Becoming a chameleon

Entrance to Palazzo Vecchio in Florence home to the "Studiolo"
of  Francesco I de' Medici

One expression I have learned about culture is that culture is what remains when you have forgotten everything. Likewise, I could similarly say the same thing about my family's ceramic workshop: we have lost everything made of walls, work instruments, tables & chairs, shelves, samples but...Cama is now part of my DNA. 

Indeed, after so much traveling & researching with Cama in mind, Cama is now definitely under my skin like micro-chips all over my body with the help of some extra personal talents, the so-called soft skills, such as adaptability to the situation and futuristic if related to my vision beyond the horizon. As a consequence, could I have the honor of being called a "camaleonte" in Italian, "chameleon" in English? 

The chameleon in the Italian Renaissance was the symbol of air. A chameleon painted model can be admired in the so-called "Studiolo" of Francesco I de' Medici at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. The chameleon together with three other symbols represented for that time the founding elements of the universe: earth (precious stones) water (a fantastic fish), air (a chameleon) and fire (a salamander). These elements are respectively located in the room's ceiling, one for each wall, artistically painted by a group of artists guided by Giorgio Vasari between 1570 and 1575. 

Francesco I de' Medici, son to Cosimo I de' Medici, was famous for his chemical experiments. His "Studiolo" was enriched by wooden cabinets, where he kept his glass bottles, elements of study and results. I have visited it a few times and I wrote a dedicated post when I first visited Palazzo Vecchio in 2011. Then I went to Florence in 2013 again and created this post. One important post is apparently lost. I can't find it anymore among the blog drafts neither. 

The post I am talking about contained the photo I took of the "Studiolo" ceiling, portraying the chameleon and the other symbols. No way I can now find their close-ups online. Therefore as soon as the lockdown is over, my first visit outside my region will be to Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. I'll go there by train as usual. This is for sure a promise to me as I am truly grateful to the Italian Renaissance and more inspiration is always welcome! 

The post author's talents by Gallup are as follows (in order of priority): Activator, Adaptability, Communication, Context, Futuristic

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A contemporary art painting

A woman views Mark Rothko's "Orange, Red"
photo credit: AFP/Getty Images

So far, I think of my revival journey for Cama as a path, in which I have gotten rid of the object, the ceramic pieces that were at the center of the workshop's ceramic production. This art manufacturing took place in Deruta, Italy, a community that has been highly separated by unfair competition, ignited by foreign resellers and distributors, looking for the best price and putting the existing workshops one against each other. 

Being the ceramic pieces at the center meant working hard to put as many pieces in production as possible and get the factory going. Our workshop and Deruta itself had no power over the target markets, where our ceramics were exported to. We were simply subcontractors of specialty shops, that lead the markets. No branding of a single workshop in Deruta, no time invested in creating a united production force in town. Only the satisfaction of excellent product quality. However, as we say in Umbrian: "Mangia il Bellino" (tr. eat the flattering) cannot be the starting point for investing over time. 

In this scenario and with no funds, back in 2009, I started my revival journey for Cama through this blog. I have ended up forgetting about the ceramic pieces themselves to create visions and abstractions. The biggest achievement on this journey is my essay about an opera singer from my region, which attests to my dedication to the territory and above all how much I have tried to establish contact with shop owners, artisans, and local communities with no good results. 

Therefore my essay witnesses above all the close link of our opera singers - pioneers of our Made in Italy on the turn of the 19th and 20th century - with the Italian Renaissance. That's exactly where I have started my journey from, by resuming the roots of our most glorious time in our country, where we have rewritten our common classical Latin and Greek origins Italian style: color meanings, lessons from important leaders among which Cosimo I de' Medici, copy contents and inspiration from the arts to keep going all come to me from Italian Renaissance topics. 

Presently, more awareness is coming this way to me from the non-profit organization located in Treviso, Italy and called "100mila Ripartenze" (tr. 100,000 Recoveries). I am learning about soft skills and talents, receiving inputs from a community of experts dedicated to helping companies and professionals, who have undergone failure and much worse bankruptcy, get back to life.  

In this picture, I now feel like floating within a contemporary art painting, with no objects and with the aim of framing something totally new to the arts & crafts industry, as it was in my original vision; however, lacking focus in the beginning. But starting is what matters and everything else little by little contributes to shaping what is at heart to us: just do it, as a starting trigger, may suffice. 

All things considered, I feel that I have wasted a lot of time all these past years, looking for cooperations on the territory, where -among other things- I have made several mistakes and "Brutta figura" (tr. making a poor showing). Indeed, I was desperate and when you are desperate you do silly things. Actually, what was missing from my vision was academic advanced training in marketing and business administration. In my mind, I got it right. That would have solved my puzzle quite well, by giving me the correct tools to create a new innovative way of doing business in the Italian artisan industry. 

Despite my age now, I am quite happy about my journey as it's never too late to give birth to something new for us and for those who have believed in us. As a matter of fact, the artificial bits of intelligence I am meeting online think I am a university student!  

Reading about the topic of university advanced research studies to create the new élite in Italy in the book "Aristocrazia 2.0" by Roger Abravanel, Milano, Solferino, 2021 (pp.339)

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My Note about Yesterday's Earthquake in Central Italy

The tortoise as a lucky charm   

The Cathedral of Norcia before after the earthquake that shook central Italy on October 30th around 7.40am

The cathedral of Norcia that collapsed yesterday under the earthquake broke my heart. Sacred places are the most ancient tradition we are carrying on in Italy. These places are like our identity card. They make us feel we belong to Italy.

The population of Norcia and its surroundings is safe and they have reached the Adriatic coast by bus organized by the Italian government. Some of our fellow citizens have arrived also here at the Trasimeno lake.

The people of Norcia, Castelluccio, Amatrice and other lovely small boroughs in the area between Umbria and Le Marche have left behind their homes, their belongings and everything they treasured.

I know what it feels like to lose everything. When you lock the door for the last time. That's how my blog started and why I am writing on this page. My family and I, we have lost everything we had: our workshop was our life.

Good luck to Norcia

However, there is much we can do if we are still alive. Our body becomes our home. We can think of ourselves as tortoises. That's actually what we become by getting stronger: tortoises. The warmth that we can spread through our body and mind is great. Life is sacred within us that we want to keep alive by praying in sacred places if we feel like it. For sure churches in Italy are inspiring thanks to their art. Art is for everybody to enjoy. It is not a matter of religion.

So I am sending out to the people of Norcia and surroundings all my best wishes for a safe recovery. You can never guess what is waiting for you if you accept your destiny, fight, hold on and rely on your resilience.

Current priorities regarding rebuilding the areas destroyed by the earthquake according to the government are 1. people, 2. churches 3. businesses. I agree with these priorities. Identity comes first. That is exactly what my priorities have been in reviving Cama. Of course, for me, the list of priorities came in by accident. I have discovered my destiny by the go.

Good fortune everybody in Norcia and let the tortoise be your lucky charm. An invitation to read my blog post about the meaning of Cosimo I de Medici's tortoise, Cosimo's favorite symbol.  I have written a few blog posts about the tortoise topic. The monks in Norcia will apologize to me for mixing sacred and profane. However, the profane bring some cheerfulness in relieving tragedies. This is also part of our traditions in Italy: we mix sacred and profane. It's one of our best gifts!

If you wish to make a donation to rebuild the cathedral of Norcia, herewith follows the direct link to the Benedictine monks. This is the newsletter the monks of Norcia sent out yesterday.

The monks of Norcia are on Twitter at this address: @monksofnorcia - We are now following them on Twitter!

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MANDORLA: an Italian Art Renaissance Curiosity

Pietro Perugino (Italian painter, 1446–1524), Virgin and Child in a Mandorla with Cherubim
c  1480- 1500 National Gallery, London 

MANDORLA is the second Italian art history word I run into based on my art discussions with my friend Rosemary. 

Mandorla is an Italian word that we lent to the English language as is. Same as LOGGIA that describes a typical Renaissance architectural patio attached to a church (like in the Spoleto's cathedral) or a belltower (like in Venice) or to a palace such as in Siena (seen in the Piazza del Campo). Therefore when we say 'Loggia' we know what we mean without translating it. Loggia is the first word I shared with Rosemary upon our art armchair traveling on Facebook. 

The same popularity should apply to the word MANDOLA,  however, this latter is less known than Loggia. So we have to translate it to be understood. Translating the word "Mandorla" is easy to do though. It is only one step away. 'Mandola' means almond. In art history terms 'Mandorla' is also known as "almond-shaped aureole". Here is a Mandola longer description from the National Gallery's glossary: 

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Mandorla

Mandorla is the Italian word for almond. In painting or sculpture, the term is used to describe the almond-shaped enclosure which is sometimes depicted around Christ or the Virgin Mary. For example, the Virgin and Child are represented in a Mandorla in Crivelli's version of 'The Vision of the Blessed Gabriele', and 'The Trinity' is represented within one in Barnaba da Modena's panel.

Mandorlas are most often depicted in the context of Christ's Ascension and the Virgin's Assumption.

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I have seen several Mandorlas in Italian paintings in the churches I have visited these past years. There are several descriptions about the origins of such an almond-shaped aureole coming both from mythology as well as from the Christian tradition. Among all theories, the one I prefer is that the almond is linked to the almond tree and to fertility. 

The traditional almond candies from Sulmona, Italy - We call them CONFETTI

That was indeed the first thing that came to my mind: the almond candies we use in Italy for weddings share the same origin as the Mandola in religious paintings! 

As a memory of a wedding or special celebrations such as baptism and graduation in Italy, we give guests a favor containing 5 almond candies as a sign of prosperity. 

The most important production place of almond candies in Italy is SULMONA in the Abruzzi region. It is where the candy tradition started in Italy. I was in Sulmona for the first time in 2000 and I liked Sulmona very much. There are all sorts of almond candies there, anything you can think of. In Sulmona, producers have highly specialized in the field of almond candies and they are still the best in Italy. 

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FIVE YEARLY WINDOWS FOR TWELVE MONTHS

Simone Martini, Saint Martin of Tours, 1322-1326, Basilica di San Francesco, Assisi, Italy 

My favorite day of the year is New Year's Eve. To me, this day is the first window into my life journey's renewal. Celebrating a new start to the journey with the rest of the world is definitely a great event. 

The egg is a symbol of rebirth and renewal. 

However, there are other important windows during the year. Among all celebrations in Italy, we can list FIVE important occasions to celebrate the yearly revivals: 1. New Year's Eve, Easter, August 15th - also known as 'Ferragosto', November 11th - also known as 'St. Martin's day' and Christmas. Most recently I heard people rename 'Ferragosto': 'Summer New Year's, probably because of the fireworks closing the day's celebrations just like we do on New Year's Eve. 

We are now way ahead towards autumn. Our next yearly renewal appointment is November 11th. In Italy, on this day we celebrate Saint Martin of Tours. The reason is that we remind ourselves of being charitable in order to face the seasons' craziness.

Fireworks in Italy are part of the Ferragosto celebrations
on  August 15th 

These five-yearly celebrations became part of the religious and political calendar in classical ages already- such as the case of Ferragosto, which was the name given to this celebration by Emperor Augustus - Feriae Augusti --> Ferragosto in Italian ---> etymology from Latin: Augustus vacations. However in the beginning these celebrations were part of nature's revival cycles. These cycles were described by the fruits of the earth, among which wheat was indispensable for survival since the dawn of time. Ferragosto was meant to celebrate the closing of the wheat harvesting period. 

Christmas atmosphere in Sicily 

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