Dia dodici (June 16)

Our first day of classes! It’s just “drop/add” here, so we’re on an abbreviated schedule but it was SO good to get into the studios and get a better idea of what our summer semester is going to be like! I made eggs with Kellie this morning for some good protein, and for lunch I made a salad by hand with cherrie tomatoes, onions, oil/vinegar and fetta. I’m feeling more and more self-sufficient – I feel like I’m getting a grip on the kind of satisfaction I always see Kayla having for being so frugally savvy with her meals and other aspects of her life.

I already have lots of homework! Art history has left me with two books to read, and for book arts we made our first three little tiny samples – just some quick folding – but they are so cute and I know I’m going to love having one really hands on class. It’s going to be really nice to get my hands messy, especially being in this kind of environment! I’m already seeing people with gesso all over their legs and those poor ceramics kids clothes are ruined by the first day. For graphics, Spivey gave us our full project schedule, day one. It’s exciting because I know exactly what I’ll be doing and the projects are going to be so fun, but she’s given us SO much freedom since the advanced class is on all different levels and I’m scared out of my living mind because I’m so used to her strict guidelines.

I was so overwhelmed after class and checking all of my e-mails that I decided to take a walk instead of a run, so I could empty out my head and listen to some good music. Mei Lin caught me half way down the stairs and we walked in silence together out back through the ceramics studio on a hike up the mountain. She seemed to be in a very adventurous mood and asked me if I wanted to hike all the way up or just go for a run. We took the hike and ended up climbing past the cathedral (which I thought to be the highest point) and kept walking until we found a glass elevator which took us 3 flights up further to an abandoned old ruin of a building that now serves as some sort of look-out museum/art gallery. There was no one working so we were free to peruse the rooms as we wanted. The whole time I had Jesus music blaring, and as I kept going up and up I’d catch glimpses of that beautiful view through the windows and trees. This was God as I have never experienced Him. At the top of the building we went out on a roof and I could literally see 360 degrees all around me – I was at the highest point of the mountain possible. I  snapped a few pictures on my iphone, but no camera could ever capture this grandeur. The songs on my ipod kept corresponding with each moment. Lyrics about mountains, being lifted high and feeling so small were so timely.  I just stood there, unable to even move, just looking. Looking around at the hugeness of God’s creations, the colors he chose, the landscapes he carved, the people he created. The professors and directors have told us that some things in Cortona are better left up to discover for yourself, and THIS is definitely one of those places! One day soon I’m going to get up at 4:00 and hike up there to see the sun rise and do my bible study. I’ll bring my cannon and then share a glimpse of my moment with y’all!

This experience tied in perfectly with my first reading for art history – the preface of Vasari’s “The Lives of the Artists” from the Renaissance. He wrote about how we celebrate the high arts and we attribute the first sculpture, architecture and painting to different people (some to the cave men, others to Egypt, etc) but how the first and truest sculpture was the earth itself, how we all merely mimic and draw inspiration from nature and how God is the true artist. WOW! That’s what I’m reading in my textbooks! He then wrote about how over time we slowly reached perfection in art until the classical age of Rome and Greece but how the barbarians tore most of it down and the Christians came through and ruined it in order to rid the places of pagan worship. This set the stage for the revival of such art in the Renaissance. And from here on out, I’ll be learning about it all semester!

After my walk, Mei Lin and I ran back to JDK and the run was also one of those magical encounters with God. My music picked up and I ran with my hands almost outstretched around the contours of the mountain.

We also went on a tour of the whole 5 acre campus, so here's a few of the studios:

leaving the stone carving yard

our little canopy :) 

the ceramics studio

ceramics

the panting studio in an old chapel of a monastery!

Holly getting flowers for her bday

Severini!

Book arts

view out from book arts!

We had a pointless meeting at 4 for drop/add and I didn’t make it to town until dinner, and I was on a hunt to find a necklace for Frances, but the shops were closed. I’ll have to mail my post-cards tomorrow. After dinner we walked to the edge of town to see the sun set below the lowest point of the mountain – another time when I wished I had my camera. But I know I’ll be doing that again. We got gelato from Snoopy’s and hung out at Tonnino’s on the outside terrace staring up at the full moon and the lights of all the houses down in the valley dotting the landscape. At 11 they had a party for UGA at Route 66 – the discoteca in town. I saw all my Cortonese friends and the students gave those Cortonese quite the dance party show.  Peter cut his toe open, so we had to go up, but it was another magical day in the land of Tuscany.

Ciao for now,

Brittany (Breetany- similar to the way you say it Nicolie!)