This week we visited a very interesting art exhibit at the Museum of San Domenico in Forli. The building is oddly constructed, partially old and wonderful, but with square bits tacked on for entry and cafeteria. I like that the museum uses broad hallways which were part of the original structure, as well as small rooms (bedrooms?) to contain assorted artwork. |
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 | Funny Flowers Blair Pessemier acrylic/flat canvas 20 x 8" 50 x 20 cm 125.00 |
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| We entered the show which began with two images from Pompeii. The first very large room featured Narcissus and Echo, an apt beginning to an exposition of the Auto-Ritratto, or Self Portrait. Handsome young men looking into pools, and Echo flying through the air (repeating other’s words) was not exactly what we expected, but a truly marvelous introduction to the subject. We continued to Greek masks and mirrors with Prudence and Vanity. |
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 | Self Portrait 2025 Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/paper 16x 12" 40 x 30cm 125.00 |
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| There were hundreds of fabulous self-portraits throughout the building, and we spent nearly 2 hours looking at them all. There were other portraits of artists, including a small sketch of Caravaggio, one of my favorite pieces. Women were fairly well represented, and there were self-portrait sculptures, as well as paintings and drawings. We saw self-portraits executed as recently as 2014. |
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 | Self Portrait Blair Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 10.5 x 9" 27 x 23cm 490.00 |
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| This show really stayed with Blair and me. We came home and painted our own self portraits the next day (Blair’s birthday). The show gave us pause to reflect on ourselves, and our current state of affairs. We have been so many people over the years, living here and there, trying to make a living, and seeking the meaning of life. You could really see that in how the painters, particularly, chose to execute their images – a man in a red velvet hat, another in a roomful of friends, one in a circus, others in classical poses and garb. Chuck Close depicted only his eyes in glasses. I can see my age in my own self portrait – something painfully apparent after a week of painting and entertaining. |
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 | Trees with Wild Tulips Blair Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 20 x 12" 50 x 30cm 490.00 |
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| We drove back to Roccamalatina, where Berlino awaited us. I actually like living in the countryside, a thing I’d never have believed 20 years ago (“3 days in the country is more than enough for me,” I’d say). Blair and I pot our flowers, and hang our new anti-fly curtain, boring old coots that we are. We are thinking about a foray to Germany or Austria this summer, where we can paint in the footsteps of Klimt or Kandinsky, Munter or Marc. We’ll send you a card. |
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Flowers Artichokes and Pear Laurie Pessemier acrylic/paper 11 x 8.5" 90 each |
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NOTES: All of our work is now available as reproductions, on paper, canvas and framed.
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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. NO POLITICS please.
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