Living our dreams 2008

Well First I heard about Carrara 3 years ago .
Then I dreamed about it for years.
Then I talked about going, just talk talk talk...
Now, today I am actually here.

Landing in Rome and the train ride to the main train station, was a bit dissappointing.
In my sights there was little interesting architecture, and few interesting sights, just mostly industrial sites.
But as road the train moved into the Tuscany province, the world began to change...

Industrial buildings to open feilds, open fields to rolling hills and old stone farm houses...
Then to small mountains with traces of stone structures sprouting from the tops...
The architecture looking better and better.
The closer I got to my destination, traces of marble appear...
Small pieces strewn on the road sides....
The occasional inlay of marble mixed with brick work...
The closer the larger the pieces...
It's the marble that lured me here. Its gleaming white calling to me from the hearts of the mountains.  Now my first veiw of a marble sculpture and i know i am close....
In the distant mountains i see my first quarries...  The stone! The cold feeling of steel in my stomach, sinking nerves, Now the warming in my heart,
I am here.....
A smirking grin stretches at my saddened face.....

Marble marble everywhere,
Now i yearn to touch....
I am here

I AM HERE.....

These first few days are for me to get my sense of direction, after a few brief tours by friends I was set loose to discover Carrara

I met the heads of 2 of the schools, and discussed possibilities of me renting space for sculpting, and receiving some instruction. Both have some potential. One school being the oldest and very strict, another being less stringent .

In the evening I was able to meet up with my old friend Elias Naman of Syria.
Its a flood of new faces, places, language, and life, so an old friend was a nice relief.
Carrara, is a small town where a chance of seeing a familiar face is around every corner.
The town is full of old buildings, and traces of the marble is everywhere, in the buildings, sculpture, even in the streets...

Click here to find the first of many photographs...

                                               Monday April 21

Well today was a day of running from place to place.
I had a meeting, signed a contract for lease of a space, and selected a fine piece of marble at the school of Nicoli. All I need is Insurance, and I can start tomorrow.

My next step was getting a cell phone.... I do have to say as far as technology in the phone sector, I think Europe is far ahead of Canada.   The rates for calling is far cheaper too
One example I can call to Canada on my cell phone for less than 0.30 per minute.
Canada to Europe on a cell phone would be a first born child........

After was a meeting to find a new cozy home for me....

Upon meeting a few new friends, I found a few possibilities for lessons in Italian.

In the Afternoon I went to the Padula, the sculpture laboratory (studio) of the Fine Arts Academy of Carrara.  

Later I was given a chance to meet a local black smith, who specializes in forging sculpting tools. 
The Blacksmith  Or “Magnan” in local colloquial, or “Fabbro”  in Italian.  His name is
DANTE ROSSI of the village TORANO.   
Torano is a small town at the foot of the mountains. Here the Oxen or bulls pulled the quarried marble down the hill on the road called “Via Carriona” - “Road from the Mountain to sea”.

Photographs from April 21

                            At last

Today, I finally reached what I came for. To sculpt.
I have been sculpting for 4 years now, mostly with power tools, some by hand. I always feel I have been missing something. I came to Carrara to learn ONLY by my hands...

With just one hour of instruction, I have learned so much. Of course I have a long ways to go. But for now I will apply what I learned to get me through the first stage of my sculpture.
Then I will take a few more lessons to get me to the next step.

The marble is so different in how it reacts.
At first I was nervous and shy, worried I would destroy the stone I have chosen. But the marble seems more resilient.

My instruction here seems to follow one way of sculpting marble. I will describe it as a point system. You strike the marble with a sharp point in about 3 places to create a topical bruise, and with the final strike, piece explodes off.

I compare this to another style, one I have learned some of, which is more of a 'linear ' format. You strike the marble at a slight angle and follow a line peeling a layer of marble off ahead of your chisel.

I think both disciplines have their purpose.  And I am sure each school might say their way is better.

And of course as you will see in the photos, I haven’t gone without hitting my hand.

                               Wow, there is never enough time in a day.

Well against the life style here, that is relax and never rush, my days are quite full. Today started at 6:00 to get ready and be at the school by 7:00, after a full day of sculpting, a rush to find a laundry mat, followed by grocery shopping, then my first lesson "in Italiano"  , then I  moved to my new home....

I was quiet lucky these past few days. I first found a home in the center of town that had a walk up four flights of stairs to a low ceiling room, with not the best of view. Kept by an old lady with hair dyed flaming, and I mean flaming red. She spoke no English, and was rumored to be very strict.  
But as luck came my way I found a beautiful place half way up a mountain, over looking the Padula art studio. The owners are extremely friendly and it also where I take my Italian lessons.

It is a long walk to my sculpting studio, but the view and tranquility are worth the hike.  

As for my lessons, who would think that my French would be so handy...? Yes my French.... my teacher does speak some English, but her French is better. So I have to speak French to learn Italian....

Back to my sculpting... My first Creation is starting to take form.
So far my hands seem to be enduring quite well, the rest of my body has not died yet either. A few minute blisters and nicks on my hands but still up and running....

Today’s  pics just show my progress as of now.

The weather here improved today. It has been raining mostly but today the sun was shinning and I am guessing a nice 20C.

Sorry to all back home heard about the snow....
Nice. I don't envy you one bit.  But we needed it. Don’t want a drought do we?

More Pictures...

Well almost an entire week in Italy. Time flies.
My sculpture is slowly starting to take form.
At this point, to some it may look like I did nothing today.
But by hand the results are a bit slower.

Friday is a Holiday, so I will only work till noon then enjoy my weekend.

I have no plans for my weekend except rest my hands...
I am sure something will come up to fill my time.

Latest Pictures

Well as time begins to slip by me, I decided it is time to venture out on my own. So I decided to take a trip to Pisa.
By myself.....
Well first let’s say the Italian train system does not run on a fixed clock so don’t plan your day on a tight time schedule....you won’t make it...
Well I made it there, and saw the sights, climbed to the top of the leaning Tower.....
The place is flooded with tourists.

I do have to ask.... Um.... the entire structure is made of stone....
why, why is there a fire extinguisher in every nook, and cranny?
I included that in my pics of the day.

It is amazing how such structures have survived over the centuries.... The amazing strength of the marble....

I enjoyed my day seeing so many sights, including the police round up herds of Illegal Immigrants, selling fake Gucci’s
I watched as they ran down the street yelling 'Sertie, Sertei'
to warn the others, the 2 police come by on bicycles.

I included only a fraction of my 200 photos, the rest will be added as a link, when I return to Canada.

Hope these pics share with you some of my adventure....
for the record, yes I made it back to Carrara safely.

New Pictures

Well Sunday, is the day of rest here, so I do as I am told, and enjoy a day at the marina and beach.

First 3 pics are view of the mountains over looking Carrara, and the remains of a tower that once was part of the city walls.

Today there are no pictures, to preserve everyone’s dignity...
well mine at least. I was given the chance to use one of the models at the academy, for sketching. It was an awakening experience, as well as a chance to strengthen my drawing.
No! I am not showing my sketches, as I think my work won’t show justice to the model.... and well I need practice....
I am here to learn, and so I learn...
Ciao!

Follow up....

Due to the realization, I should not hide my work, and I guess they are not toooooo bad, some of my sketches will be posted.

Well back to the hammer and chisel.....
Today, it rained, but the cool moist air was a nice relief from the sweat of my labours....
My sculpture is starting to take form.
I had to by smaller chisels today, as my work becomes more delicate, and the chances of taking too much, or heaven please no, a big chunk.....
I have gone through a few chisels, some of the factory steel ones just done survive.... the might of my throws.....
Ok... don’t laugh.....they broke....
I am hoping that the tools from Dante Rossi, the black smith, are ready soon, I want to try them out...
Today are more pics of my progress and a few peaks of me....
Being that yes, I have not posted a self pic yet....
Until the next pass of Pathos.... Ciao!

Well tomorrow is Labour Day here, so I am not aloud to sculpt.
Today was a day of celebration for me....
I finally day lighted my sculpture...
In simple terms; the area that is to be tunneled out, I actually made it through. It was an arduous task as I had to slowly peel layer by layer out, till the stone was thin enough to poke through.
Well made it this far and the neck did not fall off.....
Ok I think it might be more crane-ish than swan-ish the original idea came from a crane and a twisted willow tree.....
So at this point it’s either or....
Its still bird family oriented.
Anyway here are the pics of the day.