We drove to Stimigliano this week, and took up residence at our Roman house. We always get a warm reception by the locals, wishing us “Bentornato”: welcome back. It makes me smile. Coming back to Stimigliano is like tuning in a regular TV show, and we arrive to find bits of news. |
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 | Red Edged Begonia Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/paper 23.5 x 17" 60 x 43cm 275.00 |
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Isabel has painted her door the same color green as my studio’s; the jasmine are in bloom on via Dante (it smells like Tunisia); there are birthday and anniversary cards in our mailbox (bills, too). One of the dogs in the borgo died, and his mother and I embrace. Berlino, who wasn’t always nice to her, looks on, almost fondly. Mario Bagordo’s futurist art chapel got a new door – we were hoping for glass, but just to have a new, solid enclosure is positive. One day the chapel will be recognized as the gem that it is. |
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| We know more people in this tiny village than up North. People are warmer, happier, more “Italian” down here. We might stay here all the time someday, if the health care situation improves, and we find a yard for Berlino. With any luck, life will be long and we’ll get to spend more time here in Berlino’s old age (he’s just 3 or 4). I found a nearby dog training center and vacation kennel we’ll visit this week. Blair and I would both like to make a trip to Seattle, together. |
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 | Red Rose Blair Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 15 x 18" 38 x 45cm 450.00 |
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There are more and more “stranieri” in Stimigliano. When we first bought our apartment, Margherita, from Chile, and us were the only non-Italian born residents living in the borgo. I face this globalization with mixed feelings. I like being in an old, idyllic Italian town.
Of course, the opportunity to speak occasional English is nice -- and it’s not only English, there are Germans and South Americans, Dutch, Koreans, Indians and Africans. We remain the only Americans. We are all bunched together in our foreign-ness. There is a big push now to make this town grow, to cash in on the charm. It’s like holding a bubble: to capture it is to break it. |
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 | Orchid Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/paper 23.5 x 17" 60 x 43cm 275.00 |
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| Meanwhile, I cling to the “Salve” and “Ciao Berlino”-s uttered by residents as old as ourselves. As Heraclitus, a Greek Philosopher said some 2500 years ago: “There is nothing permanent except change”. |
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 | Peppers Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/paper 20 x 17" 50 x 43cm 275.00 |
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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. |
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