FLORENCE and PISA

Photos From Italy #2

Photos From Florence

June 4th - 7th

Hello all..... :)

I started my independence day this year by waking up at 5:30 in the morning and getting all dazzled up for my day in Florence. I said almost three years ago that I will not be working at the country club my second year into college because that summer I planned to be in Florence. I had it planned out then that I could not go freshmen year, for it was too soon. And junior year I plan to be working in an internship. So I knew that I would get my butt to Florence this summer even then. And Wednesday I woke up knowing that I have reached my ultimate goal. I knew that getting to Italy was the hard part, but it was somewhat of a compulsion the first step I took getting off train in the renowned city. I actually told myself to make this memory.... one small step for the Nord Family.... one giant leap for Dena. It was incredible. I hardly even got to see the city as much though because right from the train we were rushed on a fast walk to get to the restoration institute. My painting teacher new a friend of a friend that let us in on a tour where only 15 students were allowed to attend! When we got there we got a small introduction to the school, museum, and work space where only fifth-teen students a year were admitted after an extensive recruitment process. And then we got taking into this big warehouse where there were works of art from the 1200's to 1400's ALL AROUND US. I was like a kid in a candy store. I couldn't believe it. Then we were taking to the back of the warehouse to see what I will never ever forget. It was the famous crucifixion cross by Giotto. I was standing right over one of the most famous crosses ever made from an artist that changed and made the Renaissance period. I was in awe. We got to see all the x-rays they do on a painting and the micro scans that are all full scale to this 15 foot long piece. Some other altar pieces that were there had been there for 12 years! It made me appreciate art as a whole and especially Italy so much from that point on. Were were getting told over and over again that this would be a day that we would remember forever.

Later that day we had lunch as a group and then just bounced around Florence seeing little things and one major cathedral where I took my favorite "feet" picture of the trip so far, standing in front of the famous "holy trinity". We didn't have much time before we had to run to the train station and go back home. When we had got to Camucia, the down below Cortona in the valley, we just missed the last bus for a few hours so we had to walk 45 minutes up hill to make it in time for our dinner. This was a dinner we could not miss, because in light of the holiday we were getting hamburgers and fries. We almost jogged our way to get the tasty dinner. My ads are already in plain view and my belly is dropping more and more everyday, and I can't wait to show off my new ass when I get back in the states haha! ( Just kidding Dad ) After dinner i was so exhausted I just passed out because I had a critique at 8 in the morning on thursday. The day went so fast on Thursday because I was still in a haze from what I had seen the day before, the only thing I did predictively was I learned how to mix paint by just having the raw pigment power and the mixing medium ingredients. It was one check I wanted to get off my life list. That night I didn't even go to dinner bacsue I just wanted to sleep and get some more work done on the logo I am making for myself.

Friday after my morning class I decided to have an adventure and I just hopped on the bus to the larger down Camucia for the afternoon. There I found the best Chinese restaurant any where around her and just window shopped around for awhile. It was nice to be out of the little bitty town of Cortona. It was a nice day for some alone time. I went back to paint all night and go out for a nice dinner. I had a drink after dinner with some friends and went again right back into bed. Because we had to be out and down at the bus at 7 am the next day, and I had still not caught up on my sleep from Florence.

The Saturday field trip was pretty good. We started in Arezzo where we saw a nice medieval museum and of course another famous cathedral. I got lost trying to find the contemporary art museum, but it was a fun adventure. In mid-day it was back on the bus for we were off to Sansepolcro for the remaining afternoon. There was only time for a little museum of contemporary art and while we were in it there was a frenzy of police. And of course two of our student decided to go up on the roof for some pictures and decided to do it while the VICE PRESIDENT OF ITALY was in the building. It made for an interesting afternoon. Then we jumped back on the bus for Cortona. When we got back into town, and I did my weekly grocery shopping and went back up to the dorms. I had some dinner, typed this ridiculously long blog, tried to add pictures that didn't work, and now I am going to close my computer for it is Saturday night and I want to go out. I miss you all and I will write again soon.

Love,

Dena

Ohhhh Yea Im living in Italy

To my blog readers few and friendly

Tonight is Sunday night and I am winding down from a fantastic weekend. Friday as expected I woke up and had and eight o'clock class as always. Then after class I hung around for a bit and then got ready for the pool. Me and Becca went down to town and had a quick lunch and then walked the long walk to the pool. We got there around 2 and sure enough the whole class and some more friends were there. We stayed and did nothing but relax the rest of the day. I swam for hours, did laps, had a diving contest, and handstand contest which i was victorious in. Then i feel asleep in the sun and got my stomach burnt to hell. Then when I awoke we had about an hour before dinner, so me and Becca went up on the terrace so i could work on my computer like a 30 mom that brings her laptop to the pool.

There for some reason Becca and I got into a conversation all about the life paths that we are now on. About how I had all this extra stress on my this summer to learn new programs, create an identity system for myself, new business card, new resume, etc etc... All so I can make sure that I am ahead of the competition when I get back. And in all this I began to explain about my work in AIGA, hopefully becoming part of the state board next year, our plans for the conference, and my questionable option to be president next year. Then it moved to my plans to get into a better gallery then the one I am at next year, and maybe even start to finally put a dent into the paint brush line. And while I was talking about this so casually, she stops me and says " Dena please Stop.... honestly its upsetting me" And Becca being a year older I think nothing of it. Becca goes on to say that she is no where near on the path that I am on to get where I need to be in life, but no matter where she is going to go in life that she would like to have me somewhat in her life. Because she sees the determination in my eyes and knows that I am going to make it , and hope that in turn it rubs off on her. I am sitting here, thinking about how stressed I am because maybe I am not up to par with people at school, and there is a woman almost 22 who reads every-night and talks so articulately with every sentence... telling ME that I am going to make it and she wants to be near me when I do.

It makes me close my laptop and relax if just for the day, I mean it is summer.

Then we walked to dinner and got to sleep early for the long saturday ahead.

Saturday we got up at 7 am and through some breakfast down our throats because we had to catch the hour long bus to Piensa. There we went to one cathedral in the morning, and had a couple hours of free time before the bus came again. As the trip goes on the less scheduled things we have and it is amazing. We jumped on a free tour down to a church from what i recall as the 1100's. We even got to climb down into a tomb under the nave (front of) the church, where there were gates and corridors. It was mind boggling to think of how many stones that I have touched that are thousands of years old, and still rest in the same place and position. We had a few minutes to spare, where I jumped into a little shop where I found my ring that I needed to find in Italy. It jumped out to me as the one, it was cheap, and pure silver. All the signs pointed to yes and this will be my ring from italy, it was a minor check off my mental list. Then we jumped on another hour long bus ride to Montepulciano. When we got off we all were in dire need of food and stopped off at a adorable little cafe where I for the first time fortunately got soup and salad. It was perfect. No more pasta..... ugh. We again had no plans, so after stopping in at of course a few more churches we were off to tour the famous town of wine, cheese, and leather. We did some nice shopping and got some a lot of free wine samples, salami samples, and saw some expensive but gorgeous leathers. It was a long long day so I slept on the last bus ride home. I did my weekly grocery shopping for next week, and I was up the long hill again. I went right to bed till nine thirty because I was determined to actually have a night out.

The whole time I have been here, I have not gone out and experienced the town. I have been beating myself up over it, but just not felt the want or need to go out as it seems most of the stuck up girls feel every night. But last week I had really fell into my groove, had some real bonding times with my close friends here, and decided it was time to go out into this town for real. We started out on the top of mountain with a few drinks and a private dance party of three. Then me and my two favorite girls went down into the packed packed town. It felt like i was walking right into the east side or third ward of milwaukee. We first stopped at a very chic bar with lots of couches and contemporary art. Then all the girls for this idea to go dancing at the bar route 66. I was shy at first because I had these negative connotations of a basement dance bar with bad tech-no and crowded dirty italians. And Becca and I thought we would just drop off the girls and sneak out.

Little did we know the amazing night ahead. We got to the bar and there was everyone from the program dancing there hearts out to the blues brothers. It was just what I had needed. I started to dance and "Baa beranne" came on the speakers and again everyone went nuts. It was an great mix of old classic american songs and new rap that was great to dance to. Me and my girls danced our hearts out like eI had never danced before on into the night. I think it was the release that we all needed. It was amazing, all of us in the bar in italy, sweat pouring down everyone one, dancing to songs from america. It made me feel wonderful. We left and sang all the way up the hill. I feel asleep so pleased with my piece of the nightlife in Italy. I had felt like my whole time here was either on the "tired tourist travel" as they call it or spent in the studio locked up. It was just what I needed, real life relaxation.

Sunday I got up slowly, and made a hugh breakfast of eggs, hash-browns, toast, yogurt, juice, and tea. With a full stomach I painted for hours, studied, got caught up with the family, and relaxed in the courtyard. I even got to taste the italian thrift store that is only open on sundays. Overall It was exactly what I needed. To take a second and go outside this tourist mind-state that I was going in. And take a second to enjoy why I decided to go on this long summer trip INSTEAD of the three week fast paced trip. I wanted to live and breath the culture, enjoy Italy as if I lived here one summer. And this weekend did all of that. It was deeply satisfying. It got me to stop reflecting upon negative things that I left in Milwaukee, and the here and now. I am LIVING in TUSCANY! I need to go out and enjoy it. Not stay inside and look at it from a far. I am fortunate to realize this before its too late. I am not going to loose focus or take anytime away from where I planned to go in my art while I'm here, I just need to make sure I don't miss out on a big reason I decided to stay the summer.

And I can't wait for many more of these weekends to come.


I am as always tired, and going to bed.

Goodnight all......... sleep well........

(Pictures will be to come and thats right I did not edit this haha)


~ ~LOVE~ ~

Dena