Sicily!!!!

We're (my roommates and I and all of SUNY Stony Brook) are off to Sicily for a long weekend. We're going on a sleeper train through the night. Then when we get to the coast our train will be taken apart and put on to a ferry and we will wake up in Sicily! So cool! Everyone (including me) is kinda sick so its not the ideal weekend but im sure it will be amazing. Pictures will be taken.

Speaking of pictures, i wanted to upload some from this weekend. My roommates and I went to San Gimigniano, a midevil Tuscan town. It was absolutely beautiful. And it was really nice to get out of the city for a little while.  But, the internet here is being foreign and weird and I cant upload pictures right now.

I miss you all. A lot.

Don't cry, I'll bring this home to you.

its been a pretty good week id say. I didnt get hit by any cars or mopeds (which is a legitimate concern here) so thats good.

Monday in Florence sketchbook class we looked at a slide of The Last Supper fresco by Andrea del Castagno painted in 1450.  We learned about how it predated Leonardo Davinci's last supper by about 50 years and influenced many Last supper paintings with its one point perspective and the center point being Jesus. blah blah blah.

But then...our teacher was like ok were taking a field trip. And we went to this church and there it was! The painting we had just learned about and seen slides of. It was so cool.

Then we drew it and it was pretty hard actually.

On Tuesday I was asked to help set up a gallery show. I was pretty excited.  The art being exhibited are photographs by an American artist. I was stoked at the idea of helping to hang the photos.  But no. I got to wash grapes and clean the airducts.  You gotta start somewhere i guess.

The opening was pretty cool with lots of local artsy people wearing scarves. Then i went to a bible study at this girls apartment that i met at church. it was interesting.


yesterday lexi and i went to this other gallery opening at a museum. Here i learned about a thing called "free running" and my life will never be the same.WATCH THIS NOW

Today I took a 2 and a half hour train ride through tuscany to go to a ceramist's studio. It cost me 18 euros all together and the train ride alone was worth every euro cent. Tuscany is frikin beautiful. Here are some horrible pictures through a train window.

The artist was fairly interesting. I thought his work was going to be pottery, but he actually made sculptures of found objects using plaster molds and pouring clay slip into the molds.  He had a pretty cool elephant one. And his studio was such an artists studio. I liked it. In real life. Not on facebook.

Yet again, one of my dear friends is getting married today. My long time friend and neighbor Linley Cox is marrying Dougie today. I wish i could be there! I love you guys and Im so excited for you!


and i think i should leave you with this guy

Thanks to you

I went back up to the Piazza Michelangelo by myself today. Just to journal and be alone, or at least as alone as it is possible to be here.  Even though I was sitting infront of one of the most amazing views of my life, I was feeling a little homesick. And then i had an epiphany. 

I am so lucky to be homesick.

If God had not blessed me with an amazing home I would not miss it.  If my family wasnt so wonderful and loving and close-knit it would not hurt so bad to be away from them.
I have been taking my family and my home for granted. For the last few years all I have done is complained about how boring, dull, and cold Rochester is. But in reality, it is the warmest place in the world for me.

For a while now I have been making travel plans for after college. I've been thinking about working my butt off waitressing or something for 6 months of the year and then traveling for 6 months of the year. Now, I realized thats not what I want. I definitely still want to travel a lot. I have wandering feet that cant stay still.  But I think I will do shorter trips.  Because I realized that where I really want to be is with my family.
Because they're the best thing that ever happened to me.

For those of you who dont get the updates, my mom had another check-up appointment yesterday. It was the best one yet. She is just doing so well. Thank you thank you thank you Jesus. 
All I can think about is this song, which I feel describes our situation perfectly:
Thanks to You by Copeland

It's been a long two years.
It's time to smile, we've made it this far, just like you said.
Just like you said we would.
There are no more tears.
We've used them all so now we'll rely on our laughter,
And the faith that pain gives joy.

I hope that you can see the strength that pulled us through
Is now passed on to me I need to wear it like you always do.
Like you always do.

This far from home,
It doesn't feel as far when I know you're doing well.
Distance is what you make it.
The distance is what you make it.

I hope that you can see the strength that pulled us through
Is now passed on to me I wear it like you always do.
I hope that you can see the strength that pulled us through
(I hope that you can see the strength that pulled us through)
Is now passed on to me I wear it like you always do.
(Is now passed on to me)
Like you always do.




I love you mom.


sorry this post was so sappy. To make up for it i'll add a random thought.  Today I passed by a sign that said "Japanese Garden." Well actually it said "Giardino Giapponese." Anyways, I got to thinking, Japanese Gardens in America seem totally normal. But a Japanese garden in Firenze? Thats just wierd

Its so beautiful it takes my breath away. But I still think its got nothing on NYC. I too American for my own good.

Nothing clever to say, but "one day." Nothing else to say.

This week has been fairly quiet. Well as quite as it gets in a city. Theres always something noisy happening. Classes were good. Actually we had to draw in one point perspective in sketchbook class so that kinda sucked. Its so unrealistic looking.

But, I learned all about lighting in Fashion Photography and were were able to do some test shots in the studio. Im really excited about this class. were shooting a lookbook for this upscale boutique called Gerard. We're planning on doing it outside, really playing off the interesting textures of the city.
Test shots:

Mixed media is going to be interesting. My teacher is really into political art or art that has some kind of content behind it, even if it is not very asthetically pleasing. As for me, I'm all for meaning and content behind a work, but i like to make beautiful things. I feel that just in being beautiful they are meaningful and worthwhile. And im still trying to learn how to use various materials and what my artisic style even it. I think for my project I want to somehow incorporate the fascinating mix of contemporary and renaissance art in Florence.  Right now I'm doing studies of this awesome sculpture. I like it because it is of a mythical creature.

I visited a contemporary art gallery today called the Biagiotti gallery. They specialize in showing art of young emerging artists. Lexi and I also helped break down a gallery show today at the artist in residence building at my school. Im hoping if i make good enough contacts, I could be an artist in residence here someday!

One thing i remembered from visitng Italy a few years ago is that there are a lot of strange signs in italy. These are a few of my favorites.

What?


One of my best friends, the beautiful, porcelain skinned, Sarah Mondy is getting married tomorrow! Im so sad that i cant be there for the actual wedding, but I'm getting skyped in beforehand! If you see her or her wonderful Fiance Adam Buell, make sure to congratulate them! Im praying for you guys. Love you so much! I really wish I could be there.


oh and apparently hawks like gelato too.

All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone

This is going to be a long post so hang in there with me. It will be mostly pictures.

Another crazy exciting week! All my classes wen well. Fashion photography is really exciting. Were working with models from Milan and making an actual advertisement for an upscale Boutique in Firenze.
Im still not really sure what were doing in my mixed media class. My professor basically just talked about Italian politics for 2 hours. And shes german!

For fashion photography we have to take pictures of anyone we find interesting on the street. This has proven most difficult. Its very hard to take picture of people sneakishly or to communicate why you want to take their picture. Here are my favorites so far:

Firenze is just amazing. Its so beautiful. And theres always something going on and interesting people to meet. Im so lucky to be here.

BUT.  Im homesick.
I miss:
My family
My cat
My friends
Wegmans
My shower
My room
My job
English
Waffles
Hummus


For Florence sketchbook class we had to draw "simple" objects in our sketchbooks with various pencils. Here are mine:

The last one was drawn at the Boboli Gardens, these massive gardens behind the Piti Place, which is also massive. It used to belong to the Medici family but now it holds several museums and gardens. The gardens had no flowers which was kinda weird but it was nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and be around green things again. I went there with my friend Lexi and her friend Laura. I believe they may be kindred spirits. I felt very comfortable around them. 

Speaking of getting away, I went to the Cinque Terre yesterday with 2 of my roommates. It was even more beautiful than I remembered. I really really really wished my family was with me again. I felt happy and lonely at the same time. For those of you who dont know, Cinque Terre means 5 Lands. They are 5 little towns built into the hillside of these beautiful mountains.

 We hiked from one end to the other. The last one was a killer but I felt sooo good after. And we were rewarded with a beautiful beach.
I also got two new friends this week: