Fish Bowl
It's been a beautiful weekend in Rome. Sunny and crisp-- perfect autumn weather.
Right now, I'm trying to work out some ideas through collaging. This is the first one. I found the paper in Vertecchi. The fish and fish/plan are reduction wood cuts. The fish bowl is simply cut and pasted on with methocelluose and there is painting on top.
I'm thinking of doing a repeating wallpaper pattern using the fish and fish/plane images...
Bad hair day from my past
Pete sent me this pic from one morning back in SF. It made me laugh, so I thought I'd share...
More pictures from Florence
I took over 160 pics while I was in Florence last weekend, so I thought I might as well post 4 more.
Vestito Da Sposa
I spent the better part of Monday working on this poster for a film screening here at TU Rome. The film is called "Il Vestito da Sposa" (The Wedding Dress). The premise is that a woman is shopping for a wedding ress, and then shortly after is violently gang raped. Her relationship with her fiance falls apart, and then one of the rapists (none of whom she was unable to identify) begins to court her.
Until very recently, rape was not even considered a serious crime in Italy. It was only a crime against a woman's "honor." although the law has changed, much of that attitude still prevails here. The film deals with the personal and political implications and repercussions of sexual violence.
It's a hard film, but I think it's an important one...
More work...
A disjointed woman woodblock and collage (in progress) and... woodblock and monoprint of Venus? Eve? Self-portrait? Not sure...
Florence
It's fall break so I decided to take a break from Rome for a couple of days and go to Firenze.
It's amazing there, and I'll have to go back. It's impossible to see everything in two days.
But... I saw as much as I possibly could-- the David at La Accademia, all of the awesome artwork at the Uffizi, a contemporary show called Donna/Donne, la Santa Maria Novella, Il Duomo, and a walk up all the hills to Michelangelo Piazza for an amazing view.
I can't wait to go back, but for now it's back to work!
Works in Progress
I spent most of today carving and painting a block. Domani I print!
Working on "A Piece"
(or "Piece Out")... I know... I'm corny.
The pictures are of me in my studio and the prints (or pieces) I'm working on.
All of the talk about my "piece" is in reference to David Sedaris' anecdotal story in "Me Talk Pretty One Day" in which he goes to art school. "This was the art world I'd been dreaming of, where God-given talent was considered an unfair advantage and a cold-blooded stare merited more praise than the ability to render human flesh." He and his fellow art students all talk about what "pieces" their working on... if you haven't, read it. It's funny. I promise.
This past weekend I found Il Teatro Palladium (so far south it was not on three of my four maps-- so finding it really was a victory, especially for a directionally challenged person as myself). The trek was worth it though, as they were showing William Kentridge animations-- Journey to the Moon (also featured at the Venice Biennale this Year) and 8 Drawings Projected, a series of his animations beginning in the late 80's and ending in 2003 about apartheid in South Africa. They were achingly beautiful, inspiring, and accompanied by live music-- a string quartet and a pianist.
This week is fall break at Temple Rome. there are no classes, but I'm trying to use the time to get lots of work done (as you can see). I may take a train to Florence on Wednesday though... I suppose that's it for now.
Arrivederci!
12.10.2005
(That's October 12th, 2005). They write the date: day/month/year on this side of the Atlantic, and when in Rome...
Not much going on today besides school, the studio, pizza and gelato. It's already mid semester, so I'm just trying to make as much work as possible. I know that time in grad school goes by quickly. I think that time in grad school in Rome goes by even faster.
I'm psyched to have moved into my new apartment near the Trevi Fountain. I've posted some pics of me near the fountain.
Ciao!
