View from Rinascenti Blair Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 12 x 12 30 x 30cm
View from above San Domenico Laurie Fox Pessemier 11.5 x 8" 30 x 20 cm
Salt at Nubia Blair Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 11.5 x 19.5" 30 x 50cm
Salt Pyramids Acrylic/canvas 11.5 x 19.5" 30 x 50cm
Mending the nets at Aspra Blair Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 23.5 x 31.5 60 x 80cm
At Piazza Magione Acrylic/canvas 11.5 x 19.5" 30 x 50cm
House at Piazza Magione Acrylic/canvas 11.5 x 19.5" 30 x 50cm
Palm along the waterfront Blair Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 12 x 12" 30 x 30cm
I am feeling nostalgic for Palermo even before I leave. Not this apartment, certainly, not even the
neighborhood, but rather for the atmosphere of Sicily.
We painted today in the Piazza Magione. It is a large area that includes more than
just the “piazza” – it is an extended grassy park, once a World War II “carpet
bombing” site (General Patton liberated Palermo from the Germans and from
Mussolini, in its most recent war). The basilica
of the Magione was restored, and the church of St Francis; but the rest of the
half-standing buildings did not benefit from the Marshal Plan Funds, which were
confiscated by the Mafia for “development” (of their own homes). Many Italians just abandoned the area, even
owners of once fine palazzos. The
people who stayed chined bits and pieces together, and now the neighborhood has
a very specific charm. The result is not
just the half standing bombed out church, but a house that has been built onto
the back of the ruin.
At 9:30 this Saturday morning men were out drinking coffee
at stands, others walking their dogs.
Two stray dogs came my way – I thought it odd how close they walked
together, but one was blind. He seemed
to stare at my picture with his white eyes, to the point when one of my many
onlookers commented on his interest.
Blair and I have started to attract interest in our
work: yesterday one of the contactors on
a building near where we park our car asked Blair if he would be interested in restoring
an ancient frieze in the building. “We’re
leaving Monday” Blair told him.
