MY ITALY post No. 2 " Breakfast Italian Style"

This is a post about ricotta cheese, somewhat of a staple here in the south of Italy. Our quest for the freshest ricotta possible begins at 8 am with a drive throught the Calabrian countryside.

Cheesecake as we know it in North America has no similarity to what would be called cheesecake here...Crostata di Ricotta (cheesecake Italian style) is a wonderful desert light and simple and only one of the many things that ricotta is used for. We also know ricotta when it is added to lasagna, manicotti, or less well known is frittata di ricotta, similar to an omelet. My personal favorite "Cannoli Siciliani" Sicily's famous cannoli that are of course filled with ricotta! 

I know we have arrived when I notice the sheep  grazing on the hillsides, the cows on the other hand were happily munching on fresh hay in the stall.

In a small room, attached to the stall is a large copper pot on the boil over a gas fire. A larger basin holds the curds and whey. The curds are being made into forms of cheese that will cure over the next year. The whey is slowly added to the copper pot where the ricotta will form.

Tapping the copper pot with a wooden pole assists the ricotta to rise to the top- once the ideal temperature is reached the ricotta is skimmed off the top and put into cheese containers.

 

The most obscure and traditional way to eat ricotta, I assume would be foreign to most because it entails close proximity to the farm. "Ricotta con siero" is what we came for  this morning. A peasant food fondly remembered by those who grew up here. It doesn't get any fresher than this!!

Hard bread is broken into a bowl and moistened with a generous amount of ricotta and a good amount of "siero" the liquid that remains with the production of the ricotta. I apologize for the gruel like appearance, I can assure you it tastes much better than it looks! 

Another herd of sheep arrive as we eat our breakfast on the farm. Golden hillsides dotted with blooming oleander, olive trees and yellow wildflowers abound. A sight to behold, a day to remember! I took many pictures which are sure to become frescoes soon! All will be unveiled at the 20th anniversary exhibit at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale Arizona.  

Visit again soon as my next post will be about my trip to Sicily! A presto e Buon Apetito!!

I call her "Bella Pacifica"

I call her "Bella Pacifica" because I hope you will agree, she is  both "beautiful" and "at peace." This fresco transferred onto linen has some unique, interesting and even rare aspects to it. I am happy to share this with you but first take some time to just enjoy!

You probably noticed the many layers of the presentation. This idea developed after a realization I had with fellow artist Whitney Peckman. 

Whitney, is an extremely talented artist who specializes in gourd painting and is also a former weaver. She validated the beauty and exquisiteness of a piece of hand loomed  linen I had acquired from some special friends I have in Calabria. She noted how well made it was and how rare it was to find something of that calibre in our modern day! 

I had been waiting for a special project that would accomodate this beautiful and rare piece of history, and Whitney and I were in agreement, this was it! 

How I ended up getting this linen is another interesting story, but I will save that for the special people that end up with the piece! Well ok, if someone asks through a comment I will be obliged to answer!

The burnt edges of the fresco (very burnt in areas) echoes the distressed texture of the surface and is complimented by the loose weave and tea stained cheesecloth I used as backing.  She floats on the rustic linen, but then the whole thing is mounted on a fine linen. The presentation will be complete once framed in a beautifully carved Italian moulding that will pick up the burnt tones in the background. 

Can't wait to exhibit her at the 20th anniversary Celebration of Fine Art in 2010! This will be a wonderful year for pushing the envelope, breaking new ground, and foraging into new territory!

Keep your eyes and ears open... it will be an exciting year and I will be sure to keep you posted! For now I will continue on my new body of work inspired by the beauty of summer and hope for the future ahead!

Posting No. 3 fresco titled "La Carriola" una veduta di Ragusa Ibla, Sicilia

Thankfully I will now be able to start uploading new images and current work for those of you that have noticed that my website hasn't been updated in a while. This is the place to be from now on to see "whats new" I hope that you will feel free to post comments along the way!!

Inspired by the "Carrettini Siciliani" (sicilian carts) of my fathers home on the Island of Sicily, this is a unique work as it has evolved into a playful array of color and light. Starting out as a true fresco in 4 sections, it then underwent the transfer process onto linen called Calicot or "a strappo". Restoration work was done as well as a metamorphosis of the cart, adding color via the secco technique (pigment and a binder.)

The result is truly unique and very textural. A rare combination of fine Italian moulding in pewter, greens and golds, complement the work beautifully. 36"x45" unframed, approx. 48"x57" framed as shown above.