Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Gallery of Modern Art or GoMA in Brisbane

During the school holiday I had the chance to bring my children different times at the Gallery of Modern Art. I can tell you that they enjoyed the experience, especially when, after the exhibition of Ron Mueck, had the opportunity to go in the Children's Art Centre and enjoy the exhibition for children "Ghost World" by leading artist Callum Morton.


We are waiting to enter in the gallery...children are impatient...it is not still 10 o'clock!!

Lorenzo


Valentina

and then inside the gallery...yeah!!!!

before we enter...

why I can't get in????

in pose for mum....

and then ....what a strange sensation!!!

The experience was good and the children enjoyed...we will go back another day!!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Something about Brisbane: discovering the city





Someone enjoying the beautiful weather along the Brisbane river




I have been living in Brisbane for just over a year.  Since I have been here I have discovered amazing places to visit .....especially for me interested in history and culture....this is only a small list...I am sure there are many other places I will find to be added to the list below:


  • Abbey Museum - Public museum of art and archaeology, featuring antiquities and fine arts from around the world.
  • Brisbane City Hall public tours are available to see the beautifully restored reception rooms and offices.
  • Christ Church Community Precinct Milton includes the Christ Church Milton, the Old Rectory building, the Brisbane City Council Christ Church Reserve, and the Paddington Cemetery Memorial Reserve.
  • MacArthur Museum Brisbane dedicated to the Australian-American alliance and the role that Brisbane played during World War Two.
  • Newstead House experience Brisbane's gracious past. Evidence of the original 1846 cottage survives with the upper floor furnished in the style of the 1860-1890s period.





Saturday, July 10, 2010

Jan Nigro: a New Zealand artist

Jan Nigro is a New Zealand artist with an Italian surname, because her husband Gerry Nigro had an Italian background. She is a wonderful artist and she still likes to paint at the age of 90!!! I met her when I went to New Zealand for the first time more than 10 years ago and since then we like to spend time with her whenever it is possible and she is not too busy. 


this is Jan at Easter 2010


 my son drawing with Jan's colors on her table while she is signing one of her works


and Jan with my daughter and some of her works on the background



Some of Jan's artworks in her studio/apartment


A long time ago I have published a small article on her and her artworks on the NZ Art Monthly. This is a copy of the article:
A passion for life, art and artworks: Jan Nigro



November 2008
I met Jan for the first time about ten years ago when I came to New Zealand for a visit; unaware that this country was going to be my home one day.
Her passion, touch, work/life experience has always fascinated me. From the first time I visited her modern apartment in Takapuna - where she used a room as her studio to paint - I have been impressed by her approach to art; to the way she paints and the passion she puts into her representations, through the use of colour and images.

Jan has produced a huge amount of artworks during her lifetime. All of them are singular and touch different themes, but more than anything I believe she has a message to convey.
Probably because she is one of the first female New Zealand artists to break the rules and the role of women in the society of the time I thought it was important to express my acknowledgement to a person like her. Jan's experiments and passions have pushed other artists to try something new for themselves. Her life is so full of colour, her painting full of honesty and with such a large body of work devoted to the naked form - it is through this theme of her career that I have been able to recognise her as one of the most extraordinary New Zealand woman artists.

The human figure has been, and most probably continues to be, the greatest and the most important source of inspiration for Jan due to the fact she has revolutionized the way to look at a nude work as a theme to study and from which to learn.

In the late 1940s Jane moved to Australia with her husband Gerry, from whom she got the surname, Nigro, which is obviously of Italian origin. They spent a period of time in Melbourne, where she had her first solo woman exhibition.

The works of the late 1940s showed something new and brave for a provincial New Zealand mindset, which wasn't yet ready to accept female nudity and the consequences of such a subject choice. At that time New Zealand was a still a 'closed' country where perhaps some the sensual influences of European art hadn't yet arrived.

A new world was emerging for Jan as she developed her skills and displayed these early productions. Painting was her passion and probably the only job that could make her happy - even if she had to work through some difficult periods.

La Toilette was painted in 1949, and together with other works of hers are in the collection of international art galleries today, such as the National Gallery of Victoria and the Auckland Art Gallery. I don't know who this nameless woman in La Toilette was. The inspiration probably came from one of her models as happened in many other artworks during her lifetime. The woman represented looks to me like a confident woman caught in a moment of intimacy, pensive as she prepares for bathing.


And this was only the beginning of this type of theme, which has recurred through her career. She created many artworks related to the theme of the Bathers, including an exhibition of the late 1980s, which included Lovers and Bathers painted in 1986. It represents a stunning new example of painting, because here Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet are warmly showing their love in the foreground; in the middle ground two hot pink nude females embrace while behind them a group of people watch from afar while continuing on with their lives. Here is clearly stated the passion for the human form, their human condition and what love can be, without discrimination or critique. And what else can be said? The images speak for themselves - love can be shown in various ways.

In Jan's career the Friday Drawing Group became an important routine in her life: some of her models were Suzy, Veronica and Yani, who Jan depicted in 1989. In comparison to all of the other models this one seems more reserved, yet wants to model. In Yani there is vitality and audacity, sitting there posing for them, the group who draw on Fridays. Jan sees in her another strong woman, independently minded and naked but with no intention of showing off her attributes, these are secrets - kept only for the right person.


Obviously Jan has produced an extended selection of artworks during her career. Nevertheless in my personal opinion she has to be acknowledged and acclaimed for being a pioneer and an example to many other New Zealand women artists. Jan is someone who has always worked hard to demonstrate her abilities, beliefs and capacity to the prevaling society which has become increasingly won over to her viewpoint as her career has progressed.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Portico di Ottavia (Porticus of Octavia)


The Porticus of Octavia is in the Sant'Angelo area of Rome. It was constructed on the remains of a building put up by Q. Cecilio Metello Macedonico in 146 A.C by architects Sauro and Batraco between the years 27 and 23 A.C. Augustus commissioned the construction and devoted it to his sister Octavia after whom the Portico was named. It was a double-columned porch of a rectangular form (119 meters wide and 132 meters long) adorned by sculptures and paintings. The portico made an easier access to the Marcello theatre which is situated behind it. The portico served for the theatre as the audience stroll.

Subsequently it was rebuilt by Settimius Severe and then by Caracalla. The remains belong to the Severian restoration and includes the southern entry propylaea with two lines of Corinthian columns. Two columns of the right-hand porch, three of the rear file, a part of the entablature let alone the final arch are rested up to now. 



The Portico is still visible together....as many other Roman ruins has been integrated with the modern construction.


Buona passeggiata!

Monday, July 5, 2010

Er Fattaccio

 A poetry written in Roman dialect a long time ago following an event happened in Via del Moro, one of the many streets in the heart of Trastevere and where it is my family restaurant for over 70 years!!!


 “ER FATTACCIO”

Sor delegato mio nun so un boiaccia!
Fateme scioje ... v’aricconto tutto!...
Quann’ho finito, poi, m’arilegate:
ma adesso, pè piacere!... nun me date
st’umijazione dopo tanto strazio!...
      V’aringrazio!!! ( Singhiozza )
Qello ch’ha pubblicato er “Messaggero”
sur  “fattaccio der  vicolo der Moro”,
sor delegato mio ... è tutto vero!!!
No’ p’avantamme, voi ce lo sapete,
so’ stato sempre amante der lavoro;
è giusto , che, pè questo, me chiedete,
come la mano mia ch’è sempre avvezza,
a maneggià la lima còr martello,
co’ tanto sangue freddo e sicurezza,
abbia spaccato er core a mi’ fratello
...........................................................
Quanno morì mi’ padre ero fanello...
annavo ancora a scòla e m’aricordo,
che, benchè morto lui, nder canestrello,
la pizza, la ricotta, er pizzutello
nun ce mancava mai! Che, quella santa..
se faceva pe quattro, e lavorava...
e la marinella, le scarpette,
a dì la verità, non ce mancava!
......................................................
Ho capito! Me dite d’annà ar fatto;
un momento... che adesso l’aricconto:
Abitavamio ar vicolo der Moro,
io,co’ mi’ madre e mi’ fratello Giggi.
La sera, noi tornamio dar lavoro;
e la trovamio accanto alla loggetta,
bona, tranquilla, co’ quer viso bianco,
che cantava, e faceva la carzetta!
E ce baciava in fronte, e sorrideva
e ce baciava ancora e poi cantava...
     “ Fior de gaggia
“io so’ felice co’ vojantri dua.
“ Ar monno nun ce stà chi v’assomija”.
Poi, Giggi se cambiò!!! se fece amico,
co’ li più peggio bulli der rione,
lasciò er lavoro... bazzicò Panico,
poi fu proposto pe’ l’ammonizione.
De più, me fu avvisato da la gente,
che quanno io nun c’ero, mi’ fratello
annava a casa pe’ fa er prepotente!!!
P’er “ garachè”... l’amichi... l’osteria...
votava li cassetti der comò;
e quer poco, che c’era lì in famija,
spariva a mano a mano!!! Lei però
nun rifiutava... nun diceva gnente...
ma nun rideva più... più nun cantava
mi’ madre bella, accanto alla loggetta!
La ruta... li garofoli... l’erbetta
ch’infioraveno tutto er barconcino,
tutto quanto sfioriva, e se seccava,
insieme a mamma che se consumava!!!
un giorno feci : - A ma’: che ve sentite?
State male... perchè nun me lo dite?
Nu’ rispose: ma fece un gran sospiro,
e l’occhi je s’empireno de pianto!!!
Nèr vedella soffri, pur’io soffrivo!
ma ch’aveva da fa? ... chiamai er dottore.
Disse che er male suo era qui : “ner core”
e che ‘nse fusse presa dispiacere,
se ‘n voleva morì de’ crepacore!!!
 La stessa sera vorsi parlà co’ Giggi,
 lo trovai,
e feci : - A Gi ‘, mamma sta male assai...
nun me la fa morì, de dispiacere...
je voio troppo bene... e tu lo sai,

che si morisse, embè... che t’ho da dì?
sarebbe come er core se spezzasse!!!...
Mentre lei guarirebbe si tornasse
er tempo de ‘na vorta!!!... de quann’ eri
bono... lavoratore... t’ aricordi?
Giggi me fece ‘na risata in faccia:
arzò le spalle, e poi me disse :- Senti:
senza che me stai a fà tanti lamenti,
faccio come me pare! E poi de’ resto,
se n’te va be’, nun me guardà più in faccia!
E me lassò accussì, li sur cantone,
cor còre sfranto!!! Ritornai da mamma,
e la trovai davanti alla Madonna
che pregava, e piagneva! Poverella
quanto me fece pena!!! in quer momento,
per vicoletto scuro e solitario,
‘ntesi Giggi cantà, cò n’aria bulla:
    “ Fiorin d’argento
“Accoro mamma e nun m’emborta tanto
“ Pè l’occhi tui ci ho perso er sentimento”...
Allora feci :- A ma’... se mi’ fratello
ritorna a casa pè fa’ er prepotente,
ve giuro che succede ‘no sfragello!!!
- :No... pè l’amor de Dio, fijetto bello!..,
Giggi ‘nun è più lui... no, è ‘na passione...
so’ ‘amichi che l’hanno trasportato!!!
Me dette un bacio... la benedizione
e poi, cor viso bianco come cera,
pe’ nun piagne, me disse :- buona sera!
Ier’ammatina chè successo er fatto,
sarà stato... che so... verso le sette:
me parve de sentì come ‘na lotta!...
Mamma diceva: - A Gi’... ‘nte compromette
co’ tu’ fratello... damme qui er brillocco...
è l’urtimo ricordo de tu’ padre!!!...
e nun t’hai da scordà... che so’ tu’ madre!
-: E che m’emporta a me, de mi’ fratello!?
Si vo’ assaggià la punta der cortello
venga puro de quà! -’Mbè... fu un momento:
sartai dar letto... spalancai la porta...
e me messi de faccia a mi’ fratello,
co’ le braccia incrociate sopra ar petto!
In quer momento
me parve de sentì ‘na cosa calla,
‘na cosa calla che saliva in faccia.
Poi m’intesi gelà! Fece :- Che vòi?...
-Vojo che te ne vai...
senza che fai più tanto er prepotente,
senza che me stai a fa’ tanto er bojaccia!
Mi’ madre prevedenno la quistione
se mise in mezzo pe’ portà la pace:
Ma Giggi la scanzò co’ ‘no spintone,
e poi me fece :- A voi sor santarello
ve ce vorà ‘na piccola lezione!
E’ appena detto questo, uprì er cortello
e me s’avventò addosso!!!...
Mamma se mise immezzo
infrattanto che Giggi dà la botta...
io la scanzo... ma... mamma dà ‘no strillo
e casca longa longa...
Ah!!!...
diedi un urlo de berva e je strillai : -
Ah bojaccia!!! Infamone!!!... Scellerato!!!...
tu m’hai ammazzato Mamma!!!
Come ‘na jena me je buttai addosso
e jagguantai la mano... e je strappai
er cortello... Poi vidi tutto rosso...
e menai... e menai!!!...
( Lenti rintocchi di campana
con voce disperata ).
..................................................................
Sarà... mamma che passa! Mamma,
Mamma Mia!... Mannateme ar Coeli! 

( 1 ) Regina Coeli è anche attualmente il
carcere giudiziario di Roma )

by Amerigo Giuliani



Thursday, July 1, 2010

Siena

I have been in Tuscany many times before I moved in this part of the world. Here there are some random information about Siena, a little characteristic medieval city. 

Siena is another beautiful city of Tuscany. Explore the Old City Centre and stroll through the small medieval streets, admiring the splendid palaces and red brick lanes leading off in all directions. 



Visit the Duomo, this 12th century cathedral is one of Italy’s greatest examples of Romanesque architecture. Inside it, you will see the famous octagonal Gothic pulpit by Nicola Pisano and the Sacristy, which contains well preserved Renaissance frescos by Ghirlandaio.




From there move to Piazza del Campo, Siena’s famous town square, which hosts the famous Palio twice a here. 




Visit the Palazzo Pubblico, which houses the Museo Civico, followed by the Pinacoteca Nazionale, housed in the 14th century Palazzo Buonsignori, containing supreme collection of paintings by artist of the Sienese School.







These photos were taken by my dad a long time ago.



Sunday, June 27, 2010

Dunedin Public Art Gallery (lecture in August)

Dunedin is a lovely city at the bottom of New Zealand.
it is really cold in the winter and just there I am going in August to present a lecture on the Beloved Art..... there they have got significant Italian artworks!!!

Have a look to the site:
http://dunedin.art.museum/events.asp


Railway Station


This is me in 2007 when I have presented another lecture at the gallery


..inside the phone box while my dad toke a picture!!!

For more information about the city have a look to the Dunedin site:
http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/
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