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Day 9
Life is a Collage
We are collages set together by an extraordinary formula of glue, obtained only through the act of living. If we glue together the bits and pieces, the episodes of life, the colors and nuances, textures and light and shadows, horizontals and verticals, it becomes a conglomerate of all. We become collages.
Through my work, through art, I have become aware of these elements of the collage. I will not call it a puzzle, since a puzzle is a mystery. A collage is not a mystery; it is a picture of pieces being explicitly placed, with much thought and meditation, in connection to another and placed on diverse backgrounds. Second thought, it could be a mystery for the observer.
Your head, for instance, is a collage in 3-dimensions. The forehead concealing our brain with its function, covered perhaps by a mass of hair, perhaps not.
The eyes watch all the glory shown to us, if we open them widely enough to actually “see”. Consequently we can see the devastating and negative hues of life, transferring these perhaps in tones of grey or black.
The nose is a long vertical cylinder in the middle of our face. An organ to breath in, the essence of life and retreat the unnecessary.
The mouth has two lips. It is a hole, opening and closing – giving and taking. The lips are horizontal, enclosing a cave. Some of us have teeth. They are little gems of white to yellow in vertical form, allowing us to chew on our food, making it easier for the stomach to later digest.
Not to forget our chin, a little round or oval form protruding at the end of our face. Some have forgotten chins just lying at the end of the face. Others tell of ambition and stubbornness.
And last but not least the neck is a vertical cylinder holding everything in place.
This is only the small physical attribute of our body.
As you can see, the human body can easily be collaged, if only in our thoughts.
“Life is a collage”
Should I start mentioning the many happenings in a life span? That would result in my autobiography or your biography perhaps? I have opted to find symbols explaining the subject. Symbols glued together, adding paint, forming a collage on a surface.
The observer can now look and take the time to understand or analyze the results......
Christina Jarmolinski
Day 8
Italy Bolzano
On the Brenner/Brennero, the pass going to Italy. Notice all the trucks, miles of them on low gear, trying to cope with the incline. Imagine Hannibal crossed these alps with his 37 elephants in 218 BC. In 15 BC the Roman Legions, with the son of Emperor Augustus crossed the Brenner Pass to conquer the region, today called Germany. Hence the city of Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum) was founded! This is the city I lived and worked in, painting and teaching, for many years.
One of the many quaint streets with houses built in the middle ages. Here you see some Renaissance and Rococo styled, original homes
Here I am enjoying my first cappucino in the beautiful city of Bolzano, Italy
It was approximately 85F. And I decided to rest in this city park. Air conditioning is seldomly found.
This is one of the many castles situated in Bolzano. It is now a culture center with its own wine garden.
Oetzi, He lived 3400 BC, Scary stuff... A mummie, which has been preserved.
The Duomo, built in the 14th century.
Another rest - I've been walking through Bolzano for 2 days now. I'm enjoying a Campari in this wonderful arcade of Hotel Citti. It is on the main square. You can sit here for hours watching the passers-by
The daily market of Bolzano. The Italians love fresh foods and the activity here proves it.
St. Francis Chruch, built between the 13th and 15th century
A mural depicting St. Francis of Assissi on the Franciscan Monastary and private school.
A rack full of international newspapers at the Citta Hotel.
A typical street café in Bolzano.
