The collaboration with M. Laura Ronzoni is alive and well and the Dante and Beckett performance/visual project has been showing successfully in Italy both in Universities and Secondary schools and in fringe theater venues. It will be on again next week in my native Rome and this time I’m going to travel there to see it! Soul indeed moves in mysterious ways, as it is through an old mentor, Dante, that I re visit my town after such a long absence….a short flash of a visit, I will report on return.
I am visiting Italy again by proxy, through the presence of five of my paintings in the City’s Summer Art Fair this June. The event is organized by mysterious and sui generis Curator Patrizio Donati, creator of “European Dialogues”, a series of art events aimed at linking different aspects of European Cultures. Despite displaying none of the trademark attributes of his trendy trade ( like a cool, intellectual look, of elusive gender complete with shaved head and heavy, black framed glasses) Patrizio manages to pull together some excellent art events. He is bringing us to Filmbase for another group show this August. Watch this space for more details.
My Yoga Classes In Rathmines College have just concluded after two very satisfying terms of happy practice. Numbers stayed high for the duration of both terms and participants went home with an embodied sense of their practice and with a well learned yoga sequence. The groups are interested in a Summer course, but I haven’t had time to look for a suitable venue in the area. If you know of anywhere good do let us know. You can contact the college for information on the new courses starting in September.
Maria Laura and myself presented “Notes from the Underworld” at Bewleys Cafe Theatre last night, the 7th of Nov 2007. The “show” was introduced by writer Ronan Sheehan , who in the manner of a Dublin Virgil, the guide to Dante’s Inferno, spoke of connections and stories linking Ireland and Italy.
Maria Laura’s recitation of Dante and Beckett was intense and kept the audience transfixed. Her dramatic presence is truly rare. Her own powerful songs were woven with the poetry .
My images were projected on a screen on the background, working in tune with the poetry and songs. I keep learning from these sessions. I want to develop the presentation so that the screen is larger and the performer is moving within the image. The resolution of the images can also improve and the collaboration with a singer means that I have strong lights to contend with, which can and sometimes does weaken the images, especially the colored ones. I also want to make some more (not many ) more drawings, I seem to have focused more on Dante than on Beckett, so this is a chance for me to read some of the latter’s poetry a
nd to work visually from that. In spite of this, I was satisfied enough with the work, the marriage of words and images really does seem to create something new and it works. It seems that Beckett particularly believed in the need to combine these mediums, to use the directness of images to bypass the more linear , cognitive mind. His plays are often filled with strong visual props.
The little Cafe Theater was packed, in fact we unfortunately had to turn away many people, so we apologise to any of our friends who didn’t get in, we will do it again and we hope that you will give us another try. The event is being shown in Italy (see Divine Comedy) and will return to Dublin soon, watch this space for details.
With more than twenty five years of teaching experience, Paola has developed a facilitating style that is gentle and effective and that welcome students of all ages and abilities. She also runs specialised classes for students with disabilities both in “Walk” and Enable Ireland. Since relocating to Dublin last year she has taught courses for the National treasury, the National Youth Council and Fatima Groups United as well as running her own courses.
Paola is available to teach Yoga and relaxation in the work place and to run workshops for groups and organizations. She is also available to give individual sessions which combine body awareness, focussing, meditation and creativity.
CARElocal is a Dublin city centre voluntary organization which looks after the elderly when they are isolated or in need. In Conjunction with Juice, of Georges ST, Care Local will run an exhibition of my paintings entitled: “About dancing and growing old gracefully” The title comes from the film by James Reynolds, which was involved with me in the project of meeting up with people of all ages and dancing!
This show took place for one very crowded and wild evening at the Italian Cultural Institute and featured a performance by Joan Davies (Dancer/Authentic Movement Practitioner) and a recitation of the “Heart Sutra” by ordained members of the “Western Buddhist Order”. The show in Juice will bring back some of the paintings shown then, and also new work, always based on the theme of dancing and age.We hope to have some performances and definitely to show Jimmy’s film again.
The proceeds of any art sales will largely be donated to Care Local. Roisin Ingle, from the Irish Times has shown an interest in doing the opening address. Watch this space for confirmation of dates.
I have just completed this large painting which was commissioned off me by Monsignor Mohan, of Logh Derg retreat centre, in Donegal.
This has been a powerful experience for me; from the visit to Station Island, during last Summer pilgrimage, to the building of my back garden studio/shed, where I could work in peace, and mostly to the many happy/strange hours , weeks and months spent with the making of the painting itself, the research, the resistence, doubts and final resolutions. Quite a pilgrimage for me, especially as this Lady (Brigit) seems to be a presence in my life, as I have painted a series of three previous Brigits, which have all been sold already. The stories, the symbolism and her presence, are tremendously strong.
Having hit the limbo stage that always appears after the completion of work, I am also quietly celebrating and looking forward to the next project , which will start very soon and will be focused on Dante’s Divina Commedia. I welcome comments and feedback on the painting , which you can find in the gallery.
The tree of friendship is an image developed by a group of adults with intellectual disabilities.
I work with this group once a week , sometimes with Yoga and relaxation, mostly with art. This image represent what is, according to themselves, the most important thing in their lives. Friendship and relationships are vital and necessary to all people , my friends of WALK are just particularly honest and open about admitting this.
It will be the cover of WALK’s annual report , and my students are chuffed with it.
The way through this world is more difficult to find than the way beyond it
-Wallace Stevens from Answer to Papini.
Yoga was born in India, its chronological origins lost in the mists of time, given the popularity that Yoga enjoys these days most of us know that much. What we don’t know is that Yoga is not just an Indian practice. When at ease and at our best we are all practising Yoga.
I have taught Yoga for over 20 years and the more I practice and teach the more I realize that all human beings are at some inherent level natural Yogis.Just watch your toddler or infant move, then open a yoga book and see the astonishing similarities! Babies actually practice Asanas (Yoga postures)! As for the calm, contemplative state of mind that Yoga promotes, well, who doesn’t have memories of communing with nature, experiencing love or performing a rewarding, fulfilling task?
Aren’t these experiences of enlightenment in the world? As Zen teacher Suzuki tells us “enlightenment is an ordinary experience”, not a lofty goal attained through difficulty and struggle.Our brains are actually designed to provide these experiences through the fluctuations of brain waves. These span the spectrum of thought from planning and problem solving to relaxed inspiration and to deep sleep. Thus Yoga in a sense teaches us nothing new; it is in our natures to relax, contemplate, to enjoy living in our bodies and to feel a connection with all of life, the problem is that we just forget! What a good facilitator can help us to do is remember what we know already.
In this exhibition, Paola explores gesture, embodiment and dance. Her work is informed by Eastern body/mind practises, particularly by Zen Buddhism, which sees all actions as having the potential to become meditative arts.
