Artnotes: Be Here Now

 

Grounded Fishing Boat  Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas 8 x 12”  20  x 30cm   290.00 It’s hard to live in the present when it’s raining out.  All I   can think about is when it gets sunny and I can work in the yard, play with Berlino, go for a walk without my glasses steaming up… Yesterday we took advantage of our forced imprisonment and went to a museum. Catkins    Laurie Pessemier  Acrylic/paper   17 x 12”    42 x 30cm  290.00 We drove to Imola, just on the other side of Bologna.  It rained much of the way, but was just sprinkling when we parked the car.  We went to the Museo San Domenico, which we’d been to a few years before.  This time we went to see a show of Tomasso Della Volpe.  He painted in the early 1900s and is referred to as Il Romagnolo – coming from the Romagna part of Emilia-Romagna, and painting around Imola and Cesenatica, by the sea.   He knew how to use color – particularly cadmium red, one of my favorite hues. Paintings by Tomasso Della Volpe It’s a beautiful little museum set in a cluster of buildings around a grassy courtyard.  Two young women, who spoke English, welcomed us.  They guided us to the show, and then helped us navigate the permanent collection.     I love this museum because it is completely “regional”.  Almost all the artists, from the earliest frescoes and icons, clear through the Futurists and even more contemporary ceramicists, are from around Imola.  Ceramics, from the Etrucans, Greeks (who both settled on the Romangna coastiline) and those originating from nearby Faenza, are featured prominently.    It is not an overwhelming collection – you can easily see it all in about 1-1/2 to 2 hours.  It is just right, as Goldilocks might say.   Moonlight on Sea   Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas  16 x 13” 44 x 33cm     390.00 There is also a film about Imola, started around 1050; and archeological finds from much earlier.   One of the things I actually like about AI and current technology is the ability to visually reconstruct the history of an area.  We followed the still extant medieval streets back to our car (on a slightly larger street).

Seated Nude After Maillol    Laurie Pessemier  Acrylic/paper 39.5 x 29”  100 x 75 cm   390.00 In celebration of Valentine’s day, we went out to lunch.  This is our 45th Valentine’s day together.  It’s a holiday I’ve always liked.  As a girl, my father always bought me one of those red satiny heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, accompanied by a card.   In Paris, we always had fantastic chocolates; in Italy, there is Perugia. San Valentino was in fact, an Italian.   It’s a simple present holiday: LOVE IS THE THING.  Tulip One  Laurie Pessemier  Acrylic/paper   17 x 12”    42 x 30cm  250.00 Speaking of looking forward:  this week, on Tuesday, is the celebration of Mardi Gras, Ramadan, and Chinese New Year.   It’s an auspicious day!   Is that the sun I see?    Berlino is starting school on Monday, to work on his comportment. Tulip Two   Laurie Pessemier  Acrylic/paper   17 x 12”    42 x 30cm  250.00 HOUSEKEEPING:  We make art to order, including portraits by Blair Pessemier.    Follow us on Instagram @lauriepessemier or Blair's @poeticfences See all of our painting at https://paintfox.com Most of our work is available as reproductions, custom sized and frames Support our art with a donation at:  https://donate.stripe.com/4gMaEW1XwfT041t1BCcEw00   sign up for Artnotes, our weekly art missive, by contacting me at lfpessemier@gmail.com or https://mailchi.mp/341f508cecf8/artnotes 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, no sales pitches, please. 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: Next Week Your House

 

First Tulips 2026  Laurie Pessemier  Acrylic/paper 15x 22”  38 x 55cm   290.00 I have been cooking up a storm this week.  In fact, on Saturday (today! As I write), I am bringing oxtail stew to a friends house to enjoy with three others.   My friend Jan and I have gotten on a local product craze, and we’re finding so many good sources.    She’s bringing a starter, and Blair is making dessert.  https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Roman-Oxtail-Stew-Coda-alla-Vaccinara/ Wishing for Spring  Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas   16 x 12”   40x 30cm  390.00 On Monday, I made a rabbit with oranges.  I know rabbit is not something Americans usually eat, but it is a delicious meat, light, not fatty.  Berlino likes it, too.  The recipe that inspired me (I never really follow to the letter – I am not a baker, where chemistry rules) was a result of the glut of citrus we get in Italy at this time of year.  Honestly, there is nothing like the lemons and oranges one gets from a small, local tree.  The lemons are like nothing else I ever tasted.  We are in the “blood orange” phase at the moment, and I got 6 pounds for just 3 euros at the local store.  I understand the recipe can be equally good with chicken.  https://www.casachiesi.com/project/orange-braised-rabbit Rainy Venice  (Vaporetto)   Blair  Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas  14 x 19.5”  35 x 50 cm  490.00 We went out for Chinese food after a disappointing art show at the MAST in Bologna.  The Modern Art foundation is an architecturally beautiful facility, often with terrific exhibits, but this one was one of those depressing-with-a-message affairs.  The Chinese food made up for any shortcomings.  I will be eternally grateful for my friend Larry who says, well, if you had a good meal it wasn’t a total loss. In the Chinese mode (with New Years right around the corner) I made a mushroom, cabbage and sardine stir fry served over rice.  https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/760726920-soy-glazed-mushroom-rice-bowl?smid=share-url    It was really good, but I still would rather go to the Chinese restaurant with pot stickers and chopsticks, whiny music in the background.   The cook is a small round man, with that straight spiky hair natural  only to Chinese men, I am thinking particularly Northern China.  When we went again on Friday (It’s less than 30 euros for the two of us), he was all by himself with 10 diners, and lots of to go orders.   Still, he did a great job – a Tofu master.    I know that China can’t possibly resemble a Chinese restaurant, but I would really like to go there.   When Berlino passes, we will  spend  3 months in China.  Well, provided he passes first.   I won’t worry about all the little issues that might creep up – I’ll be 80 by then and what’s a little food poisoning?   I am thinking maybe we could do a house/apartment exchange.   I have always wanted to travel the Silk Road, but that may be too ambitious.  One never knows. Still Life with Oranges and Chinese dish     Laurie Pessemier  Acrylic/paper 17x 25”  41 x 63 cm   290.00 I made “coppone” – pork cut from around the neck of the pig.  We know it preserved as “coppa”, preserved with spices.  It is a very marbl-y piece of meat, which I cut into steaks and prepared with oregano, thyme, and sage (they are growing like wildfire this rainy season), peppers, shallots and mustard.   It was really delicious, with mashed potatoes and green beans.   Did I mention that Berlino gets the leftovers? Door to the Scorpion Chapel Although I originally thought I’d wait until after our mobile oxtail lunch to send out artnotes, I can’t hold myself back.   Next weekend, your house? Man with Red Beard   Blair Pessemier   acrylic/canvas   14 x 10.5”  35 x 27cm    390.00 HOUSEKEEPING:  We make art to order, including portraits by Blair Pessemier.    Follow us on Instagram @lauriepessemier or Blair's @poeticfences See all of our painting at https://paintfox.com Most of our work is available as reproductions, custom sized and frames Support our art with a donation at:  https://donate.stripe.com/4gMaEW1XwfT041t1BCcEw00   sign up for Artnotes, our weekly art missive, by contacting me at lfpessemier@gmail.com or https://mailchi.mp/341f508cecf8/artnotes 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, no sales pitches, please. 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