Artnotes: The One that Got Away

 

Dugout Torrington Twisters    Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas   24 x 20 "  60 x 50cm  695.00

One of the wonderful things that happens with painting is that someone sees your work, and connects.  It’s a legacy of sorts.   This week one of the Torrington Twisters saw a painting we did when we followed the baseball team in 2005 and contacted me.  How wonderful.  (write me and I'll send you a pdf of the book)

Baseball Ornaments by Blair (Laurie working on others)

It made me think of how one of the players said, “What could be better than playing baseball all summer? My friends, they’re all working, but me, I am just playing ball.”   When I read those lines now, I think about how I was so lucky to be painting pictures all summer.  And it continues.

I am so glad I chose art as a profession.  I will never be as rich as Jeff Bezos, or even someone who works in the Post Office, but I have had an incredible life, painting.  I have an Associates Degree in Art, and a Bachelor’s in Art History (and an unfulfilled MBA – that was a terrible experience) – I’ve been an art librarian, and art teacher and an artist.  I got to enjoy my entire “working” life, and I still do.  The person that contacted me on Instagram coaches a college level baseball team/workshop in New York.  He is still at baseball, like us, still at art.

Persimmon Still Life      Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/paper 20 x 28"   50 x 70cm  350.00

We went out to lunch this week with a former architecture classmate of Blair’s.  They talked about their favorite projects, who else in the class did great stuff.  It’s apparent that number of architectural “finanancial” successes from their school is limited. But it is similarly clear an overwhelming number love architecture and are really happy.   Blair and I, too, see the romance in things other people don’t.   It really isn’t about filling up the gas tank on your yacht; it’s about sitting by the river.

Fish Ornaments on a Rod   Laurie Fox Pessemier

I found a big bunch of old fishing poles at the “rigattiere” (second hand dealer) on Friday.  There’s a good half dozen, some bamboo, others plastic or fiberglass – they are so beautiful!  I think of how many summer days they spent by the Tiber river and the stories they heard.   Did you hear about the one that got away?

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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. 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

Artnotes: Domino

 

Dominoes on a Red Field     Laurie Fox Pessemier    Acrylic/canvas   12 x 12 "  30 x 30cm  475.00

The elephant in the room is just too hard to ignore this week.  We are heartbroken at the outcome of the US presidential election.   I am clearly out of pace with how the majority of Americans think; it is better that I live abroad.   If you are thinking of moving to Europe (the last vestige of freedom we would be happy to share with you the pros and cons we’ve experienced.  We might even rent out a room or two to aspiring expats.

3 Elephants     Laurie Pessemier  Acrylic/wood  20  x 6"  9"  50 X  15cm  290.00

I was lucky to have painted on Monday – dominoes.  I found a box in a junk store over the weekend, and got them for just 3 euros.

Playing Dominoes     Laurie Fox Pessemier    Acrylic/wood     13.5  x  4.5"  . 35 x 12cm   150.00

Dominoes were actually first played in Italy and France.  A French soldier brought them to England, where they really caught on and traveled the world.   Dominoes are sometimes called “bones”, after the material they were originally created from.   These dominoes are cheap black balsa wood with white spots.

Domino     Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas board  3.5 x 6"   9 x 15cm  75.00   (the three domino pictures together 590.00)

I love the word, domino, and the sound of the game.   Black and white, clickety-snap, matching, blocking, building a labyrinth of tiles.  First one to get rid of all of their tiles says “domino” and gets the remaining points (dots on other people’s tiles).

Tree Ornaments (we use them on our Maypole, too) by Blair Pessemier

We’re keeping up ornament production for our Christmas fair in Stimigliano.  Blair’s hopped on the bandwagon, too, and we’ve hung some on our Maypole up here in Rocca Malatina.   Maybe I’ll make some dangling dominoes.

The Cards We're Dealt     Laurie Fox Pessemier    Acrylic/canvas   12  x 12"  .30  x 30 cm  475.00

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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. 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

Artnotes: Daydream

 

Carthiginian Vessel   Laurie Fox Pessemier   Acrylic/canvas panel     9.5 x 12"  24 x 30cm  375.00

A man sat at the bar at the Camera Café coffee shop on Thursday.  I didn’t recognize him, but we really don’t know everyone who lives in our greater community of Guiglia.  He had a coffee, and was gazing across the restaurant.  He was DAYDREAMING!   Youth in Glistening Apparel (Maypole)  Blair Pessemier   Acrylic/canvas  39.5 x 25.5"  100 x 65cm  750.00 Now, that’s a word, a concept nobody considers anymore:  daydreaming.   Everyone else in the café was conspicuously on their cellphones, or else engaged in conversation, and even many of those chatterers were on the cellphone, simultaneously.  To be caught in a daydream seems like to be found out, that you’re not really a serious person, or without friends (you know, those 3,9k friends on facebook?), but for me daydreaming is such a joy.  I still do it sometimes, when I am out walking Berlino, or ironing, or hanging out clothes.   I find myself seeking tasks that allow my mind to wander.  Of course, daydreaming could be a sign of mental decline, although babies and children seem to be its biggest advocates, and their minds are growing. Happy Fish   Laurie Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas  12 x 12"  30 x 30cm    375.00 It has finally stopped raining in Italy, at least for the time being.  There is mud and puddles, and our Wifi transmitter, which hasn’t worked for more than a week, is sitting in a telephone box up to its ears in mud.   At least we know the problem, even if we’re number 52 on the list for the repair.   Anyway, I am thinking how much I’d like to get off of social media, and might limit the time I spend on it in 2025.  I like to be in touch with all of you, but deleting ads and creepy messages is clearly not worthwhile (someone wrote 5 paragraphs to tell me what a wretch I am).  It’s that time of year when I am considering resolutions, and new plans.  Well, I’s better get through Christmas first. The Steadfast Tin Soldier (and his ballerina) I love making Christmas ornaments – although they aren’t terribly holiday-ish.  I sit at the table and they take on a life of their own.   They seem to be increasing in size as well as quantity and I feel a large abstract figure coming on.  I dream about new projects every day. Sign up for Artnotes by contacting me at lfpessemier@gmail.com 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

Artnotes: Pitcher of Possibilities

 

Pitcher of Possibility    Laurie Fox Pessemier   Acrylic/paper   23.5 x 17"   60 x 43cm   275.00

I love my studio in Stimigliano, and the genius who lives in its walls is always happy to see me.  This week I painted a passel of holiday ornaments and a couple of paintings with her.  Although it rained a bit, I ran the heater and lit the candles so it was cozy and romantic.  We just spent the week in Stimigliano  – we needed to pick up a couple of paintings we sold (we mail from the Roccamalatina area, where we have an honest and dependable shipper).  Berlino is not as keen on Stimigliano – he’s on leash all the time.  So we never stay too long. Photo from our Window in Stimigliano    Blair Pessemier Blair and I took a couple of little trips while we were there (actually 3, if you count visiting friends in Viterbo).  We went to the nearby town of Civita Castellana, where we bought two small pieces of pottery.   There’s a family in town who makes ceramics in the Etruscan style, using porcupine hairs to etch details, and other quite particular techniques.  They are an interesting family, the mother and one or both of the sons sitting in the shop, she chattering on and on about this that and the other thing.  We actually went to Civita Castellana to see the ceramic museum (the area is famous for their pottery), but it was closed for the day for work (a leak? ).   The walls of Civita Castellana are dotted with sculptural treasures from millennia ago.   We stopped by the church, where we saw a most interesting (new-ish) ceramic sculpture of the Holy Family. Photo of a Corner in Civita Castellana   Blair Pessemier Two days later we visited Rome, where we walked through the Borghese gardens and visited the Museo Carlo Bilotti Aranciera di Villa Borghese.  This museum used to be the orangerie for the Villa Borghese.  There is little indication of its former use, save for a fountain on the lower level.  It was remade to house works by di Chirico, Warhol, Larry Rivers – all owned by Carlo Bilotti, who funded the renovation.   There was a current show by an Italian artist, Sandro Visca, which was quite interesting.   Although Blair and I have a more traditional style than any of these, it’s always a shot in the arm to have new, brilliant input.  Dancing Wolf (for Maypole show) Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas  18 x 13w  46 x 33cm  490.00 Walking around the Borghese Gardens is one of our favorite things.  We think we could live alongside the garden, and Berlino could walk and play with the many other dogs there.   We put the idea of moving to Rome into our satchel of possibilities as we hop in the car and drive back.  Potential dog friends for Berlino in the Borghese Gardens Sign up for Artnotes by contacting me at lfpessemier@gmail.com 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 7PM (this week only); NY 2 PM; LosAngeles 11AM

Artnotes: Motorcycle

 

Motorcycle Christmas Ornament  Laurie Fox Pessemier

On one of our first dates, Blair and I went to the rodeo in Ellensburg, Washington.   We stayed overnight on someone’s porch (a friend of a friend).   In the spirit of the weekend, I bought a motorcycle from the people who owned the place.  It was a Honda 90, and it came with 2 helmets.  They delivered it to the other side of the mountains for me (there’s Eastern (where the rodeo was) and Western (where Seattle is) Washington).  I rode it all around Seattle, sometimes with Blair and sometimes with my girlfriend Del.  It was big fun, but really I wasn’t a motorcycle girl and eventually it petered out into obscurity.  Blair and I became an “item” and traveled in his 1970 Saab. Last week, we visited the Ducati Motorcycle factory.  I had never imagined going there, but actually it was quite fun and inspirational, and our guest loved it.   I declined sitting on the big bike – I couldn’t imagine straddling that huge engine; our friend tried it, though.   We watched the movie on the history of the Ducati family business from bicycles onward.  Both Blair and I love product design, and Ducati didn’t disappoint.  From trendy colors to swoopy lines, you could identify 1940, 1970, and all the rest.  Material innovations (those bubble windscreens!) and the currently available electric powertrain inspire new designs yearly. I’ve turned some motorcycle images into Christmas ornaments – we are going to be in the Stimigliano Christmas Fair on 1 December.  I am making cardboard ornaments I can sell as a lead in to our bigger work.   It’s all I’ve been working on, thinking Christmas before Halloween.  We did buy a pumpkin for carving yesterday. Beef   Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas 24 x 12"  60 x 30cm    490.00 I really did like my motorcycle, although I was happier riding “off road”.  It couldn’t carry us both up hills, either.     Somehow I can imagine powering through the forest here on that little bike, although I guess the forest wouldn’t be so nice with a motorcycle in it.    I’ll have to resort to walking with Berlino leading the way. Sign up for Artnotes by contacting me at lfpessemier@gmail.com 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

Artnotes: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous

 

Bookish  Laurie Fox Pessemier   Acrylic/canvas  13.5 x 10"  34 x 25cm  375.00

We have been to at least a dozen new places in the past week and a half. All of this activity precluded last week’s Artnotes, but now I have a bucket of new inspiration. The most unusual and perhaps most moving place we visited was the Ustica Memorial, outside of Bologna.   It is monument to a mysterious plane crash and subsequent art project by Christian Boltanski, a French artist.  The architecture of the building itself is unique, having been fashioned from old tram sheds, at the edge of Bologna, not far from the airport.   Itavia flight  870 crashed in June of 1980, and no definitive reason for its demise and the 81 people on board, has ever been revealed.  It is rumored to have been shot down (they know it was an external force) by NATO, or France, or Italy, possibly in an attempt to assassinate Gaddafi.    In any case, no one survived. Swallows at Hammonnasset   Laurie Fox Pessemier   Commission Through the efforts of a sister of one of the passengers, the hulk of the plane and all its contents (we don’t see those), were washed (baptized, in the words of the artist) and reassembled in this building.   It looks like a puzzle, all the bits, most about 6 x 6 inches each, patched together.   The plane is oddly complete, at least on the outside, and you can see through the DC 9 structure.   But it’s the setting that the artist created that brings it back to “life”.  81 lightbulbs hang around the structure, slowly illuminating and dimming, to represent the passengers, almost fading away, but never completely.   There are likewise so many smoky mirrors around the room with the voices of those passengers talking about what they will do when they arrive:  eat dinner, get results of a test, hold mommy’s hand.    It is a little disconcerting, but at the same time, not forgetting, not ,glossing over, but asking still, “what happened here?” Native American for our MAYPOLE   Laurie Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas  58 x 28"  147 x 71cm    750.00 I am not sure what our guest made of it, but as an antidote, we went afterward to the Modern Art Museum in Bologna (MAMBO).   Now, that was weird.  We were nearly denied entrance because we had 2 cents less than the entry fee for the three of us (we had to resort to a credit card, which certainly cost the museum more than the two cents).  The goony girl at the counter recommended we visit the permanent collection. It was the most hilarious visit of our 12 day adventure.   There was a video of an artist trying to board a train while wearing an outrageously large inner tube, for example.  There were all sorts of oddball things like this, but the museum itself won the award for bizarre performance. The guards were mainly older women, oddly dressed (judged by me, who is always oddly dressed), sitting in chairs and completely motionless throughout the exhibits – I though one was actually a Duane Hanson sculpture until I almost touched her.  Were they meditating?   The weirdest person was the ticket taker, who dashed toward us as we approached an exhibit, and in fact, bumped into me.  Did he think I snuck in?   It was all completely hilarious and an insane contrast to the morning’s somber memorial. Egg Cup    Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/wood   4 x 13"   10 x 33cm    190.00 The day was a success from the sublime to the ridiculous, and set the tone for the rest of our adventures.  And Artnotes returns. Where my Muse Lives  Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas  10 x 9"   25 x 23cm  290.00 Sign up for Artnotes by contacting me at lfpessemier@gmail.com 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. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88093708954?pwd=M04zNHB4dFZkREp3bThweUd1YnVDZz09 Meeting ID: 880 9370 8954 Passcode: 886402 Rome 8PM; NY 2 PM; LosAngeles 11AM