Artnotes: A Place to Live

 

I painted our studio doors this week

We have to travel to Rome to get our art supplies;  the far side, nearest the ocean, at Ostia.  We have graduated to the professional artist level, and get fifty percent off of our canvas purchases.    These are the best prices we’ve ever had, and we splurge a little and buy marked-down large jars of color.  I select a cadmium red and cadmium yellow – deadly elements I rarely use, but they are so beautiful. The store is in a rather dicey section of town, fascinating for its tumble down architecture, pitted roads and constant construction.  I love the cattywampus-ness of it all.  We pack our purchases into the car and head another 15 minutes to the beach at Ostia.

Tiger:  Cadmium Red and Yellow    Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas   56 x 25"   142 x  63.5cm   750.00

If you’ve not been to Italian beaches, you might be disappointed to know they are carved up into private sections, where people pay for a tent and chair, or a little cabana (many have children’s playgrounds).  A lot of this set up seems to have taken place in the 60s, judging from the “retro” architectural style of the bars and restaurants.  The regular visitor, as in us, must find a path to walk out to the water, where it’s open. Once arrived, we are among a wonderful group of:  young girls, sitting on a blanket, cross legged, dancing with their hands to music; middle to late-aged men, visiting, standing up, dressed in dark turtlenecks and slip on shoes that turn up a bit on the end; older folks, bundled up in parkas, walking near the water; women sunning in teeny-weeny bikinis.  Berlino is beside himself with joy, so much so he poops at the shore and as we scoop, we are all doused by a wave. Bernie freaks out, pulling Blair to his knees; a woman laughs, we do too.  Berlino, despite his breed, is afraid of the water.  You see, we fit into the motley array of folk at the beach.

Hip hip hippopotamus   Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas   33 x 33"   84 x 84cm   750.00

We talk about moving here, how fun it would be.  There is a constant feed of new material to inspire us.  I look on the internet and there are only two apartments listed for rent.   I recall talking to a girl at the bar in Medicine Bow, Wyoming about how much fun it must be to be a local. “Every place is great,” she replies, “until you live there.” We eat slices of porchetta that have been getting warm in the sun before we start our drive back to Stimigliano.   I take a big whiff of salt air, as if to swallow the sea until next time.

The sign says "will you marry me?"  and if you'd like to see Berlino digging that hole, it's on Instagram reels @lauriepessemier

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