first sushi with friends a few summers ago. I mean it to refer to any short-lived pleasure that tickles more than one sense.







One of the great rewards of an artist – or anyone really – is to learn that you have inspired a child. Recently on Facebook, I have reconnected with a friend from my college days. He told me that he and his family were enjoying catching up with my activities by reading this blog. In particular, his daughter Marley entertained him by emulating the pike pose of my marble carving above. I am sure that she could assume this athletic position easier than I can!

Later, my friend shared this self-portrait of his budding artist daughter, which I print with permission here. It is quite marvelous, do you not agree?

Ponte Vecchio Florence Italy Art

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

“Il Ponte Vecchio-Firenze, Italia” is the last of this series of Florence, Italy-inspired charcoal and pastel artworks that I will be able to complete before returning to la bella Italia soon.

Florence has enough eye candy that she has been teaching me to just sit and watch in a way that I rarely have allowed myself to do since I was a child. I like to walk around Florence at many different times of day. One day I found myself sitting on the Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) behind the bust of Cellini. I had time that day to stay a while and watch the lives of various figures intermingling on this famous bridge in the Renaissance City. This is a beautiful view of a silhouetted Ponte Vecchio framing the next bridge upstream (the Ponte alle Grazie) with some Tuscan hills in the background. The reflections in the River Arno are quite peaceful and beautiful.


I tend to be a fan of backlighting, even if I am often blinded or even crying a bit as I draw. But seriously, what an effect the light has! And I try to tackle some new challenge with each artwork that I create. For example, this is the first drawing in which I have depicted a crowd of people. I like all of the abstract patterns. This drawing is completely in charcoal, except for black pastels to give me a darker tone than I can get with only charcoal. And, the old woman standing alone, wanting the attention of the others, has been colored with pastels. This may have been a subconscious flashback to my days in the image preservation field, in which I oil painted on photographs printed onto a fiber paper.

Even if you have never been to Florence or Italy, I hope you will enjoy the bright sunshine entering the shapes on the Ponte Vecchio.

As with many of my 2-dimensional artworks, giclée (smaller than the original drawing or painting) and notecards are available.

“Il Ponte Vecchio-Firenze, Italia”
17” x 23”
Pastel and Charcoal on Roma-brand paper
Copyright 2010 Kelly Borsheim
$1800 + $25 shipping and insurance