Skip to content

Posts tagged ‘Italy’

Sep 12

7 Comments

Blended Architecture in Chiesa Matrice, Erice, Sicily

Sometimes on the quest for art, you end up learning a lot more about the history of a place.  I didn’t expect to find Norman castles and churches in Sicily but it is hard to deny the thick bulky structures when you find them.  I also didn’t expect to find detailed decorative elements reminiscent of the Middle East but there they were.  What became Sicilian Norman art is a blend of cultures and adds an exotic flavor to an already interesting mix of Greco-Roman and Baroque architecture on the island.  Once you factor in 19th century restorations with a mind of their own, you find can find some complex and beautiful churches.  I found one such example of blended art in the little town of Erice and the Chiesa Matrice Church.

Beautiful ceiling details

Beautiful ceiling details

Read more

Sep 2

11 Comments

John Singer Sargent’s Travel Pictures

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme.  This month we are discussing Travel Art!  You can find links below for the rest of the group’s posts this month.  I take a lots of photos when I travel but I really admire those who can sketch cities, landscapes and people when they travel.  An incredibly talented artist (although I am biased), John Singer Sargent is the epitome of the artist-traveler in that he captured his destinations in rich and brilliant but ephemeral scenes.

John Singer Sargent - Grand Canal, Venice

“Grand Canal, Venice”, 1904-1907, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Read more

Aug 19

St. Anthony’s Festival in Boston’s North End

St. Anthony Festival, North End Boston

St. Anthony processing through the decorated festival streets of the North End, Boston.

The funny thing about traditions is that sometimes a community starts their own.  One of the things I miss about Boston in the late summer are the neighborhood street festivals including the Portuguese and Italian celebrations in Cambridge and Boston.  While these events have the flavor of old Europe,  they are decidedly American celebrations.  The biggest of all of these, the St. Anthony’s Fest in the North End, is coming up (Aug 23-25, 2013) and a fun chance to celebrate Italian-American culture.  (My photos below are from last year.)

Read more

Jul 23

2 Comments

Travel, Timing, and Reconstruction: Why You Can’t See What You Came to See

Washington DC had a very unusual earthquake in 2011.  It destroyed some of the statuary at the National Cathedral and cracked the Washington Monument, an iconic obelisk-shaped landmark in the center of the city.  This summer a massive scaffold has gone up over the tower to continue the repairs.  Reconstruction and restoration are common sights for travelers where long-term improvement projects often leave facades covered and historic interiors obstructed.  You can still enjoy these sites with in most cases with minimal impact on your visit!

washington monument restoration

Restoration of the Washington Monument takes place behind an artistic scaffold.

Read more

Jul 1

5 Comments

The God of Mozia, Sicily

coastline of Mozia, Sicily, Italy

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme.  This month we are discussing great sculpture!  You can find links below for the group’s posts this month.  The summer heat has got me thinking about Sicily and so I’m going to introduce you to a phenomenal, ancient piece that I happened to stumbled across on a secluded island (really!).

Read more

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »