Corsica 2012 - The Journey So Far

Bonifacio

Greetings All!!

The trip so far has been extraordinary. The internet coverage...not so much! But, my cell phone connection....is better than in my apartment at home. Go figure.

The exhibition I selected and installed here for 33 artists of ACCI Gallery and guests was my first order of business. The opening reception for "Connexions: California~Corsica" on September 7 was heavily attended and with many surprises. The show is up at the Casa Agostino Giafferri in Poggio-di-Venaco through September 25th with a closing reception on the 24th. There will be some TV coverage that night, I'm told. Henri Ordione from Corsica TV is coming. There is a Facebook link here to see reception and exhibition photos. You should be able to see this even if you are not on FB: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151161007477969.463413.53498022968&type=1&l=a17ed2bea3

Opening Reception "Connexions: California~Corsica" Poggio-di-Venaco, September 7, 2012

I am on the west coast now for a few days and taking it easy in order to write, edit photos, etc. I really did give myself a lot of jumping around and driving on this trip. But, all worth it. I've taken over 1000 photos so far. The weather the first week was rainy and atmospheric. The photos I took of Calvi in the north and Belgodére have a ghostly quality to them. This works with all of the medieval architecture and backroads. 

 Calvi After the Rain

First Night in Calvi from the Citadel to the Port

There has been a lot of wild boar hunting going on -with evidence of shotgun shells on the roads, the hunters themselves with their shotguns, and boar carcasses left and, how shall I say.....configured (?) along the side of the roads. The folks here take their Buy Local seriously -also evidenced by a bit of unrest with the mafia and FLNC (Fronte di Liberazione Naziunale Corsu [National Liberation Front of Corsica]) that occurred on September 11 -coincidence I'm sure. There are large supermarkets in some of the port towns and in Corte -think Target and Wallmart-  named Géant Casino, Leclerc, and Carrefour. The FLNC wants them to lower their prices by December 2012 or there will be more bombing. They claim that they are creating poverty for the Corsican people. Articles to the mafia assassinations (the word "vendetta" originated from Corsica) and rebel group bombings here. You can use Google translate if your French is rusty:   

http://www.corsematin.com/article/corte/triple-assassinat-en-haute-corse-autopsie-dune-scene-de-guerre.760722.html

http://www.corsematin.com/article/derniere-minute/le-flnc-revendique-sept-attentats-commis-lundi-contre-sept-supermarches-et-m.761273.html

It's made things a little unsettling at first to say the least. But, tourists are safe. So, it just adds to the mystique. I was a little "On Edge at the Edge of the Earth" for a few days. But, it's cool now.

The Lime Stone Cliffs of Bonifacio in the South

That said! I've really gotten a better sense of the island this time. The images I've taken so far are enough for a series and book alone. 

Gustave Eiffel's Pont du Vecchio on the right, Vivario-Venaco Viaduct

But, I have 10 days to go and this side of the island is the most beautiful -more extreme than Big Sur- and there are many villages and hamlets up in the mountains I'll be visiting before I return to Poggio-di-Venaco to take down the exhibition, pack, and work my way back through Bastia then to Nice and home. 

XO Lisah 

PS I wasn't kidding about the "configuration." It seems to be a tradition... 

Ex-Sanglier

Corsica Bound!!!

Thank you all for your support of "The Edge of the Earth~ Corsica!"  The parties were lovely and my community has been beyond devoted to my project! I leave very soon and the journey will be exceptional. I will be posting regularly via Kickstarter, Facebook, and my blog, VoodooBordello.com  -a "Gallery and Blog of The Absurd and The Ridiculous..." It is also the easiest way for me to post comprehensive updates with photos and links.

I am so inspired to share Corsica with you. The exhibition, "Connexions: California~Corsica" that I will be installing in Poggio-di-Venaco, near Corte, is just the start. 33 artists' works from ACCI Gallery + will be in transit with me and installed at the Casa Agostino Giafferri for the opening on September 7, 2012. The exhibition will be up through September 25. The exhibited works will be textiles, art quilts, and works on paper. All together there are over 66 pieces that will be in the exhibition.

Once the work is up and the reception over I continue on my course, documenting the rest of the island and focusing on my body of work, "The Edge of the Earth~Corsica." This is my third trip to the Island of Beauty -the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean. But, there is so much more for me to document before I start the linocut series this October and finish the works and book by late January 2013.  For now....know that I will share so much with you through this process and that we will all benefit from the experience.

I look forward to reuniting with my Corsican friends who are a huge part of this project -and making new ones along the way. And, I look forward to seeing my friend from Berkeley who will join me via Paris for the first week of this journey. To be able to share this place with you is a gift in itself.

Thank you all! Stay tuned!

-Lisah XOXOXO

Ferry Approaching Calvi, Corsica, 2010

Getting the Balance Back!

Rock and Roll!!

Thank you Everyone!! The KS party at my home and studio was wonderful. And, we are doin' it again Saturday in San Rafael! Your support towards "The Edge of the Earth~Corsica" has been fantastic. And, with less than $300 to go and 7 days left....well, it's all happening! 

It means a great deal to me to have this community behind me. As most of you know, I've been a gallery director for 11 years. That experience has been beyond rewarding. But, I put my own artwork to the side for the last couple of years so that I could focus on the success of the organization. With this project, the journey, the artwork and book, I will have that balance back of professional artist and arts professional! And, I couldn't be more inspired. Who knows where we'll stand together next year for my "Edge of the Earth" series?!

Below are images of more linocut carvings -as well as original watercolors on loan for both KS parties from my collectors. The McCully's have 12 of my original watercolors and are backers for "The Edge of the Earth~Corsica." 

Thank you all so much!!

Bisous!

Lisah 

Linocut Carvings

 Linocut Detail

Original Watercolors from the McCully Collection

Original Watercolors from the McCully Collection

Not Everyone Has a Map to Reach the Edge of the Earth...........But, We Do!

My journey through Corsica "L'Île de Beauté" is a scouted-out project. It begins with a 5-hour ferry with my car from Nice to the Port of Calvi, reputedly the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. From there, I will use the following villages and port towns as home bases:

As the falcon flies, Corsica is approx 50 miles wide x 110 miles long. My course will take me to the towns and villages tucked throughout as well as the coastal villages and port towns. Also, there are 99 watchtowers strategically located around the perimeter of the island. 

  

But, the island is full of logistical challenges -including an extraordinary mountain range down the center. The highest peak of Corsica, Monte Cinto, is over 8800ft and considered one of the most prominent peaks in Europe. The GR20, recognized as one of the top hiking trails in the world, begins from Calenzana to Conca. Navigation will be tricky. I will certainly encounter ghost towns and the beast, Sanglier!!

The Edge of the Earth ~ Corsica

Lisah Horner's visual interpretation and historical documentation of the staggering geography and turbulent history of Corsica, France, "The Island of Beauty."

Become an Amethyst, Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, Diamond, or Supernova sponsor of this project through Kickstarter.com

I am an artist and gallery director in Berkeley, California. I would like to invite you to join me in the evolution of my next body of work, "The Edge of the Earth ~ Corsica." The process involves my extensive solo exploration and photo-documentation of the staggering geography and turbulent history of Corsica, France, the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean that has fiercely fought for independence since Roman occupation. 

The result of this journey will be a series of 10 hand-colored block prints and a comprehensive book detailing my experience with Corsica's people, the history of the island, photographs, and images of my completed body of work. 

Why Corsica? 

It's because of the unparalleled beauty of the island and the fierce independence of her people throughout history.

I have an unbound curiosity for divided countries, outlaws, misfits, survivors, and the exiled. Corsica, "The Island of Beauty," was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Pasquale Paoli leader of the Corsican Revolution, and reputedly, Christopher Columbus. The island was conquered by the Moors, the Romans, the Pisans, the Genoese, the King of Aragon of Spain, and an organized yet unknown sea-faring tribe. With evidence of being inhabited by the unknown as far back as 6570 BC, it is widely recognized that the giant cannibalistic Laestrygonians described in Homer's Odyssey were the 7th century BC inhabitants of Bonifacio in the south.

The ghosts of Corsica's history are palpable and will be a significant feature in the book. But, it is the astonishing beauty of the island that beckons most and will be the star of this series. 

Art Technique

Detail of a linocut from Lisah's "State of Jefferson" series.

My major influences have been the 20th century Japanese wood block printmakers Kawase Hasui and Hiroshi Yoshida. Instead of using their multiple block printing method for my work, I incorporate the early, single 'key block' technique using linoleum. The linoleum surface is carved out to remove the negative or white space of the print. I often use linoleum areas of up to 2 feet by 3 feet to capture the scale and grandeur of the landscape.

Once I finish the carving, I handprint the linocut using black oil-based ink on watercolor paper. Later, I hand-color the print with watercolor that I mix myself. I developed this technique to achieve the radiance of color that tube paints and traditional block printing inks cannot provide. 

This technique is what I used for the completion of my series, "The State of Jefferson" and how I will produce the work for "The Edge of the Earth ~ Corsica."

Linocut Example

Hand-colored linocut print from the linocut above.

For Your Consideration

Without question, "The Edge of the Earth ~ Corsica" project and journey will take time and sponsorship in order for me to be successful. Planes, trains, ferries, and an automobile are necessary to get to all of the locations on the island I plan to document -most of which are extremely remote. 

There are 8 reward levels for you as an official backer of this project through Kickstarter.Com Amethyst, Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, Diamond, and Supernova level backers will be acknowledged in the finished book. 

I'm very grateful for your consideration. It's an incredible opportunity for to me to share this extraordinary place with you through my artwork and the book. 

The success of this project will enable you to stand with me at the edge of the earth. The view and the history will astonish you.

Become an official backer of "The Edge of the Earth ~ Corsica"

Taming Mothra

 

"Taming Mothra"

Female Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata) on my wrist by Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii

Artist Cliche #1: Art Imitates Life. 

Artist Cliche #2: Life Imitates Art. 

All I know is that suddenly my life has been invaded by moths. 

It sounds worse than it is really. They haven't started eating my clothing -yet. 

I'd like to believe that I have some form of control over their intentions. But, the reality is that I am not Snow White (unlike the sunburned image of me above) and I am not the Pied Piper. For some reason they have recently reappeared since childhood en masse in various incarnations. And, whether it be in real life or in art they have made it clear that they come in peace. So far.

I'm uncertain of the precise year in which my mother and I were witness to the nocturnal landing of a huge female Luna moth under a spotlight on a tree at our summer home in the hills of West Virginia. 

It was likely 1975-76. 

I remember feeling displaced that summer because the familiarity of this home away from our New Jersey home was only a resting place for a few months before my parents would relocate us permanently to Florida. I was facing puberty and I would be experiencing it in a completely new environment, exiled from old friends and family. Metamorphosis was upon me. Like it -or not. I believe that this beauty's short life-span of 5-7 days had purpose and that I was meant to see her at her brief resting place. 

And, she was spectacular. 

Luna Moth (Actias luna) 

(image courtesy of Google)

I've triumphed and survived a series of  lifespans sine 1975-76. 

Cats have 9 lives (in theory). 

Moths have several days to a year (in science). 

And, humans just get lucky (with a balance of diet and exercise complicated by 

genetics, stupidity, and random acts of violence).

Fast forward to 2012 and my brief vacation to Hawaii's Big Island.

I've been gifted with friendship over the years by some extraordinary people. 

We all serve as a resting place for each other. Some stay. Some move on. We all reflect. 

It's okay. 

~Hale Keawe~

The gorgeous home of a dear friend on Kealakekua Bay, HI,

is the epicenter of Island Fabulousness in all her glory. 

It served as the resting place for my close friend and me for 6 days in late April before a period of transition between us. 

It served as a resting place for a local friend to stop by and tell survival stories of being lost at sea with sharks in pursuit, naked, and only Power Bars and rainwater

(and eventually a golf course) 

to see her through. Seriously...wait for her memoir. 

But, for two nights in a row, it served as the hangar for a pair of Black Witch Moths 

who chose me as their Snow White, their Pied Piper, their resting place. 

I know now that they had purpose and that metamorphosis was upon us.

And, we are spectacular.

Male Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata) on my wrist by Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii

"In Hawaii, Black Witch Moth mythology, though associated with death, has a happier note in that if a loved one has just died, the moth is an embodiment of the person's soul returning to say goodbye."  -The Black Witch Moth: Its Natural & Cultural History

"Flutter"

Jason Levesque

My recent acquisition from 

Spoke-Art

"Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life . . . Life holds the mirror up to Art, and either reproduces some strange type imagined by a painter or sculptor, or realises in fact what has been dreamed in fiction. . . . For what is Nature? Nature is no great mother who has borne us. She is our creation. It is in our brain that she quickens to life. Things are because we see them, and what we see, and how we see it, depends on the Arts that have influenced us. . . . At present, people see fogs, not because there are fogs, but because poets and painters have taught them the mysterious loveliness of such effects. There may have been fogs for centuries in London. I dare say there were. But no one saw them, and so we do not know anything about them. They did not exist till Art had invented them. Now, it must be admitted, fogs are carried to excess. They have become the mere mannerism of a clique, and the exaggerated realism of their method gives dull people bronchitis. Where the cultured catch an effect, the uncultured catch cold." 

~Oscar Wilde, 'The Decay of Lying: An Observation', 1889 

Regarding My Day Job: ACCI Gallery of Berkeley, California

View from Casa Agostino Giafferri, Poggio-di-Venaco, Corsica

Greetings All!


It's been a while. Busy here -as usual.  But, if you are curious about my Day Job -the one in which I am fiercely devoted- click on the link below. And, look for updates regarding my third trip to Corsica this September. 


I am curating an exhibition, "Connexions: California ~ Corsica" that will take place September 5 - 26, 2012 in Poggio-di-Venaco, Corsica, France (Centru Corsu) at the Casa Agostino Giafferri. I am taking my 3rd trip to Corsica, France this September from Berkeley, California. I am bringing some of my artists' work (fiber, textiles, unframed works on paper) with me. 


"Why Corsica?" It's because of the unparalleled beauty of the island, the fierce independence of her people, and the resemblance of both to California and Californians. More to follow.... 


-Lisah Horner, Executive Director, ACCI Gallery, Berkeley, California


ACCI Gallery of Berkeley, California  2012 Newsletter

Venaco, Corsica with Fabulous Corsican Friends and Charcuterie!

 

Casa Agostino Giafferri

The Downside of Being an Atheist

Dumpster Dining

Dumpster at Kaiser Medical Center in Oakland that I came across 

while taking the staff recommended "shortcut" from one building to the next.

I highly recommend the "long way" in the future.

Stop and smell the roses...