Artnotes: Roll Over

 

11 March 2023  Roccamalatina, MO  Italia

We came home a few days early from our art residency in Normandy.  Our friend, who we were to meet in Paris, wasn’t coming after all.   And there was a significant shortage of petrol for the car, thanks to the protests over the retirement age (the French want to retire at 62 period).   We gassed up the day before the protest started, and drove to the Alps.

King and Prince    Laurie Fox Pessemier   Terra Cotta  3"  9cm  75.00

I try to make every little stop be worthwhile.  We could have stayed in the utility-grade hotel or, for another 5 euros stay in a 200 year old chalet/hotel in near Mont Blanc.   I chose the latter.  We stayed in a little pine-paneled room, le Coin Savoyard, with a view of the mountains and the little illuminated church across the street.  Our balcony had heart-shaped cutouts and a chair so we could sit out there.   It was outrageously romantic, and we ate in the little restaurant downstairs, which was a little expensive.

A variety of terra cotta medallions.  I didn't do as many of these as intended during our stay -- painting took center stage.  These are 2.5 - 4 inches across.

Food was the most noticeably more expensive element on our entire sojourn in France.  Even groceries are twice the price (of similar Italian fare), although less than what they cost in America.   Shockingly, even fuel for the car was significantly less in Italy, and it was plentiful.  I cringe whenever I think of how much of that pollutant we use, but our house in the mountains really doesn’t lend itself to a hybrid . Italy is far behind France on refueling.  Every French parking garage had a large number of charging stations.

Rolling Dog   Laurie Fox Pessemier  Terra Cotta  3"  8cm    75.00

Berlino was a real sport, in the far back of the car and he encouraged us to stop every 2 to 3 hours on our 12 hour ride home.   He has been refusing to get in the car ever since.   The temperature is a good twenty-five Fahrenheit degrees (12+ C) warmer here.   We ate lunch outdoors today.  Berlino lies in the sun, but must relent every fifteen minutes, or roll over.

Berlino, not for sale.

INVITING All Artists to present their Work:   Paint, Literature, Crafts, Food.... Pessemier's Sunday Salon Weekly on Sunday  No Reservation Necessary   How it works: Bring a piece of your ART: that could be visual, like painting or printmaking; or literary, as in poetry or prose; or crafts, like metalwork or knitting; or food, or music.  Something you made, or feel particularly inspired by.  You have about 5 minutes to present, and we'll ooh, ahh, or answer questions you have.  You can also come and see how we work before diving in.  Just show up on Zoom at a minute or two before the hour.    No selling, no networking until after everyone has presented. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88093708954?pwd=M04zNHB4dFZkREp3bThweUd1YnVDZz09 Meeting ID: 880 9370 8954 Passcode: 886402 Rome 8PM; NY 2 PM; LosAngeles 11AM