Sunday, March 21, 2010

An Afternoon at Museo Marino Marini, Firenze, IT

 Miracolo (1951-1952)

 Danzatrice (1945)

Cavaliere (1951)

 Pomona (1941)

 Angelo della Citta (1948)


Indulging in Marino Marini's works is one of the best ways to spend an afternoon in Firenze.  The old cathedral of San Pancrazio houses 200+ of his masterpieces, most of which were donated by the artist's wife, Marina.  One can embrace three significant themes among Marini's masterpieces:  The rider and the horse, the female figure and the dancers.  Marini's "Cavaliere" symbolizes a man's ability to control his animal instincts.  While "Pomona" represents the Goddess of Fertility, "Danzatrice" expresses optimism during a time of war.  Marino Marini's most popular piece, "Angelo della Citta," is found at the Guggenheim Museum in Venice, Italy, which I was also lucky enough to see.  






Sunday, March 7, 2010

Monday Mayhem in Divisoria.....


        




The amount of bodies and misc. bargain items that can be packed and squeezed into a sidecar is practically limitless.  Our driver got lost and pedaled his way through the squatter areas giving me, my aunt and the family dressmaker an experience we will never forget.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

The Doodle Art of Isabella Gonzales: Singer, songwriter, painter and life lover...


Is there a deeper meaning to your doodles?  
"I could say that the continuous line theme stems from my desire to see resolution in my life.  That's also the excuse I prescribe to the reason why I enjoy a good happy ending in movies and why I sometimes just fast forward to the ending.  It's like a doodle, fast-forwarding to the finished result.  I love portraits.  I once wanted to be just that, a portrait painter.  A Realist.  The face tells so many stories with just one look.  Each line a memory captured, each wrinkle a time capsule.  But these doodles I do for myself.  To relax, unwind, think thoughts out loud, and to revisit a cliche in a different way." ~ Isabella Gonzales