Fireworks at the unveiling of the statue at City Hall
One of the largest and most fabulous of the Fallas’ is the one at city hall (Ayuntamiento). Photos and video.
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Sound and Light Shows in Rusafa neighborhood of Valencia March 2016
Sound and Light Shows in Rusafa neighborhood of Valencia March 2016
Visit to the fallas workshops (with photos)
March 3, 2016 we visited the workshop area where the sculpture for Fallas are produced. These are made from foam over a wood frame. Each neighborhood Fallas contracts with a workshop to produce these creative and delightful sculptures each year. Except for a very few ‘small’ ones (small is human sized) all are burned around midnight on March 19 each year. The largest are around 25 meters/80′ in height. This industry employs hundreds of artists, carpenters and other skilled labor and brings in 800,000 people to Valencia each year. The streets are lively, filled with lights and stands selling churros and other fried goodies, mojitos (a mixed alcoholic drink) and of course beer and wine. The neighborhood fallas organizations have tents, lots of parties, and make paella on wood fires on the street. Some of them sell portions as fund raisers.
Fallas is the annual carnival in Valencia, Spain. For background information see https://garyjkirkpatrick.com/the-fallas/
Fabulous fireworks during Fallas, Valencia (video)
Fabulous fireworks during Fallas, Valencia March 5, 2016 from next to city hall. Enjoy!
Fallas 2016!- first photos
These are the first photos from Fallas 2016. Fallas is the annual carnival in Valencia, Spain. It is truly one of the wonders of the world. They erect hundreds of sculptures made of foam and wood (these days), some of which are 25 meters (75′) in height. There are daily booming fireworks more for feel than light, daily at 2 pm. At night there are more traditional fireworks in the parks. Valencia doubles in population for the event, which starts March 1 and ends March 19 every year.
In Rusafa, a section of Valencia, there are not only fallas’ (the statues) but also sound and light shows. Here they are installing the lighting.
Much more to come!
For background information see https://garyjkirkpatrick.com/the-fallas/
¡Hola de Valencia! First drawing from Palau de la Musica
We are back in our favorite winter quarters, where the sky is always blue and the winter temperatures moderate, the street life vibrant, the food fresh and varied, and the people warm and friendly. It’s a place that brings smiles to our face the moment we look out the window or go out the door.
The flight from Rome is normally quite beautiful. You might get a view of the Coliseo. You fly over Sardinia and then get a lovely view of Valencia. Not this flight. Weather has hit the entire Iberian Peninsula, and even Valencia is effected. Light rain greets us but still we shed the jackets and sweaters we were wearing to get to the airport in Rome.
We are staying in a new ‘piso.’ This one is near Plaza de Toros, much larger than our previous place, more expensive too, but better for the painter in the household. We will miss our view:
We go to the Palau de la Musica here most Sundays to listen to the symphonic bands, of which there are many in the province. The first Sunday we heard the Banda Municipal. I often do small pen and ink drawings as I listen. Here’s the flautist playing a piece by one of local composers:
Arrivederci Roma: The Marcus Aurelius
October 31, 2015
It’s our last day in Rome and I spent the morning drawing the statue of Marcus Aurelius in il Museo Capitoline. This has to be one of the most impressive pieces of art around, for its magnificence, proportions, gilded in bronze and dating from around 180 CE. It’s astounding and a privilege to sit before it. It is in its new setting in a special room at the museum.
Just around the corner there is this Etruscan piece from 700-600 BCE
This one is terrific but pales in comparison to the Sarcophagus of the Spouses in the Etruscan Museum here- called Villa Giulia. Circa 520 BCE. Terracotta.
Museo Nazional de Arte Clasica Romana (Roman Art) has some mighty fine statues
The Museo Nazional de Arte Clasica Romana is across the street from Termini. It houses a fine collection of Roman era sculptures on the first two floors, very professionally exhibited with excellent English translations. The top floor houses wall paintings from Roman era villas, many of which are in amazing condition. There are also some excellent examples of mosaic art. Here are some examples.
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Museo delle Mura (Museum of the Walls), Rome at St Stephens Gate
The Museo delle Mura (Museum of the Walls), is at St Stephens Gate, at the entry to Appia Antica, the Appian Way as it is known in English. It wasn’t open when we were here last and in 2000 I do not think it even existed. It is small but the small albeit older style exhibits tell you about the history of the Roman walls and their many alterations and reconstructions. And the views are great!
You can walk along the top of the walls, as you can see from here.
Barberini Palace, Caravaggio, Raphaello, chiaroscuro cieling
October 21, 2015
The Barberini Palace, just up the hill from Bernini’s Tritone Fountain, is an immense mansion and the home of the Galeria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, art from about the 15th c -17th century. Here is Caravaggio’s Narisco- Narcissus. Get a load of the reflection!
In the galleries I try to find something I can draw. I try to find something that is interesting and doable in 5-10 minutes and where there is a seat, good lighting, things like that. Sketch of Gerrit van Bronckhorst’s Betsaben al Bagno. I’d never heard of this painter. Seems to have been influenced by Caravaggio, given how he treats the light here.
Back to Caravaggio, here’s another masterpiece hanging in room 20 (in my best Spanish accent, I asked where this room was in Italian and got a reply in Spanish!). It’s so gruesome I nearly walked out of the room!
Salvator Rosa’s “La Poesia” and “La Musica” (17th century) are superb.
And a rarity for the time, a woman painter, and quite a good one! Portrait of a Young Woman Dressed as a Bacchante
Here’s yet another prize- what the Galleria notes as the first female nude:
Jacopo Zucchi “Ritratto di Ciela Farnese”
As for the building, it is a divine palace built by the Barberini family, whose symbol, three bees, appears throughout. It is in wonderful shape. The most magnificent room is on the second floor, immense and nearly empty except for several small sofas in the middle. People lay on them and look at the ceiling, some 20 meters/60 feet above. Here’s why:
You have to go there to appreciate all of these, especially this ceiling though.
All this for 7 euros.