My Artist's Book, IN COMUNE, Dedicated to Padua's City Hall

You may have already read about and looked at my artist's book to be experienced on a gondola in Venice, Gondola Ride Kit, but there's another edition I've dedicated to Padua: IN COMUNE.

Description:

The site-specific artist's book focuses on some points in Palazzo Moroni (Padua's City Hall) and invites visitors to perceive each place differently. The artist's three card stock pages encourage visitors to avoid a hurried or careless passing, and instead experience some of the Palazzo's places, focusing on them to discover their purpose, identiy a new meaning or simply learn something about a typical routine there. The passing-by can therefore be a moment of reflection or a pause - a time which is given a new quality. The benches or windows in the Palazzo can offer both visitors - and resident workers - a different point of view to observe the space they are experiencing.

 Front cover

The book instructs the reader to go to specific locations, illustrated by the pencil drawings, and read the corresponding written material on the back side of each card. The themes range from humorous, to romantic and historical.

 First page, drawing and text on back

 Second page, drawing and text on back

Third page, drawing and text on back

The work was commissioned for the exhibition, Gemine Muse, in 2007. Curated by Guido Bartorelli and Teresa Iannotta. Bilingual edition of 1000 copies.

Back cover

IN COMUNE is on sale on ETSY. Click here to get your copy.  Not many copies are left!

Pedrocchi Cafè Carnival

Mardi Gras just hit Caffè Pedrocchi and the elegant lions have shed their gentlemanly faces today. After an afternoon of non-stop kids doing up carnival, the leoni are suffering from what looks like "cake face".

Entertainers have kept Padua's children occupied with festivities including balloons, music and dancing. They have assaulted the area with their enthusiasm. This comes in the form of a blanket of confetti, spray, dirty costumes and much much more.

Being early evening, I find it amusing to see all the kids dressed up, yet wearing coats that cover up almost all of their costumes. What's left is sprouting bright fabric in the form of skirts. Or face make up. The occasional tiara.

It's winter. It's Carnival. And unfortunately it's over tonight. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday.

New Blog on the Block

There's a new blog featuring a woman's view on the city of Padua. It's called Galline Padovane and written by Cristina, an Italian who is passionate about Padova and writes her posts in both Italian and English. The name of the blog translates as "Paduan Hens"after the special local variety that is bred in this area.

She recently featured my blog on hers at this link. (Thank you, Cristina)

Now you can get more on the scoop here in town by checking "The Hens" out!

Galline Padovane

Chocolate Festival in Padua

CIOCCOLANDO 2011

Padua's hosting Day 2 of its chocolate festival, Cioccolando. Come join the fun in downtown Padua. You missed yesterday's parade, but there's still fun to be had in and around Palazzo Moroni. Let your eyes delight and mouth savor chocolate's marvels. There is also other kinds of entertainment going on such as clowns, bands, dancers, baton twirlers and street performers of all kinds.

Featured chocolate treats:

ciocco-latini, praline e cioccolatini in tantissimi gusti diversi
ciocco-calda, la gustosa cioccolata calda
ciocco-frutta, gustose fragole intinte nel cioccolato fuso
ciocco-pasta, la pasta fatta in casa aromatizzata al cacao
ciocco-yogurt alla stracciatella e morettino
ciocco-crêpes con ripieno alla crema di cacao
dolce salame di cioccolato

Is your mouth salivating yet?

Proceeds will go to the hospital's Pediatric Department.

For more information, go to www.cioccolando.org.
Photo credit, Flickr's EuroMagic.

Ciao e buon cioccolato!