|| Moving Abroad

Holy cow,

One week for today i'll be beginning a new chapter in my life. Its hard to believe it myself because such change is on its way. Never-the-less it is happening. I'm moving to Tuscany! The world of rolling landscapes, endless art, and luxurious wine. Am I dreaming? I have to double check this with myself often...

Quick background: I found myself interested in the psychology behind a composition, lines drawn, colors chosen. Art is an interesting way of communicating... it hits your visionary sense. All humans of every age, ethnicity, gender can understand it on some level. This way of thinking lead me to begin investigating ways to connect to others. I think I've found a comfortable spot, finally.

Cortona.

Cortona is a beauty. The city rests atop of a hill in the middle of the province of Arezzo, Toscana. It's home of the famous artist Luca Signorelli, and resting place of St. Margarita. Before the period of Ancient Rome, the Etrucans called Cortona, or Curtun, their home until Rome conquered the hill-top land. Fast-forewarding through decades of renaissance art and culture, one can see how Cortona came to be.

1970  - John D. Kehoe set out through Italy in search of the right town. Commissioned by the University of Georgia he chose Cortona as the new home for his study abroad program. Why, out of all the cities and spectaculars of the Tuscan region of Italy, did he chose this town? Because of the people. Integrating with the authentic aspects of the culture, a traditional way of italian living, Kehoe fell in love with the rawness of the city. Not to mention, its in the heart of all the major cities. Firenze, Bologna, Siena, Volterra, Orvieto, Lucca, Pica, Arezzo, Roma, Venezia.. the list keeps going. This fine art program has been nestled comfortably in the heart of the town since. The program lives and breathes by the students who embark on the adventures, by faculty and their family enriching the minds of these curious few, and by its living quarters and studio spaces (which so happens to rest near the edge of the tuscan mountain top overlooking the entire tuscan valley) that invite a tremendous amount of creativity.

It's hard to believe I am returning, not as a student, but as the programs invited artist intern and RA of the dorms. This blog is an exciting tool I look foreword to using. Its going to be my project during my time in tuscany. The pages will be filled with the towns we travel to, the art we study, words from our ever so amazing professors, peeks into the culture, photography, art, wine, food, and language, and more art.

So I invite those interest to follow along with me. Andiamo!