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| Carrara - May 1 Labour Day |
Being a holiday, I just walked around seeing more sites, enjoying the sun. The first is another view of the quarries, of which I yet to visit
Pictures |
| Carrara - May 2 |
Today came to a halt.
Marble definitely has a tone and ring, as you work it.
And when that ring changed to a sudden and thunderous crack
my heart dropped....
I went too close to the sun.... And my wings got singed
OK I cracked the F@^#^*$$(()$$* thing
And .... so .... with a heavy grin and newly gained wisdom....
(I have no clue how I managed NOT to dance around swearing)
I set to repairing what has been done.
I came too far to give up yet.
So after conferring with many of the carvers in the studio.
A plan is in motion and all won’t be lost.
Wow 2 for 1 lesson day....
Was planning on Florence this weekend, but that has been put on hold, due to the nature of the repair.
Due to the graphic expression on my face today, no pictures will be available.......
stay tuned |
| Carrara - May 3 |
My original plan was to go to Florence this weekend.
But after yesterday’s fiasco.........
I had to stay and repair, so it could be cured by Monday.
So this afternoon I faced the blazing sun and walked up to the quarries to have a look. And I walked and walked... over the day I covered over 15KM going up then back down the mountains.
It was a nice day for it too.
To top it up, I might have seen James Bond LOL......
they are filming the new James bond movie in the mountains above Carrara. I actually just saw the Blacked windows on the Limo, no clue who was in it and they rushed them into one of the trailers.....
I also met myself in 35 years......
there is an Elderly gentleman, who opens his yard for everyone to see his works.... Some 2000? Sculptures of different size and shape..... It was a sight to see.
He invites you into his home and studio to show you his accumulated works all done by him.
Today you get a few peaks, not the entire 285 pictures taken today... I love digital cameras....
See I am not the only one who makes mistakes....
Here a 30 tonne piece has given way due to over confidence...
Can you see James anywhere?
Base camp for the cast and crew or the new James bond film
Picures of Steve in 35 years(?), a 30 tonne mistake & James Bond film |
| Carrara - May 4 |
Well it’s Sunday again and I had to find something to do with myself.... So off to Florence for the day.
For the first part of the day I actually was disappointed....
paying to get into museums, that had half there displays locked due to construction, paying to see poor reproductions, and fakes, instead of the originals. And of course anything good to see no pictures allowed. Not because flash damages it, because now days with digital imaging you never really need a flash.... I really see it’s for proprietary control...... and so no one can question if it’s authentic.....
Take the famous statue of David... High mighty and incredible master piece.... No pictures allowed, and you really can only gaze up at it. No view is available from above.... Oh there are photos you can buy, but only from the angles they choose... they avoid any part of the top left hand side of David, where you can see the weathering.... any angle the ' scholars' would have you see only capture a portion of the masters work....there was so much not shown and lost learning... all I can say is ' what a shame, what a sham' I know I could probably get hung for my blasphemy.... I have already been called a heretic once..... Well after a bleak morning in the museums....
I discovered there are far more treasures of Florence outside and for free, then inside the museums.
The Churches, amazing as they are, are free, and most allow pictures just not during mass; they also offer penance, prayer, and beauty.
My day ran out quickly and I saw only a fraction of what caught my eye, so I will return another weekend.... maybe more out doors than in.....
Florence Pictures |
| Carrara - May 5 |
Happy Cinqo de Mayo
Today was a mixed day of sketching in the morning, and back to the stone in the afternoon. A day to relax and enjoy!
All goes well and tomorrow I should be ready to sand and polish by the days end.
New Pictures |
| Carrara - May 8 |
I am a small town farm boy at heart, from nowhere, Alberta, adjusting to the life of Carrara.
I am doing surprisingly well. Fate has always brought me the best of friends, new and old. And Italy has been no different.
The people I meet are so kind and helpful; I only wish I could only pay in kind. I find one new friend leads to another. And so a new candle is lit by the warm glow of the old.
I am starting to learn the Italian way of relaxing and enjoying the little things in life. Some time things get so complicated in life we forget to go back to the simple.....
I am settled in at the Nicoli Studio. I just finished my first project today, all by hand. Tomorrow I start to learn the point system, something new for me. But carving only by hand was new for me too. I have chosen my first point project, simple but different. A shoe. I think it is complex enough as a starting point, and simple enough to understand what I am doing.
My biggest struggle has been to venture out and see new places, without the help of guides, or a friend holding my hand.
I have made it to Pisa and Florence by myself so far.
Still alive still well.
My Italian is not so good, but my teacher is very patient.
As they tell me; “Slow Slow".
I do enjoy it here, and a return trip is most likely....
I finally had the chance to meet and talk with Mr. Nicoli, the owner of the studio where I work.
A nice and interesting gentleman.
He did mention to me, (I love the irony here) that a Client observed my work some time ago before it was definitive what it was.
The client thought it was marvelous as it was, and was interested in possibly purchasing it as such....
But before Mr. Nicoli had a chance to talk with me, I brought it far
closer to finish and more detail.... Now it was not what the client wanted........
Sometimes we go too far, sometimes others see potential, where you just see a beginning .......
at any point this is my first.... So not sure if a sale is ever in the future..... Well not cheaply anyway.......
The pics are of the sculpture to date.
It will be polished further, when I bring it back to Canada and time is more liberated... |
| Carrara - May 10 |
So Friday was wasted ... waiting to get my next piece of Marble.
I set everything up so I would be ready.
Saturday was a get the stone ready day.
Since I am doing everything by hand, except drilling the point marks, I decided to remove some of the bulk.
Now Monday I start the learning. I think I have the general idea figured out. Just learning where to start and how to carry it forward.
Since I had a little extra time, and an extra piece of marble, I decided to work on a parchment, and practice my writing skills too. I you saw my signature on the last piece; you know I need work.....
I think tomorrow is another day in Florence.
Latest Pictures |
| Carrara - May 11 |
| New Pictures |
| Carrara - May 12 |
Well today was learning to use points to replicate an object.
Doing this with the use of power tools would make it so much quicker, but as I already realized, with power tools we take for granted the stone.
I have to learn more about working with the stone.
And when it comes to fragile areas, doing by hand makes you more aware. Some of the pictures today shows arrows in the direction the stone should be worked, in each area.
Going in a different direction might induce unwanted fractures.
The More I work along side my instructor the more I see just how well he knows the stone. And how much I need to learn.... |
| Carrara - May 13 |
New discovery.... Objects that move may not appear, as they are in reality....
Just discovered, half way through pointing out my sculpture, that the original shoe had moved off its point of origin. Thus half of my points are in the wrong place. Being that I already removed the material, I had to do a little doctoring to unite the points, and make it work....
None will know unless you tell them... |
| Carrara - May 14 |
I decided to change the final side of the shoe, for a few reasons.
1 its something a little different
2 it was another challenge I want to address, and use for later works
3 the sculpture needs more stability to survive its trip to Canada.
Hoping to have this finished by Friday.....
All goes well
Pictures - sculpture & sites |
| Carrara - May 15 |
Chipping away chipping away, this part is a bit more delicate, so I have to take it slow. |
| Carrara - May 16 |
Well no pictures today, because some dip wad..... forgot his camera.....
Sculpture is not done yet, and won’t get touched again till Monday or Tuesday.....
If nobody hears from me by Monday, then it means I am dead at the foot of a mountain.... and happy.......
I think I am mountain climbing tomorrow......
ropes and all.....
There should be some good pictures.....
Provided I don’t forget my camera |
| Carrara - May 17 |
Well I am still alive, after hanging myself over a ledge....
Thanks to good instructors, all went well.
My Instructor, at the studio of Nicholi, Raphael, is also a mountain guide.
Everyone can have so many sides....
Today I was given the privilege of lessons in climbing and repelling.
Wow and not even a bruise....
Since it was raining, we went inside an abandoned marble quarry to learn.
First few pics are of Carrara, from above, weather was not the best of days, but still the view was amazing. |
| Carrara - May 18 |
So everything I learned yesterday had a purpose.....
Today was a test of my learning.
We went Spelunking....
cave exploring......
Near the town of Massa, there is an intricate path of 60kms of caves.
I saw just a few....
the pics today try to show as much as i can, and all 400 pictures will be posted when i return to Canada.
The first is the
Speleologist’s mother....
She makes sure eats well before heading to the caves.
And she serves the best cappuccino in Italy.....
Her baking is amazing too.
Next pic is our group of brave undergoers.....
The tourist's way in, of which we did not take....
we did the crawling, squeezing, and repelling instead! |
| Carrara - May 20 |
Well the old shoe is finished...
Me and the last piece....
today’s progress |
| Carrara - May 21 |
Well still tapping away.....
Here is todays progress.... |
| Carrara - May 22 |
"The Box Maker Cometh!"
It is the Mark, of my departure nearing.
The famous crate maker came today to size up my sculptures; in the next week he will return with wooden crates to ship my works home to Canada. |
| Carrara - May 23 |
I finished the first side, well to the limit in Carrara....
Here what it looks like.
Again, when back in Canada, I will sand and polish more.
Well I did say finished the first side....
I considered stopping there, and calling it finished....
but then that was not the original plan.
So after mulling it over at lunch time, I decided I should follow through
on my original idea.
I have 2.5 - 3 working days left; that I can afford to spend on this piece, then it has to go.
Here is what I did this afternoon.
I have one small project that’s going to take most of one day, and that will be on my last day
at the studio.
It never fails, I start to get to know everyone, and make good friends, just by the time comes to leave.
At the Studio of Nicholi, everyone starts to become like a family.
We all share concerns for one another, we rejoice the good together, and endure the bad together as well.
Everyone there is good heart, hard working, and all find time for a little humor, or the occasional joke. |
| Carrara - May 24 |
May 24, I know it’s late....
I worked the morning, then went west to La Spezia,
which lead to the harbour,
which lead me to getting on a ship,
which lead me to Cinque terre
5 villages hidden in small ports along the sea
600 pictures later,
missing the last train,
and a long cab ride home.......
Pictures (Not 600) |
| Carrara - May 28 |
Well time is running out quickly
Room for a few extra pieces. |
| Carrara - May 29 |
Well today has come, so quickly...My last day in Carrara
and so much was done to day....
It started with "Marmotec"
A trade fair dedicated to the world of stone.....
I learned about it 4 months ago, and have been waiting ever since. It was like a kid in the candy store... All the tools, all the technology, all the stone.......
yes I bought all I could and more.....
From there I went around town tracking down companies I learned about at the fair.
The adventure of my day only begins there.
The early evening began with going to see
Dante Rossi the Fabbro, or black smith
to get my hand made tools.
Not only was I given personalized hammers.
And got a chance to see him actually make the tools.
(Video will come later) a must see
but then got a chance to make my own tools as well.....
This was a grand experience as my nostalgia kicks in
Dante makes it look so easy, as he swings the hammer with power and grace.
His anvil sings, as he works....
Amazing.
My visits to Turano, have always been so inviting.
To enjoy welcome hospitality, kindness, and Dante's good humor and spirit.
He even demonstrated the difference of temper.
His point chisels, when tempered just right, can pierce his own anvil, and still keep a razor sharp edge....
My photos will show the piercing in the anvil as well.
My day still kept rolling.
After long goodbyes, and a glass of Vino, I parted with Dante Rossi, 30lbs heavier, carrying my newly made tools....
An evening of saying good bye to new friends, and making a few more before I leave, I was treated to a finally dinner by Chef Elias..... Did I mention his great cooking....
more goodbyes
Followed by and an Aperitif of vino with my Italian Mother and Sister...
Now as I write this letter, my final repacking and weighing of my bags...
I have no clue how I am going to get everything home! |
| Carrara - May 30 |
As I pack my suitcases, I review my past6 weeks.
I realize just how many Kind people came into my life.
I cannot thank everyone enough, all my new friends, who opened their hearts and homes to me.
They gave me so much.
The Studio of Nicholli was a wondrous place to work, everyone was kind, and they all treated me like family. I found more here than I hoped for, and my expectations were far exceeded.
The place I lived while here, has become a home for me, and a family away from my home.
My old friends whom helped me here, and with out them I could not have done this.
And all my new friends who I leave, but promise to see again.
The town of Carrara, with its friendly atmosphere.
To all
Thank you so much....
Today I am off to Rome for 2 days, and then homeward bound.....
Letters and 3000 pictures, and videos should be posted ASAP......
Stay in contact for Info on my next adventure In Dorset, UK |
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