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!!

"My Italy" 2009

My arrival to Italy was  on June 15.  Around 4pm in the backyard of the house that will be my home for the next 30 days, I am immediately greeted by a glorious apricot tree.  A sign of things to come in this country where the food culture is prominent and wonderful!  The branches are heavy with fruit, so of course it was a feast at the tree...picking and eating fresh apricots, the view of the Ionian sea always in view! 

Soon the ladies of the house prepare dinner of “Fagiolini” ( a flat green bean prepared with fresh tomato, garlic and olive oil) and sardines, rolled up and breaded with their little tails sticking up like a frill.  By 9pm “the boys” are a little late for dinner but they don't come empty handed. Fishing for the last few hours they come home proudly with their catch... a bucket of these little silver fish that are sure to be part of tomorrows menu.

The next day warrants an early trip to the village, the one many of you know through my frescoes of Ferruzzano. There are three sisters, part of a handful of families that still live in this quaint mountain town, that still make bread in their wood oven up there. 

We arrive and are quickly invited in and we enter a small kitchen. An older gentleman sits in the corner by a sunny window with a sweater over his shoulders. He wears a woolen cap even though it is June, and rests his hands on a wooden cane. His eyes sparkle as he greets us and we sit with him. 

On the table were three brown paper packages, the bread we were to take with us. In one package there were three round loaves of a very rustic type, split lengthwise and filled with fresh anchovies and extra virgin olive oil of their own production of course!. This is a specialty called "schiacciata" (meaning "pressed" so it is kind of a flat-ish bread.) When the bread comes out of the oven and while hot, it gets split and drizzled with olive oil. It is then that it is either sprinkled with oregano, or filled with anchovies. I have also had it with an aged goat cheese, a personal favorite! Another package contained plain loaves, and on the window sill there is a third package for us, a container of fresh eggs from the chickens of course!

"Do you drink wine?" was the next question... 

The small man in the corner utters, "our wine is no good this year!"

His sister disagrees with him and insists that it is because he doesn't taste like he used to.

she quickly leaves the kitchen. 

"Where did she go?" I ask, 

My compare replies, "go follow her and you will see"

Out the front door there is a set of stairs with no bannister, just a very old grape vine that follows the incline of the stairs so perfectly it acts as a bannister! Around the house to the back is the wood oven and beside it the cellar door...our host is crouched down filling a bottle of wine from the cask, it is cool and dark but the sunlight spills in from one tiny window and the open door...her sister quickly approaches with 2 glasses so we can taste, it is only 9 am but it is good! 

We leave the cellar and enter an adjoining room where the bread that was made that morning rests on a bed. There were at least two dozen loaves. Big, small, round some with a hole in the middle and covered with sheets. 

Hanging from the ceiling were a dozen salami's of different types tied up with string to cure. This room was also cool and dark and filled with the remnants of another life. A life disappeared except for these few people that are keeping parts of it alive. But for how much longer?? I feel sad but look around in amazment! It has been a beautiful morning and I feel lucky to be here. 

On the way home we must stop to check if there are any ripe figs on the trees. It is only mid June so still early for fig season, but if you are persistant and patient you can get lucky! We stop at the side of the road, enter through a gate and traverse the uneven tilled earth beneath our feet. My father, on a mission a forges ahead, my compare however stops at the sight of a plum tree, picking and eating them like large grapes, I take a picture before I join him.

No figs from these trees today, "But with this heat they will need only another week" my father shouts. 

Ok, back to the plum tree for another feast but I soon hear the sound of bells..."clunk clunkity clunk", Alas a small herd of goats, white and tan and a small  black one with the big bell around his neck. They become aware of me and start to run, most on the hillside a couple on the road in front.

The sound of the bells waining in the distance brings this morning to a close and  down the mountain we go. Now with a trunk filled with fresh bread, fresh eggs,  a bottle of homemade wine and a bag full of freshly picked  plums! no money required!! I am not sure, but this could be heaven! 

O yes, by the way, I think admist all the excitement I think I found a subject for my next fresco. What do you think?

Until next time, 

Arrivaderci and Buon Apetito!! and remember you can view my new body of work inspired by "My Italy 2009" at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale Arizona. Visit www.celebrateart.com for details on next years 20th anniversary exhibit. 3m9ar78jux

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!

The 2009 "Celebration" closes with a bang!

Just a quick post to thank everyone who attended this years Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale Arizona.

It was a crazy yet wonderful year! All of my newest work except for the largest fresco titled "Via Roma under a pale blue sky" have found new and beautiful homes!

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my many collectors scattered across the country, and my fellow artists who continue to support and inspire me every single year!

I look forward to creating new works for next year, our 2oth anniversary year! It will be an exciting one! I will look forward to seeing you there!! Until then, have a wonderful summer and I will keep you "posted" soon.

Kindest Regards always.

Celebration of Fine Art 2009

Welcome the 19th Annual Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, Arizona....Be sure to look for me in my new larger space No. 254 on the sunny side of the tent! The weather has been just beautiful (except for a few cool days.) and there is a lot of new and beautiful work to see (from all 100 artists!) We hope to see you soon because we are now entering our 5th week!! TIME FLIES WHEN YOU ARE HAVING FUN!!!

Part of series "Tegole Antiche" title: " w i t h C h i c k e n s" 1650.00 (now sold)

Here are some of the peices I talked about in earlier blog posts....the tiles from Italy are now mounted and framed and have been gathering quite a lot of attention...2 have already found a new home! Will one of the remaining 3 be yours??? part of series "Mattoni Antiche" title " o n t h e r o c k s " 1250.00 (now sold)


part of series "Tegole Antiche" title: " w i t h o c e a n" 1495.00 (now sold)

Well as you can imagine it's been pretty busy lately so I haven't been able to post in a while. If possible please come in and see me instead. Hours are 10 am to 6pm daily until March 29th.
You can find us in the "little white tents" at the Loop 101 and Scottsdale Rd- exit 34.

http://www.celebrateart.com/

WHERE ART LOVERS AND ARTISTS CONNECT.
Hope to see you there!

Via Roma under a pale blue sky

After months of preparation and planning, I am happy to unveil my latest work titled "Via Roma under a pale blue sky" a fresco painted in 5 sections measuring approx. 58"X35." Although the painting stage is complete, this peice will cure in my studio for the next several weeks before I begin the transfer process onto linen.

As you can imagine, a fresco this size would be extremly heavy and difficult to move, therefore I will utilize the process called "Calicot" or "a strappo" to strip it from the wall. This process is often used in restoration, as well as in museums, to repair or transport frescoes from the Renaissance and even earlier. I will be able to post on this at a later time, for now I will explain the painting process in detail using the amazing technology of time lapse photography. Before launching the video however, allow me to provide a breif explanation of what you will be viewing.

Fresco is painting onto fresh plaster. A large fresco is painted in sections called "Giornate" or whatever the artist can complete in 1 day. You will see me plastering a section and then painting it. You will notice that it is important to work quickly and to work all over the section so that no part of it is allowed to dry.

Each section of plaster represents a days work which consists of approx. 12 hours of working time. Take notice that as I work on the final section, the sky, you will be able to view the painting drying lighter as the time passes and the plaster dries.

Enjoy the time lapse video here or follow the link at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAnZJm_OgqQ . You will be able to choose a normal or high quality version, either way I hope it will offer a better understanding of one of the oldest forms of painting, and such an important part of art history... Fresco Painting, an ancient art revisted!