Artnotes: Jingle Bells

2 July 2022 Roccamalatina,MO Italia

Commission  Blair Pessemier   Acrylic/canvas

We had a Christmas in June experience this week.  We are moving to a new house.  For us, it's a formidable task because we have lived for the past seven years in a furnished house – as in dozens of place settings, silverware, towels, sheets – those little things that cost a fortune.   So you can imagine my shock and delight when our friend said:  “my brother left some things you might need on the table at the new place.”   We went over there immediately, and the table was stacked two feet high with dishes, and silverware, utensils, glasses, towels, a coffee pot – it made me think of Christmas at Shorty and Foxie’s house (my parents).

Christmas Hat (unearthed while packing)   Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas  20 x 24"  50 x 60 cm   550.00

My mother was the Christmas Queen, and having grown up through the Great Depression, she didn’t want her kids to wake up on Christmas morning to an orange and a chocolate bar.  No sireee.  We had presents to open for a full hour, in addition to dolls and an electric train.  So this, this wonderful gift from our new landlords made me feel happy, humbled and nostalgic.

Saintly Hat (from the archives)  Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/newspaper  25 x 14"  61 x 43cm  275.00

It also made me think of giving presents to other people.   Who doesn’t want a gift?  Actually, I can answer that rhetorical question:  people who want things a certain way.  For us, this box of dishes, six place settings, each a different ceramic color, is exciting; but if you’re a white dish kind of person, you’d hate it. I learned to accept gifts as a child.  My mother (who seems to get more saintly the longer she’s gone) told me, "if you get a lousy gift, or a repeat gift at your birthday party, you just rave and say thank you like it’s perfect."  I did, and they were perfect.  That year, at my birthday party, I got three manicure sets.

Day Lily and Wildflowers  Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas 16 x 10.5"  24 x 35cm  450.00

We are officially “in” the new house now.  The solar hot water heater is running.  We are still buying some odds and ends.  We hung the paper mache horse head, and sing Jingle Bells.

PS   I just want to write to remind everyone about our Sunday Art Salon.  This last week we had a returning artist that got us all thinking in another direction.  He was invited to participate in a  “street art” (graffiti) show.   It got us all focusing and sharing our thoughts on that subject; it made us think graphically, huge, differently.    It’s equally good for the artist because it allows them to present their work, explain their motivation.  And it was really summed up when one of the salon participants said, “Don’t refer to your art as a “hobby”.  You are a real artist and it’s great”.   Do you want to feel that?  Well, join us!

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.    Rome 8PM; NY 2 PM; LosAngeles 11AM  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85625088767?pwd=WldKRk9VbUVITWtRS0FFK2JwdGEwQT09 Meeting ID: 856 2508 8767 Passcode: 887182