Sculpture Prep for Public Space

Dear Art Lover,

     On Sunday, several of us sculptors from this past July’s symposium returned to Cava Nardini [cava means ‘stone quarry’ in Italian].  The sculptures were lifted with either cords of metal or heavy-duty fabric straps and laid on their sides on top of a wooden pallet.  Then holes were drilled under the bases to secure the sculptures in their new home.

Sculpture by Silvio Viola

     Yesterday Marco Nardini loaded the sculptures onto a truck and they were all taken to the Parco di Pinocchio in Collodi, Italy.  All but one of our symposium works were of the theme of Pinocchio and will now find their place in the Park of Pinocchio.  Collodi is the Tuscan town where the story of the world-famous puppet who became a real boy was born.  [The exception was a bas-relief giant stone postcard view of Vellano by Roberto Politano and that was mounted for all to see at the entrance of that village back in August.]

     Today I am on my way to this park with Silvio Viola, the sculptor who organized this whole project with Marco Nardini and the Mayor of Pescia and others.  It will be my first time there and I am curious to see it after the various reports I have heard.  The installation should be completed by tomorrow, but last I heard, they may wait for a spring dedication ceremony.

http://www.pinocchio.it/

Peace,

Kelly

P.S.  Please check out the “Raccolta e Regalo” sale I am having on selected artworks.. good through Dec 31, 2016.  http://www.borsheimarts.com/SaleArt2016-LaRaccoltaeIlRegalo.htm

http://BorsheimArts.com

Pigiamas Market Italy

Dear Art Lover,

     Not everything works in Italy.  I say that as a person with little fashion sense.  Saturday, my neighbors took me into town.  I had to pay a bill and do other errands.  Also, I am gradually trying to prepare for this upcoming surgery and thus I decided to shop for pyjamas since I have none and do not want to be embarrassed when I have an overnight stay in a hospital.  But, I am ahead of myself.

    We passed the fruits and veggie vendors in a small piazza and headed into the Saturday market in Pescia, Italy, in Piazza Mazzini.  We first saw a booth selling lots of red panties.  So, I had the opportunity to share with my British neighbor the New Year’s Eve tradition of wearing red panties that I learned about in a fun way many years ago.

Italian New Year's Eve Tradition:  Wear red panties that night for good luck

       So, ready for a pigiama party?  So, it seems that what is available for single women my age (or even non-singles I suppose) in the “non-lingerie” category of PJs is either to dress like a nonna (grandmother) or like a little girl.  But here is the thing:  More and more you see English, or rather, an attempt at English, being used on products or store names in Italy.  They do not always work.  Sometimes we English speakers cannot even make out what words are intended, as in this hanging pyjama top, which caused my Brit neighbor and me to tilt our heads in confusion.

     I never appreciated that fashion fad in the US over a decade ago in which women were supposed to wear an outfit in black and white with obvious patterns that resemble those of a cow.  Along those same lines, look closer at this top with the nonsensical English:  What woman, especially a “mature” woman, wants to wear a dangling udder between spread legs?  I understand that sheep are the symbol of sleepiness (or not), but seriously, who comes up with this stuff?

     Or how about this farting cow with the snow-capped letters spelling out “Happy”?  The text says, “Feel with your heart, and strive to forward, to be grateful”  At least the designer did not punctuate that with a “full stop” as the British call it or a “period” as Americans refer to the end of a complete sentence.  I am also a bit surprised because I rarely think anymore that there is a place in Italy that does not have easy access to a native English speaker. 

     Sigh, and in case you are wondering because I KNOW you are curious:  I ended up buying a men’s pair of jammies in a solid color of slate blue with very soft fabric and lounging room… with pockets for phone and camera, no less.  Hahah.. well, I still will not ever win any fashion awards, and I am likely to remain single for the rest of my life.  

     See the red panties tradition post here:  http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2012/01/italy-new-years-eve-tradition.html

.

Peace,

Kelly

P.S.  Please check out the “Raccolta e Regalo” sale I am having on selected artworks.. good through Dec 31, 2016.  http://www.borsheimarts.com/SaleArt2016-LaRaccoltaeIlRegalo.htm

http://BorsheimArts.com

 

Creation of Bronze Garden Sculpture

Dear Art Lover,

     Ok, I just finished one page about my new bronze sculpture "Rock Towers and Frogs."  It has a lot of images about the process I went through to create the piece and some of the foundry work.  I will have more in the next art newsletter that I am starting to write now.. after a wee break from the computer.  Thank you for your interest.  Please share this page if you enjoy it.  http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2016/RockTowersFrogGardenSculpture.htm

Peace,

Kelly

P.S.  Please check out the “Raccolta e Regalo” sale I am having on selected artworks.. good through Dec 31, 2016.  http://www.borsheimarts.com/SaleArt2016-LaRaccoltaeIlRegalo.htm

Subscribe to the art newsletter here (it is FREE):  http://www.borsheimarts.com/contact.htm

Insulation foam used for sculpture armature

Driving the sculpture to Pietrasanta, the city of sculpture

Tuscan Christmas Trees

Dear Art Lover,

     While Pescia is known in Italy, especially in Tuscany, for growing flowers and shipping worldwide, apparently the small village in Valleriana (the hills north of Pescia) called Castelvecchio is the home of Christmas trees.  Father and son team Renzo and Alfio Marchini grow the trees on various plots of land around Castelvecchio.  Renzo told me recently that not only are their trees shipped all over Italy, but also in Switzerland.  That surprised me, for I never imagined Switzerland having a lack of trees!

Alfio and father Renzo ship Christmas trees all over Italy and more.

     So, if you would like a happy tree that is freshly cut from the hills in Tuscany, contact Renzo or Alfio at (0039) 0572.40.00.86  Enjoy these selected images of the trees in their happy birthplace and the men who find them homes for their Christmas joy.  Vivaio Alberi di Natale!

Peace,

Kelly

P.S.  Please check out the “Raccolta e Regalo” sale I am having on selected artworks.. good through Dec 31, 2016.  http://www.borsheimarts.com/SaleArt2016-LaRaccoltaeIlRegalo.htm

http://BorsheimArts.com

Alfio and friends are filling orders for Christmas Trees!

Looking up towards the Pieve (Church) in Castelvecchio, Italy

Raccolta dei Alberi di Natale - Overlooking Sorana, Italy

Christmas trees grow surrounded by olive grove and beans.