TRAVEL
I have an incurable curiosity for places and people. Travel has a large impact on my work, and when the opportunity for adventure is there, I jump head first. The galleries below show a few of the places I connected to while traveling.
Camino de Santiago, The Way of St. James, SPAIN
The Camino is a Christian pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela that became popular in the Middle Ages. Thousands of people walk the pilgrimage each year for a variety of reasons; some of which are, but not limited to, spiritual insight, emotional healing, and personal reflection.
When I made my way on the Camino I found the pace of the walk, at times, became a meditative experience challenging me both mentally and physically. My boyfriend, now husband, and I began the walk in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the South of France. Our first two days walking over the Pyrenees Mountains brought torrential rainfall, thunder and lightning, and gusts of wind that literally ripped the hood right off my poncho. We were drenched by the rain then blown dry by the wind like a carwash over and over again. We found a brief refuge in a stone hut next to the path, but to avoid being stuck through the night on the side of the mountain, we kept going as soon as we saw a break in the weather. As we reached the peak of the mountain it was as if the whole sky opened up with thunder roaring and lightning striking through the sky. I wondered if it was some ominous warning for me to turn around. Maybe I wasn't worthy of the path I was on. Then I thought, it’s just the weather, I’m going to keep walking. By that time, there was no shelter and our only option was to push forward. Those first two days, though challenging, took us to some of the most beautiful overlooks. The days and weeks following brought hotter and hotter, cloudless weather reaching well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit with miles in between villages. It was a record breaking heat wave. At times it was grueling and unpleasant, but we kept walking . . . and walking. We walked over hills and mountains, through nearly abandoned historic villages, through cities, along roadways and farms eventually finding our way to the Atlantic Ocean on the opposite side of Spain ending in Cape Finisterre, once thought of as the end of the world. Along the way we met people from across the globe, each with a different story, some of which were funny and light while others were painful, and difficult to listen to. This was a challenging experience, but one I wouldn’t change. The path is periodically marked with oyster shells, and a bit of faith is needed that they will point you in the right direction. Crosses and Churches are never far away. The images below will give you a snapshot of the walk.
When I made my way on the Camino I found the pace of the walk, at times, became a meditative experience challenging me both mentally and physically. My boyfriend, now husband, and I began the walk in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the South of France. Our first two days walking over the Pyrenees Mountains brought torrential rainfall, thunder and lightning, and gusts of wind that literally ripped the hood right off my poncho. We were drenched by the rain then blown dry by the wind like a carwash over and over again. We found a brief refuge in a stone hut next to the path, but to avoid being stuck through the night on the side of the mountain, we kept going as soon as we saw a break in the weather. As we reached the peak of the mountain it was as if the whole sky opened up with thunder roaring and lightning striking through the sky. I wondered if it was some ominous warning for me to turn around. Maybe I wasn't worthy of the path I was on. Then I thought, it’s just the weather, I’m going to keep walking. By that time, there was no shelter and our only option was to push forward. Those first two days, though challenging, took us to some of the most beautiful overlooks. The days and weeks following brought hotter and hotter, cloudless weather reaching well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit with miles in between villages. It was a record breaking heat wave. At times it was grueling and unpleasant, but we kept walking . . . and walking. We walked over hills and mountains, through nearly abandoned historic villages, through cities, along roadways and farms eventually finding our way to the Atlantic Ocean on the opposite side of Spain ending in Cape Finisterre, once thought of as the end of the world. Along the way we met people from across the globe, each with a different story, some of which were funny and light while others were painful, and difficult to listen to. This was a challenging experience, but one I wouldn’t change. The path is periodically marked with oyster shells, and a bit of faith is needed that they will point you in the right direction. Crosses and Churches are never far away. The images below will give you a snapshot of the walk.
The walk
Crosses of the camino |
Doors on the Camino |
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ARTIST RESIDENCY ON THE ISLAND OF SKOPELOS, GREECE
I had the opportunity to spend a month on the island of Skopelos, Greece, as a resident artist at SKOPART, the Skopelos Foundation for the Arts. My husband and I were some of the first foreigners allowed on the island after the COVID shutdowns. The island is a hotspot for travelers during the summer, as it is thought of as one of the most lush of the Greek islands with stunning beaches and beautiful landscape. At the time, traveling here was still tricky with restrictions, so we were lucky to be there, and grateful to find the island was unusually quiet. It allowed us to experience the Skopelos without the typical rush of summer tourists.
As you can see in a few of the images, my workspace overlooked the water. It was an amazing, inspiring location to utilize. A couple weeks after I arrived, two more artists from NYC arrived, and a third the week after that. It was wonderful to meet and work next to other creative people in the space.
To get to the island, we took a long train ride to the coast from Athens, then a ferry to the island. This was our second time traveling to Greece, and while we traveled through Crete, Rhodes, and a bit of the mainland in the past, this trip was different in that we were able to stay in one location for an extended time. It's a different experience to sink into a place for more than a week here and there. You start to see and feel the place and people in a different light. In Skopelos, we stayed in a beautiful little stone cottage with a stunning outdoor space in the middle of an old olive orchard. It was riddled with fig and fruit trees, and we couldn't have asked for a better spot to stay. The outdoor space allowed us to host friends and relax after a long day of working in the studio. On days where I found myself ahead of schedule on my clay pieces, we traveled the island visiting a handful of the many churches and monasteries, walking trails, and beaches across the island. It truly was a wonderful environment to focus on my work.
As you can see in a few of the images, my workspace overlooked the water. It was an amazing, inspiring location to utilize. A couple weeks after I arrived, two more artists from NYC arrived, and a third the week after that. It was wonderful to meet and work next to other creative people in the space.
To get to the island, we took a long train ride to the coast from Athens, then a ferry to the island. This was our second time traveling to Greece, and while we traveled through Crete, Rhodes, and a bit of the mainland in the past, this trip was different in that we were able to stay in one location for an extended time. It's a different experience to sink into a place for more than a week here and there. You start to see and feel the place and people in a different light. In Skopelos, we stayed in a beautiful little stone cottage with a stunning outdoor space in the middle of an old olive orchard. It was riddled with fig and fruit trees, and we couldn't have asked for a better spot to stay. The outdoor space allowed us to host friends and relax after a long day of working in the studio. On days where I found myself ahead of schedule on my clay pieces, we traveled the island visiting a handful of the many churches and monasteries, walking trails, and beaches across the island. It truly was a wonderful environment to focus on my work.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
The photographs I took in Istanbul show a small part of the rich history and color of the city. Markets lined with spices, artisans selling handmade pottery, delicious architecture over a thousand years old along with breath-taking mosques lined with brilliantly colored ceramic tile. The people here were kind and generous overall, and it's a place I hope someday to return to.
BRUGES, BELGIUM
Bruges is a stunning city, filled with architecture straight out of a fairytale. Stone houses overlook swan filled canals, and horse drawn carriages clatter by on cobblestone streets. It's one of the most romantic cities I've visited. There's even a street off the main square called the Chocolate Street--and yes, it's lined with chocolate shops selling beautiful handmade chocolates, which are divine.
BOLZANO, ITALY
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RAVENNA, ITALY
Ravenna was an interesting little Italian city. We visited Dante's tomb, which was flooded with water. I remember little fish swimming around, and a slot where we had to give coins in order to turn the lights on to see anything. We also visited the famous Basilica di San Vitale, a rare example of early Christian Byzantine architecture. The interior is covered in intense mosaic imagery. It's one thing see it in a history book, and entirely different to actually walk under and over these impressive mosaics.
Next to San Vitale is a neat little 5th century building called the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Many believe it was built as an oratory before becoming a mausoleum. The building still has thin alabaster windows that allow gold light to illuminate the interior space. The ceiling and walls are covered in intense stars and Christian imagery.
Next to San Vitale is a neat little 5th century building called the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Many believe it was built as an oratory before becoming a mausoleum. The building still has thin alabaster windows that allow gold light to illuminate the interior space. The ceiling and walls are covered in intense stars and Christian imagery.
FLORENCE, ITALY
Florence has a special place in my heart. In my early twenties I had the opportunity to spend part of a summer there, studying the history of Florentine architecture. It was such a rich experience, and it took me a decade to get back to visit again. As a student, I stayed in a really beautiful apartment behind the Palazzo Vecchio. Street performers are just part of the city vibe, but I remember walking back one evening to find the Piazza della Signora in front of the Palazzo Vecchio completely packed with people. It was already dark out, and there was a vertical stage set up with dancers in beautiful costumes. They were dangling and dancing from ropes. In the days leading up to this event, we had noticed people suspended from and practicing dance routines from the top of the Palazzo Vecchio building, but weren't sure what it was for. The night of the event, as the dancers were performing, suspended on their vertical stage, two groups of people made their way through the thick crowd, each hanging on to ropes that were holding down two small hot air balloons. The balloons were lit up, one representing the moon, and the second the sun. Hanging from each balloon was a dancer swaying and dancing with long flowing costumes. I had never experienced anything quite like that. It was nothing short of magical. In any case, a decade later, walking through that same spot, there were the dancers hanging on the side of the building, practicing their routine.
POMPEII, ITALY
Walking through Pompeii really is like walking right into history.
