Artnotes: Liberation

 

Cherry Blossoms on the Walk   Blair Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 20 x 24"  50 x 60  490.00  I got a Whatsapp message on Sunday morning.  “George is going to be in Bologna,” it read.  “Maybe you guys could get together.”  George is the painting guru of one of our friends from America we paint with.  She often stops in Italy on her way to Greece, to George’s workshop. I wrote him and instantly we decided to meet for coffee at the airport.    He is an ambassador for a Daniel Smith Art event in Bologna and would be busy other days.  It was a great idea.  We met, and ended up giving him a lift to his hotel.  Sometimes, the Universe works out just right.   White Wildflower  Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/paper  17 x 12"  41 x 30cm  290.00 George has worked as a physicist all of his life, besides doing art.  I tell him Richard Feynman (famous physicist) is my hero.  We talk about Feynman’s lectures at Cornell, available online.  I love how Feynman could explain anything, simply, understandably:  that is the most important thing about physics, George tells me.   Feynman felt the key to understanding was to not have preconceived notions Our meeting was brief but ever so fun, and it encourages me to make more effort to get out and DO SOMETHING.  It’s easy to stay home these days – fuel is now $10.00 (US dollars) per gallon.  On the other hand, I am living now and need to do my best with current conditions.  Our only real extravagance is Chinese food. Apple Blossoms Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/canvas  11 x 16"  27 x 41cm  290.00 We did find a Moroccan store near where I get plain white notebooks in Vignola.  Plain white paper in notebooks, not to draw on, which is really expensive, but to write on, is rare, it seems.  I have been reading a lot about the benefits of actually writing  rather than typing into a processor.   I can testify that my written poems are better than my typed ones.  And I love unlined, ungridded paper in notebooks. We bought a Moroccan dish, lamb chops, a preserved lemon and that fabulous flat Moroccan bread (msemen).  I will use all today for lunch.  It’s a holiday in Italy.  25 April is Liberation day, commemorating the liberation of Italy from Nazi German occupation and Fascist collaborationism.   Our friend Mino is giving a speech in the center of Roccamalatina, condemning the facismo of Trump and Netanyahu.  I suggest Russia might earn a place in that group, but many Italians, particularly around Modena, remember the Russians liberating them.  It all goes to show how sides can change.  We could bring anti-Trump signs today, but I remind myself we are guests in this country and rabble-rousing doesn’t become us. Begonias  Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/paper  17 x 25"  41 x 63cm  290.00 I just try to do my best to get along, be kind, be generous.  Governments and ideologies are all so changeable and unrelieable.   Who we hate now, we might not in 80 years, and vice-versa.   In the meantime, we’ll eat our Moroccan lunch beneath the pine tree and play Billie Holiday  for the birds (she’s their favorite).

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 8 PM   NY 2 PM; LosAngeles 11AM