Quilted Portraits by Bisa Butler. Such humanity! This is SPECIAL! I urge everyone to see it at the Jeffrey Dietch gallery before November 1. @jeffreydeitchgallery@bisabutler
Matera, a city carved out of caves, dates back to prehistoric times. People carried on their lives living in caves until the 1950’s. It was a hard scrabble existence, which makes this place of endless winding stone staircases and a labyrinth of alleys that much more impressive—the labor that it took!! Plus, inside the Sassi (cave) area there are 166 churches built into the cliffs, each with their own distinctive carvings and frescoes. The power of art even under dire conditions!
The “bread city” of Altamura, the oven at Antico Forno Santa Caterina has been in continuous operation since 1300. The signature bread of this city is crusty on the outside and moist but still light inside. I have never had anything like it and it will forever be a taste highlight. #altamura #anticofornosantacaterina #puglia #bread
The city of Lecce is known for the elaborate Baroque details in the architecture of its buildings. The imagery in the church carvings is not limited to strictly religious figures. There are animals, figures from mythology, nature and more. And then the beach at Torre Del’Orso where the bodies were on display, the water was warm, and clear. The waves were plentiful yet gentle—great for jumping!! We stayed until sunset.
We’re now in the Puglia region: The trulli houses of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, shopping at the farmers market and the town square of Martina Franca at night.
The subway station near where we’re staying is worth sharing. We took it to Herculaneum, a small town covered by Vesuvius’ wrath in 79AD. It’s in the process of being restored so experiencing the place gives more of a sense of what life at the time might be like.
Just living our lives these days can feel pretty daunting. Here’s a counter narrative that I think is called for now. It’s excerpted from my book “And Yet.” #Hope #Don’tGiveUp#parkinsonsdisease#takeactionnow#art#community#blurb#create#riseup
