Day Trip: Siena

Doumo

I went to Siena yesterday with Marissa. We began at the Duomo, an elaborate and dramatic cathedral in black and white marble stripes built from 1215-1263. We toured the interior, the library, the crypt (which was only discovered in 1999!), and the museum. (The museum includes some amazing metalwork, enamels, and embroidery.) We also climbed a narrow spiral staircase to the top of a wall to see a panoramic view of the city and Tuscan countryside. Then we went to the Sanctuary of St. Catherine and Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico. The Basilica is where you can see St. Catherine's head and her finger, both displayed in reliquaries. (She died in the late 1300s!) Since I read about the saints all winter long this was incredibly interesting for me and quite astonishing to see in person. The basilica itself is vast and very, very quiet. No photos are allowed and few people were inside. It was wonderful.

view from the wall of the Duomo

ceiling of the library at the Duomo

photo of a postcard showing the head of St. Catherine

Marissa and me at the steps of the Duomo

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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.

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Guest Star Friday #78...Thesis Friends

 

Loring Taoka from "Whiteout"  

March 8-11, Cora Stafford Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton

I've been getting MFA thesis announcements from metalsmithing friends around the country so I thought I would share their remarkable work with all of you for today's Guest Star Friday. Each artist has created a body of work built around a singular concept developed through intense study of their craft. Although some shows have come and gone, a few are about to open...I have provided links with each photo and artist name so you can further explore their work.

"Tarped Series" by Laura Wood from "ReCollection"

April 15-May 20, Gray Gallery, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

"Nebuled Sag" by Sarah Holden from "Potent Materials"

April 15-April 30, Inova/Arts Center Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

"Constanly, she had to remind herself that LOVE was also a four-letter work."

by Marissa Saneholtz from "Corrupt Fairytales"  

April 15-May 20, Gray Gallery, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

"Abaca Brooch 4" by Melissa Walter 

March 25-April 11, Lamar Dodd School of Art, University of Georgia, Athens

"Sacra Sancta" by Liz Steiner from "Lithic Fragments: Sand, Stone and Spirituality

April 15-May 20, Gray Gallery, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

Andrea Miller from "Exchanges and Returns"
April 18-21, Lofts Gallery, University of Wisconsin, Madison

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charm exchange

tara locklear, a metals student at ecu, invited me to participate in a recent charm exchange that she organizes several times a year. it's similar to the "pin swap" that kicks off the annual society of north american goldsmith's conference, but what's different about the charm exchange is that it is for ecu metals students, both current and former, and their metalsmithing mentors. participants make one charm each and names are drawn for the exchange. even though i was not able to be present for the day of the event, tara drew a name for me while my name was picked by marlene true. i got a sweet tin and copper charm made by marissa saneholtz. i forgot to take a picture of the piece i made, but marlene was kind enough to send one along. (thanks, marlene!)


thanks for reading.