Sunday, Bloody Sunday
This has been an eventful few days, and here are some of the several stories I have to share.
1. 5 Hour Carnivale Parade - February 16th 2:00pm.
Today was the big Carnivale parade in Verona. It lasted for 4 hours; people dressed in the clothes of times past and there were elaborate floats that shot colorful confetti at the crowds. The girl who works at the internet café I visit was all dressed up and being cute sweeping up confetti outside of the shop during the parade. Since this was the first story of the day, it seems like years ago and I do not have a lot to say except that Italian parades are a blast. I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story:
Verona Carnivale Parade
2. Jerry Uelsmann Exhibit Premier - February 16th 6:00pm
“I am involved with a kind of reality that transcends surface reality. I can honestly say that subject matter is only one consideration that proceeds after the fact and not before. We don’t select a handsome group of words and then try to say something; but rather we begin speaking and the words come out as a result of our efforts to say something meaningful.” -- Jerry Uelsmann
Tonight I met Jerry Uelsmann at the opening of his exhibit “Meditation … Navigation” in Verona’s Centro Internazionale di Fotografia Scavi Scaligeri, or the International Center of Photography Scaligeri Excavation. This museum is great because the modern art is displayed underground among ancient ruins. It truly brings two separate worlds together.
As for Jerry Uelsmann, he is the Dahli of the photography world. His works combine multiple negatives with interesting surreal modes which transcend our natural realities. Uelsmann started in the 70s (prior to Photoshop) using solely analog techniques--requiring many hours in the dark room. He has been very influential in the photography world, and I realized at the exhibit that I had seen some of his works elsewhere before. The front cover of the Dream Theater album Train of Thought is actually part of a Uelsmann print.
The contrasting images in the exhibit raised many questions about time, space and creation. I also was left wondering how I might break away from taking mainly “postcard photos” and define a style for myself which is more meaningful and asks more of the viewer.
3. Jazz Bar 1/5 of a Block from our Apartment - February 16th 10:00 pm
I passed by these posters advertising “Musica del vivo” at the end of my road on the weekends and this evening I finally had the time to check it out. I went with my roommate Chris for dinner, and it turns out this Jazz Club is absolutely the coolest thing I’ve found in Verona to date. The name of the place is Le Cantine del’Arena.
The band playing: the Fat Max quartet, and Fat Max had both of us convinced he was from the southern U.S. with his strong blues voice. As it turns out, he and the band are from the local area--although the pianist named Bruno does have family living in Ottawa Illinois. I spoke with the band for a bit, acquired their recording titled “Sittin’ Blues.”
As for the food, the sausage was served grilled and similar to a Brazilian sausage fillet. We had a bottle of Masi - Valpolicella Classico 2005 which is a really tasteful local wine; my favorite classic Valpolicella. I hope to join the Italians next week for another jazz experience.
1. 5 Hour Carnivale Parade - February 16th 2:00pm.
Today was the big Carnivale parade in Verona. It lasted for 4 hours; people dressed in the clothes of times past and there were elaborate floats that shot colorful confetti at the crowds. The girl who works at the internet café I visit was all dressed up and being cute sweeping up confetti outside of the shop during the parade. Since this was the first story of the day, it seems like years ago and I do not have a lot to say except that Italian parades are a blast. I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story:
Verona Carnivale Parade
2. Jerry Uelsmann Exhibit Premier - February 16th 6:00pm
“I am involved with a kind of reality that transcends surface reality. I can honestly say that subject matter is only one consideration that proceeds after the fact and not before. We don’t select a handsome group of words and then try to say something; but rather we begin speaking and the words come out as a result of our efforts to say something meaningful.” -- Jerry Uelsmann
Tonight I met Jerry Uelsmann at the opening of his exhibit “Meditation … Navigation” in Verona’s Centro Internazionale di Fotografia Scavi Scaligeri, or the International Center of Photography Scaligeri Excavation. This museum is great because the modern art is displayed underground among ancient ruins. It truly brings two separate worlds together.
As for Jerry Uelsmann, he is the Dahli of the photography world. His works combine multiple negatives with interesting surreal modes which transcend our natural realities. Uelsmann started in the 70s (prior to Photoshop) using solely analog techniques--requiring many hours in the dark room. He has been very influential in the photography world, and I realized at the exhibit that I had seen some of his works elsewhere before. The front cover of the Dream Theater album Train of Thought is actually part of a Uelsmann print.
The contrasting images in the exhibit raised many questions about time, space and creation. I also was left wondering how I might break away from taking mainly “postcard photos” and define a style for myself which is more meaningful and asks more of the viewer.
3. Jazz Bar 1/5 of a Block from our Apartment - February 16th 10:00 pm
I passed by these posters advertising “Musica del vivo” at the end of my road on the weekends and this evening I finally had the time to check it out. I went with my roommate Chris for dinner, and it turns out this Jazz Club is absolutely the coolest thing I’ve found in Verona to date. The name of the place is Le Cantine del’Arena.
The band playing: the Fat Max quartet, and Fat Max had both of us convinced he was from the southern U.S. with his strong blues voice. As it turns out, he and the band are from the local area--although the pianist named Bruno does have family living in Ottawa Illinois. I spoke with the band for a bit, acquired their recording titled “Sittin’ Blues.”
As for the food, the sausage was served grilled and similar to a Brazilian sausage fillet. We had a bottle of Masi - Valpolicella Classico 2005 which is a really tasteful local wine; my favorite classic Valpolicella. I hope to join the Italians next week for another jazz experience.