Final Days in Certaldo

My time in Italy was serendipitously booked-ended with Certaldo. As you know I spent a few days there in the beginning and taught the advanced jewelry students. Then after nearly a week away in Florence and Venice, I returned to Certaldo. It was so nice to have some quiet moments there again after the crowds in the cities. I spent more time with the advanced students and gave a lecture. Then I was able to attend the student exhibition that served as the culmination of their semester abroad. A big thanks to the Italy Intensives program, Linda Darty, and Marissa Saneholtz for generously hosting me!

I also went on a few long walks: one to seek out graffiti in Certaldo Basso and the other to wander in the countryside. Both were wonderful in very different ways. The graffiti was inspiring, some of the best I've seen, while Tuscan landscape made me want to move there and live in a stone house at the end of a Cyprus-lined road. Here are some final pictures...

More pictures on Facebook and Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Professoressa Due

I worked with the advanced metals students again today. First they showed me the materials they had chosen at the market yesterday. Then I had them make a list of the materials they were interested in yesterday but did not choose and asked them to compare these items to the list of 50 things from a few days ago. I also had them write for 15 minutes about the material they did choose. (I feel very strongly about the importance of writing about your work--you will learn so much about your work and process especially if you write consistently and often.) Next I asked the girls to make at least three samples with the material they chose in the remaining class time. We gathered together needles and thread and various office supplies like staples and tape, all of which they could use to help fabricate and connect their samples. (This exercise was very similar to my 3D sketching class and their samples should lead them to ideas for final pieces.) At the end of class I asked them questions about the samples and we talked about how the "sketches" could translate into finished pieces. I'm looking forward to seeing what they make in the coming days and will be back at the end of next week for a final crit after my excursions to Florence and Venice.

Thanks for reading.

First Glimpse: Certaldo

I arrived in the tiny walled village of Certaldo, Italy on Sunday. As I walked through the Pisa Airport earlier, I was greeted by the smiling face of my friend and colleague, Marissa Saneholtz, who teaches here. We then drove through the Tuscan countryside for about an hour before arriving at Certaldo. After dropping off my suitcase, she took me on a walking tour and I met students and some Italians who live and work there. Later in the evening we went to a dinner party at Linda Darty's apartment where I got to meet the other instructors over Italian wine and cheese and lots of other wonderful dishes. (Linda is a metalsmith and enamelist and the head of the Italy Intensives program.)

Begun in the 13th century, the village of Certaldo Alto includes two churchs, the home of Boccaccio, a museum, a handful of restaurants and shops, a hotel and a B & B, and the Italy Intensives program. The population is about 200. Here are a few photos I've collected already of things I find inspiring:

curtains at the Il Castella, the hotel

rooftops from one of the three towers

chandelier

antennae

More images on Facebook and Flickr.

Thanks for reading.