Weekly Photo Challenge: Big

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Babs

image

This is a photo of me in Florence last month. I was stunned by the enormous size of this door. I started to take the photo, but quickly realized the massive size couldn’t be appreciated without something to give it scale.

My sister refused to pose. I wasn’t sure if the pigeon on right was enough.

A photograph can never truly capture the fullness of a moment. It only opens the door to a memory. I remember at this moment how humbled I was by both the monumental size and permanence of the structure.

This door outsizes me both in physical presence and longevity, leaving me with lingering thoughts about what sort of legacy of me that might endure.

Posted in Inspiration, Photography, Travel, weekly photo challenge | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Lucca the last city in my Tuscan tour.

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Babs

image

Lucca has the energy and remarkable architecture of a much smaller scale Florence.

image

image

image

image

image

image

Also home to Puccini and some unique crispy fried wafers called “brigidini.”

image

The story is that these were created by the nuns of St. Bridgit by mistake when they were trying to make Communion Wafers.

image

I think every town needs a cookie mascot. When I get home Iplan to explore this for my home town.

image

Another unique thing about Lucca is that it is a walled city that modernized and grew, but unlike Florence and Rome it retained it’s walls.

image

These walls have now become like a park that encircles the city.
image

image

image

Before leaving Lucca we had to stop to get refueled.image

This will be my last post from Italy. I hope to explore some more topics related to my travels when I return home.

For now Ciao Bella!

Posted in art, Inspiration, Public Art, sculpture, Travel | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Finding Marino Marini in Pistoia

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Babs

image

One of my favorite places to visit in Pistoia was the Marino Marini Museum.

As an artist it is fascinating to view a collection of one artist’s work a see how themes emerge and evolve over a lifetime.

His female nudes are said to be inspired by the Etruscan goddess of fertility Pomona.

image

A form I am personally beginning to phyically resemble after a month in Tuscany.

image

Born in Pistoia in 1901 Marino is one of the cities most well known artists to date. His equestrian sculptures of men are probably his most famous.

“The Miracle” pictured below actually is in another open air exhibit space in Pistoia.

image

image

image

I remember the first time I saw his sculpture ““Angel of the City” in The Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice six years ago.

I was moved by the complexity of emotion that can be expressed through such a simplicity of form.

I find it interesting that his female forms are grounded and balanced. Connected to the earth and concepts of birth and rebirth.

image

The male forms on horseback evolve to defy gravity and challenge equilibrium.

Unfortunately, the Marino Martini Museum in Florence was closed during my stay here. I am interested in exploring his art more in the future.

Posted in art, gratitude, Inspiration, sculpture, Travel | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment