I’ve been asked on several occasions why I have bothered to learn Italian. This evening I discovered a very good reason. It is possible to take advantage of events that are entirely unexpected.
As my wife and I strolled back from an evening meal in Peschiera we noticed a building that had previously been closed, but tonight the doors were wide open and lights were on. There appeared to be some kind of exhibition inside, so we went to investigate. It was not an exhibition, but something quite remarkable.
It turned out that the place was the hall belonging to the regional association of veterans of the Alpine regiments. We were invited in, and despite the fact that preparations were evidently under way for the Association’s regular meeting and shared meal, we were shown around.
This was specially interesting for me in the light of my former project, responding to Italian experience during the Great War. I explained briefly to them the nature of my interest, and my links with the Friulian village of Timau, and said a little about my series of pictures exhibited under the titile of “Presente!”. (See the relevant “gallery” elsewhere in this blog.).
After a tour of the Association’s memorabilia we were offered a glass of wine, and presented with several of the Association’s publications. I promised to send them a copy of my exhibition catalogue.
I’m absolutely delighted to have had this encounter, and hope that it might lead to some further exchanges. Without the language, of course, none of this could have happened. As I have often commented, the intention of this blog is to look at the links between my work as an artist and life in general. When I set out on this holiday I certainly did not expect this opportunity to appear.