streakingtheblue: Paris to Pietrasanta

sisters outside notre dame

Clare and I had an extra 3 days in Paris and we were lucky to be able to stay in the Marais studio of Clare’s old childhood friend Lucy. It was a perfect place to hang out in, meet Lucy’s lovely family and experience sister time. We did manage to see an exhibition of Van Dongen at the Musee d’Art Moderne and several installations at the Palais deTokyo, walk kilometers of cobblestones ( Clare thankfully is a sharp + avid map reader)and even bought the same pair of fab boots.

clare in lucy's cool studio

Disaster sort of struck when we missed the official time to check in for the plane to Pisa thanks to the tardy stuffed to the rafters Sunday metro and had to do an airport hotel instead but that was kinda funny too: our room was like a shoebox, we drank a bottle of red + watched an Elizabeth Taylor / Montgomery Clift b+w movie, A Place in the sun.

Pietrasanta piazza

Pietrasanta, in northern Tuscany, is famed for its marble quarries and before the advance of the late twentieth century its artisani were famed throughout the world for the carved sculptures that adorn most Christian churches, monasteries and graveyards. Artists such as Michelangelo worked there and more recently Henry Moore, Botero and a host of contemporary sculptors who spend time there annually.

chip, chip, chip

We had chosen to spend a week learning how to work marble at the studio of Christien Sielcken and it proved to be a great choice. Christien has lived, studied and practiced in Pietrasanta for all her adult life and has extensive knowledge of the history of this region. She even organised for us to stay at the self contained apartment of her friend Emily just alongside the lovely piazza duomo.

clare at work on the finger

Clare and I rose early each morning had a great coffee at the local café, cycled 15mins to the studio and worked until 5 / 6pm each day loving every moment.Every evening was spent having a martini rossi or glass of vino in the piazza watching the sun set over the mountains of Pietrasanta.

at the professionals

We both had a challenging and exciting time working under the astute guidance of Christien and we were lucky to have her expertise almost to ourselves. Our fellow student, Martien, has been visiting the studio for 20 years from his native Holland and his calm focus and gentle humour set the rhythm of the days. It’s a place we missed as soon as we left and I hope one day to visit again for a longer period. Our last night was spent having a lovely meal with Christien and Martien at Il Giglio, a great find for the food and its personable owner Stefano.