FLORENCE, ITALY 2024

"DARE GREATLY"

    Florence is a city that breathes, a city that refuses to be rushed. It, in turn had slowed me down, grounded me in a way I hadn't realized I needed. 
     Walking through the Piazza della Signoria, Italy I was surrounded by such majestic sights as the "David" and the Medici lions. The statues and architecture here are stories of triumphs and tragedies. Worn cobblestones are a reminder you are walking on ancient ground. The facades painted in hues of ochre and sienna reveal layers, centuries of repairs and renovations. A glimpse of a fresco peeling through a decaying wall, these, are some of the elements that I want to express in my art. 
     True art, much like Italian wine, needs time to breathe, and develop its full potential. Experiencing Florence hasn't just given me new subject matter: it has given me a new perspective in the value of patience, the beauty of imperfection and the importance of slowing down to fully observe.