Artnotes: An American in Italy

 

Bravo Spring Flowers   Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/paper   11.7 x 16.5"  30 x 42cm  16 x 24"  190.00 We spent the last few days, three (sometimes 4) old American fogeys and an Italian dog, visiting the Lucca region.   A guest arrived and I had an idea to go to the seaside, which is sunny, if not too warm.  We stayed at the beach (just steps away) in Viareggio, home to one of the largest Carnevale-s in Italy.   The Carnevale in Viareggio  was started in 1873 by artisans and sculptors.  There is a terrific museum where 65-foot high parade figures stand, along with costumes and paintings.  The building they are housed in is likewise interesting, two wings, covering a large footprint.   This Citadelle del Carnevale has 16 hangar workshops, 2 museums and an arena that hosts events.  The floats created here are the largest in the world.   Everything starts with paper mache, which inspired me no end. It was great to see something so positive:  celebration, pure and simple.  I smiled and laughed.  Imagine it.   My heart felt light.   Just being on a trip was good:  walking in the sand, or out onto the pier extending into the sea is a pleasure.   The salty air feels marvelous on my face and in my lungs.   Berlino digs holes his entire body disappears into.   I cast my worries to the wind.   Spring in a Teacup  Laurie Pessemier  Acrylic/paper 17x 25”  41 x 63 cm   290.00 We stayed in a most interesting Airbnb, in a structure particular to that area.  It was a “palazzino” with 14 foot tall ceilings (which did make for very tall Carrara marble staircase – Carrara was the next city up the road).  The house itself, with garden/patio front and back was just a room wide, with very tall windows.  The style was “Liberty”, Italy’s Victorian, with a painted frieze on the stucco just below the roof.   It was painted, inside, with muted colors that changed with the time of day.  It was full of very personal tchotchkes, including lots of Buddhas, which I painted.  I could live there. Buddhas (there are actuallly 6,, the last at the end of this)  Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/newspaper  12 x 8.5"   30 x 20cm     75 each or the 6 for 375.00 We visited the interesting little city of Lucca on the trip.  The walls of the city were adapted, a couple hundred years ago, into a park.   You can bicycle on top of it, observing the countryside and the city, in just 30 minutes.   Lucca isn’t as spectacular as Florence, but it has a similar feel – Florence is more “Renaissance”, whereas Lucca still has remnants of a coliseum, adapted for housing and commerce. A favorite medieval/early Renaissance church is in the center of town.  We ate regional dishes, including tripe.      Basilic di San Frediano Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas  14 x 18"  35 x 45 cm  490.00 On our way home from the four day sojourn, we walked Berlino at the Piazza Michelangelo in Florence, so our guest could get a good view of the Ponte Vecchio and Brunelleschi’s dome.   We bought Florentine scarves, for gifts, and to wrap ourselves in, when back in chilly Roccamalatina.  Home sweet home.  I love being an American in Italy.                   The Best Year for Violets   Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/paper  16 x 11"  40 x 30cm  190.00

HOUSEKEEPING:  We make art to order, including portraits by Blair Pessemier.    Follow us on Instagram @lauriepessemier See all of our paintings at https://paintfox.com Most of our work is available as reproductions, custom sized and framed. Write to me at lfpessemier@gmail.com   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 7PM (for US daylight savings time)  NY 2 PM; LosAngeles 11AM