These famous Spagna stairs near Villa Medici close to the heart of Rome were known for models posing and literally hanging out in the hopes of being selected by an artist as his subject. Personally I picked up some rays and enjoyed my new fashion purchases, bargained for at the outdoor market [near San Giovanni Laterano Cathedral (photo in previous blog post) ] and enjoyed my last full day seeing the sites of Rome.
Dear Rome, you take my breathe away.
As a final wrap up to the artist residency, we artists received a homemade chocolate pie & a plum & pear fruit pie both made by two of the organizers; Barbara and David. Thank you! The warm sweet food was a welcome parting gift, as temperatures have plummeted and its been quite cold here this last week. I am grateful for this experience of participating on an international artist residency in this authentic and beautiful medieval town of Toffia, Italy that I will always remember. Thank you www.33oc.org
This is the little garden, located deep in the center of the village of Toffia, behind stone walls, hidden away. If you were to be walking by quickly and in an unobservant state, you might miss it. Anyways, I found very early on during the artist residency. In the late mornings and early afternoons, when the sun was shining on the lower garden bench, I would come here to meditate. Often, I was joined by a very affectionate and friendly brown and black patched cat, who would cuddle up next to me as I meditated and share the bench. Another item of particular note of this garden was its abundance of herbs and clovers, along with an orange tree. After the kitchen patio, this was my second favorite hang out during my stay in this quaint medieval village in Italy.
Being in a small town (Toffia, Italy) there are very few options on things to do... So, something I enjoyed many afternoons was exploring the back country roads. An observation is that cars drive by extremely quickly leaving you several centimeters of walking room ( yeah its scary) while you get a drive-by-glimpse of an Italian driver holding and using a cell phone in one hand, and a cigarette in the other ( don't ask me how they hold the steering wheel as well) while barely if at all noticing you, the pedestrian. So, yes, the country side is beautiful & enjoyable provided you stay safely on the side of the road.
This morning I'm excited to introduce Sally & Guido, an Australian / Italian couple living in Toffia and running a cooking school, wine & olive oil tours of the Sabine region called 'Conviviorome cooking holidays' . This kind & gentle couple made a beautiful scrambled egg breakfast for all us artists the first week of our residency in their home. I know for sure if I come back to this area, I would sign up for their 2 day cooking course. Www.convivorome.com
If you've been following my series of blog posts here on this artist residency, you will know I started out working on six paintings. The other 5 pieces are still in process, this one, obviously inspired by my visit to the Roman Colosseum is complete. Colosseum, 23 x 30" Acrylics, collage, pencil & graphite on 300 pound paper. Deb Chaney 2014. Original Available info@debchaney.com
The open studios/art show was a great success! Many people stopped by including a delightful British couple from a nearby town and many locals I have seen in passing during the month in town. Other artists in the town also opened up their studios so people could walk around and make an afternoon of being in Toffia. Then, as you can see in the photo, everyone gathered in the square to eat! Bread, olives, pasta, salami & wine was served. The town dog Guido, also made his appearance and all & all I would call it a happy day and beautiful final event for this month long artist residency here in Italy.
The open studios/art show was a great success! Many people stopped by including a delightful British couple from a nearby town and many locals I have seen in passing during the month in town. Other artists in the town also opened up their studios so people could walk around and make an afternoon of being in Toffia. Then, as you can see in the photo, everyone gathered in the square to eat! Bread, olives, pasta, salami & wine was served. The town dog Guido, also made his appearance and all & all I would call it a happy day and beautiful final event for this month long artist residency here in Italy.
Introducing our third & final artist with me here at the artist residency in Toffia, Italy: Tinca. Her art focus is design textile and electronic technology. The installation piece shown here in the photo is a merging of fabric and light installation. You can visit her website at www.textiltronics.com.
Cleaning up the studio to get ready for the open studios today. One piece mostly finished - inspired by the Roman Colosseum. The five other pieces, still in process, though I've decided to show two of them.
If you happen to be in the neighborhood of Toffia --- about 60km NE of Rome, Italy, you can stop by this Sunday October 26th here at 33 Officina Creative, piazza laurentama 3, from 12 noon until 5 pm for the artists in residence open studios. Yes, if you caught the sarcasm you're right on, as I. Writing this a little feciciously ( sp?) As most of my current network of internet friends are in North America. That said, just thought I'd give you a heads up!
Introducing October 2014 Toffia, Italy artist in residence Sonja Hinrichsen. Originally from Stuttgart, Germany now living Oakland, California. With an MFA from San Francisco Art Institute, she focuses on; video installation - explorations of places & their historical & social context; and effemeral environmental performative event pieces. See her work at www.son machine I charm.com
Paintings in process during the artist residency. The studio is a small room adjacent to the working theater in a 16th century renovated church. You can see I've been working on the floor, kneeling on the blue thermamatt to work. These 6 paintings, Still in process here in the photo, are inspired by the day I spent in Rome before making my way up north. I took pictures & sketches both here & in Rome of marks, patterns & structures of the buildings and am slowly incorporating these into the many layers of these works. The layers of paint added and then taken away represent the old structures, cities & history that over time have been destroyed and rebuild again and again.
Morning view from the sweet little roof top patio where us artists can be found hanging laundry, doing yoga & reading.
Introducing Toffia, Italy 2014 artist in residence Chaveli Sifre originally from Puerto Rico, now living in Berlin, Germany. Has a BA in fine arts and currently focuses her practice in sculpture & painting. And I must attest that she is a fabulous cook! See her work at: www.chavelisifre.de
We are the artists in residents here in Toffia, Italy for October 2014; from Romania, Canada, Germany and (our party girl) from Puerto Rico.
There is a tiny little patio right outside the kitchen of the artist residency. This is my favorite spot to sit. There is a beautiful view to the left of the town of Toffia. In the distance you can see the groves of olive trees and the mountains. Right behind me, notice the herb garden that we've been using when we cook here!
Here in this little town, twice a week Roberto comes with his fruit and veggie truck. All the locals, myself included now, line up and buy our fruit and veggies!
