ciao cortona

This is our last morning in Cortona. We depart for Naples in about an hour. 

This last week has been eventful. 

-Alina, Enriqua, and Lydia came and visited from florence

-Trip to the amazing city of Siena 

-End of semester celebrations

-Pack to leave for Naples

Here is my travel plan for the next few weeks

Nov 18-20- Naples

Nov 20-25- Prague

Nov 25-29- London

Nov 29-Dec 3- Paris

Dec 3-6- Amsterdam

Dec. 7 Back in NC 

Its going to be an exciting three weeks. I'll try to keep up my postings while I'm on the move.

Love you all and I'll see everyone again soon! 

art coma

Yesterday I awoke from my 11 week art coma. As I was packing up my studio, I was reflecting on why time has passed so quickly here and I realized its because I've been completely consumed in making art. In the past, I've had days go by without notice because of art projects but never months. All I've really done is eat, sleep, and make art. This has been a wonderful creative experience and I've learned much and grown as an artist. I have a sense of direction of where I want to take my art and I've developed concepts I want to explore for future work.

As rewarding as this experience has been, I feel I have unfinished business here in Italy. Because I've been so consumed in art and the nature of this trip, I've been with other Americans for the majority of the time. I want to continue to learn the language and come back to live here again one day. Maybe in graduate school or perhaps as a professor. Whatever it is that brings me back, I know I'll return. So as sad as I'll be to leave next week, I know it won't be forever.

final show

 Yesterday evening we had our final exhibit. It was a successful show and a bittersweet occasion. It has been an intense two and half months. We've been up here on the top of our mountain immersed in art. I've produced more in this short time than I usually manage in a regular length semester. Now my time here at our little artist commune is coming to a close. We will be leaving Cortona in eight days and this last week will be spent writing papers and cleaning up studio. 

I can't believe how quickly its gone by. 

Everything culminated last night with the exhibit. Everyone put one piece in the show and each class chose another piece to represent that class. I put one of my paintings in and my class chose another of my paintings; so I was able to have two pieces in the show. I was excited since the two are part of series that I've begun. 

I was very impressed with everyones work.  There are so many talented people on this trip; its been a great experience to live and work with them. 

There was a wide variety of work: stone carving, bronze sculpture, book art, photography, printmaking, drawing, and painting. 

Many of the Cortonese came and the local paper took pictures. It was a good turnout. 

I'm going to spend the majority of this next week trying to take in as much of this quite Tuscan town  as I can. There are still many places that I haven't had the time to explore. 

Oh Cortona, I'll miss you. 

Il' nuovo presidente!

Today in the small medieval hilltown of Cortona, Italy-I am proud to be an American. The last eight years has been damaging to my concept of what it means to be American and has slowly turned my nationality into a source of shame. 

But this morning I am proud.  

I am proud that we have overcome entrenched biases to elect an African American, that we are moving away from cold war politics, that we elected a man in tune with our modern global society, and that we as a people have chosen someone who can rally the disenfranchised, disaffected, and the plain apathetic to give everyone a voice. This is larger than one man, larger than the presidency; this is about the American people. 

My optimism is not blind. Barack Obama will be facing immense challenges, both known and unknown, and I do not expect him to be the solution to all of the problems our country faces. But I do see this as a new beginning, and it is one that I can believe in. 

Today I am proud to proclaim "Io sono Americana!"  

not the bash-but still awesome

One of the few things I regretted missing this semester was the College of Design Halloween Bash.  For the last few years, Halloween has been a big deal. I've had more fun celebrating Halloween as an adult than I ever did as a child. So as 31st approached this year I felt a little disappointed that I wasn't home in Raleigh preparing for the COD Bash. 

There were plans here to dress up in costumes for dinner at Tonino's but it didn't sound like it was going to be a big deal. 

It was.

Everyone went all out with costumes; including the teachers and the creepy groundskeeper, Geno. It was so much fun. They gave us lots of wine and there was a goofy costume contest. 

After dinner, they arranged a party in one of the rooms. They cleared out the tables for dancing and had a band.  They played such hits as: t.v killed the radio star, songs from greece, relax, and the YMCA, all in a heavy italian accent. It was hilarious. Everyone danced like crazy, the waitstaff, the professors, Geno, everyone! 

So even though I missed the bash, Halloween in Italy turned out to be pretty amazing. 

I don't know why I had any doubt.