Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Federico Severino at the Chiesa di San Vitale Rome

Two and half years ago, while browsing the Franco Senesi Gallery in Positano, my parents and I came across the work of a sculptor I'd never heard of, Federico Severino, born in 1953. The work was passionate and emotional, with movement, and a wonderful rawness and organic nature about. Much of his work in that gallery was based on mythology. 

Come to find out that not only was he commissioned to create an altar for a church in Rome, Chiesa di San Vitale, they were showing additional (more biblical) pieces there, as well. We were heading back to Rome so this was perfect! We also found out he was currently working on another commission at that time ... sculptures for the 12 stations of the cross ... for the Pantheon in Rome!


 


The Altar









Eve ...



Eve looking toward The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!


Uh oh ...


Here they come!












To see videos of his process in making the stations of the cross for the Pantheon, check out these videos. Yes, it's in Italian but it's worth the watch!! :)



To Read Federico Severino's Bio and see more of his work, click here.
To see each of the stations of the Cross that he created, click Here and Here.

I'm leaving soon for Rome and can't wait to see his work in the Pantheon in person!!!

I found this on the Gaiam website blog ... Love the Sufi poet Hafiz!!! 
Somehow it seemed to fit with this man's great art. 

I have come into this world to see this:
the sword drop from men's hands even at the height
of their arc of anger
because we have finally realized there is just one flesh to wound
and it is His - the Christ's, our
Beloved's.
 
I have come into this world to see this: all creatures hold hands as
we pass through this miraculous existence we share on the way
to even a greater being of soul,
a being of just ecstatic light, forever entwined and at play
with Him.

I have come into this world to hear this:
every song the earth has sung since it was conceived in
the Divine's womb and began spinning from
His wish,

every song by wing and fin and hoof,
every song by hill and field and tree and woman and child,
every song of stream and rock,
 
every song of tool and lyre and flute,
every song of gold and emerald
and fire,

every song the heart should cry with magnificent dignity
to know itself as
God:
for all other knowledge will leave us again in want and aching -
only imbibing the glorious Sun
will complete us.
 
I have come into this world to experience this:
men so true to love
they would rather die before speaking
an unkind
word,
men so true their lives are His covenant -
the promise of
hope.

I have come into this world to see this:
the sword drop from men's hands
even at the height of
their arc of
rage
because we have finally realized
there is just one flesh
 we can wound.
~Hafiz



Hope this finds you all happy and healthy!
Blessings and light!
And ...
Happy Holidays! 

Thursday, November 22, 2012

The Fall Mix ~ A Thanksgiving Post



So much to be thankful for on this beautiful Thanksgiving day! 
Here is just a small sampling of things, big and small, I have been grateful for this fall!

Here goes!
I'm grateful for the beautiful backroad to Ojai ...


For my wonderful Family ...


 and getting to paint my sister's face on Halloween! 

 

For the awesome party of a reception at our "Fall in To Pastels" show in Ojai!


And for a place to nap at the show ...


For winning my first blue ribbon (since high school cheerleading camp!)


On my pastel painting "Ojai Magic Hour"


For being featured in the Ventura Newspaper about the Pastel Show ...


My friend, Victoria, ending up with one of my favorite pastels!
(The one from the postcard and newspaper!)


And that my nephew got to meet Hunter the super sweet rescue dog!


I'm thankful for magnificent house-sitting sunsets ...

 

And my nephew's Taekwando belt ceremony ...



For cooking with friends ...


Hanging out in beautiful Ojai ...


And for just being at home in my silly town ...

 

As always, I am so grateful for the right to vote!



And the sweet kids I get to teach.


For inspiration and filling the well!
(Yoshio Nakamura's retrospective)


Sparkling Christmas lights! (Even when they're early!)


And my crazy, wonderful, loving, silly friends!


For my early birthday present from my sister (this beautiful book!)
and for getting to go back to a place that I always leave a piece of my heart ...


(I leave for Italy very soon!!! Rome, Assisi, Genova and Aqui Termi)

I am thankful for many more things, especially for my health and the health of my family and friends! I am, today and always, so very blessed and grateful for all the absolutely amazing people in my life! And I am grateful for you!!

I hope this is a beautiful Thanksgiving for you, filled with love and gratitude!


Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

~G.K. Chesterton

A prayer today by Marianne Williamson 

Dear God,
On this day we give thanks
for the miracles in our lives.
We atone for having ever forgotten them.
Please open our hearts that we might remember You more,
And bless others as you have so blessed us.
Thank you, God.
Amen

If you're having any trouble coming up with a gratitude list ... just look at our beautiful planet!


Oh! If you didn't get enough of the art show and want to know why Hunter the rescue dog was at the Pastel Show, I started a blog recently for the pastel society, so click HERE for that!

Blessings and light!!! :)

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Ojai Studio Artist Tour part 3 -Bert Collins

Not only is this part of the studio tour where Bert Collins has her home, studio and gallery room ... it's also where I happen to take my pastel class once a month!


Within an hour of the Studio Tour starting, all her pieces had sold and most had left with their owner. A few nice patrons left their pieces so people would have something to see. As you can see they still have protective plastic on the frames to keep them from getting banged up on their way home!

There was so much glare, I couldn't get a shot of those pieces ...


But here is an unfinished piece she was working on ...


Her pastels ...


And here are a few, ready to head off to the framer, for her next show. (Which is my show too, for the Pastel Society of the Gold Coast! More on that soon!)




I love this place. It's such a creative space and has Bert's amazing positive spirit, infused into every inch of it! 

When you come into class and ask "How ya doin' Bert?" She always answers with something like, "I'm just fantastic!" 
And while we are all in class doing our paintings, she always says, "Who has more fun than we do?!"
And you know? I really couldn't say. :)


Here is Bert over the summer at a show in Thousand Oaks with her Best of Show seascape.


If you want to see more of my posts about Bert Collins, click Here.

If you ask me what I came to do in this world,
I, an artist, will answer you:
I am here to live out loud.

~Emile Zola

Blessings and light!