Mark making and inspiration | Sansepolcro
May, a month brimming with the promise of new beginnings and vibrant energy, has always been a time of exploration and discovery for me. How thrilling after a trip to Portugal to find myself in beautiful, timeless Tuscany to prepare for an artistic exhibition.
During a residence in the town that was home of the painter Piero della Francesca, Sansepolcro, I created a series of works on paper and handmade books. Under the guidance of two wonderful artists, Monica Dengo and Satsuki Hatsushima, we delved into handwritten mark making. The experience took place in the gorgeously unfinished Casermarcheologica in the center of the town, a multi-faceted creative space. The walls themselves, left “aged” and cracked with time, were an inspiration within itself.
The presence of Satsuki and Monica brought back the teachings from Japan, and the explorations continuation of the mark-making that began last year. Their own show, which premiered in Japan last year, was on exhibit as well, this time in the evocative gallery rooms of the Caserma.
A visit to the town’s archives to view ancient documents struck me, as I studied the style of letters and structure, along with a painting on silk preserved in a box of letters. Another visit to the nearby Burri museum left me filled with the desire to play with color, and let go even further into abstraction.
Here are a few details of the final works I created and shots from the group closing show:
