)(( hannah mello ))(: Statues and Parks and Faces

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Statues and Parks and Faces

The PRETEXT <<<>

I wish I could describe adequately every face. Every outfit—the textures, the combinations. Every couple—every couple of friends of lovers of family members of acquaintances acquainting themselves. I wish I could pen every line of the jazz wafting like a scent through this piazza where people are present on every level of presence—standing, sitting, leaning on tables, against walls, on steps (like me on these steps where I sit online)… no one alone.

A friend of mine said, reflecting on Italian culture, that the WORST THING YOU CAN DO OR CHOOSE is to be alone. I love how true it is.

I don’t feel alone here. Not at all. Not only do I feel surrounded, I feel accompanied. Accompanied by my housemates, my friends qua e la…

Today is my catch up day. Odd too, cause it was pouring down rain yesterday and I was out and about. Today’s skies are blue blue blue and puffy-cloud-infested. I’ve “had a lay in” – which my British housemates say for “sleeping in”… I’ve mopped my tile floor, done laundry, tweeked and uploaded photos, replied to emails, wandered around, phoned genatori, and yep. Little things.

I discovered that, just before my battery runs out (since I can only connect with wireless internet in Piazza Grande without plugging in), I can open a ton of internet windows and then, when my computer switches to standby and I have to go home, I can still look at the windows even when my computer isn’t connected! It’s amazing. Today I opened up 15 windows with CNN & BBC news articles and beyond. So here I sit with Astronauts to Mars, a President assassination film, Indonesia and the smog fight, Castro’s cancer, North Korea, Iraq, Pakistan’s quake anniversary, Ramadan, Amazon.com best seller list, and Dan K’s blog which I always love…

____________________________

The TEXT <<<<

I took a bike ride following teaching last week sometime. On that bike ride, I discovered a monument/statue that has captured my soul. I literally circled it 3 or 4 times that evening on my bike. A ton of stranieri on benches surrounding were looking at me I could tell, but I blocked out that reality and thoroughly took in the art. I returned days later, camera in hand, circling anew, but struck even more deeply by all that the statue is and represents.

The Place
A wooded park, narrow and curved around the perimeter of this bella citta.

The Presentation:
Texture. Detail.

The Four:
The Mother and Child. Her eyes out. Her slouched back and hold.
The Fallen Soldier.
The Embrace.
The Soldier on Watch. Alert and Ready.

____________________________

The ILLUSTRATIONS <<<<