So many participants have let us know, in so many ways, how much an experience at La Romita has meant to them. One of the most fun and creative ways that our participants have let us know is through our “Memory Books”…the scrapbooks in which each group is encouraged to leave some artistic or poetic message for us, and for future groups to see. Teachers and their students have collaborated on these memory book since 1980 and they are jam packed with images and thoughts and reminiscences and emotions. They are a constant source of joy…often inventive and always incredibly beautiful.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we were unable to host workshops for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, so in the fall of 2021 we launched a campaign to try to collect some memories from our friends – old and new. Below are all of the contributions we received.
We are incredibly moved by this outpouring of support for us, and we hope you will take some time to peruse the art and poetry that so many have generously contributed.
From Alecia
"Theory of Utterance" This image is of a poem I wrote about how difficult language is and how we try to utter or articulate our full selves through language and it is always impossible. Sometimes we get glimpses into ourselves and others, but that is all we get.
From Alexandra
This watercolor sketch was painted in Cesi in 2002, just as a lovely light rain began - the only rain we experienced in Italy. I've kept the sketch in my studio as a reminder of my fabulous experience at La Romita, a magical place I hope to visit again.
From Barbara
It was impossible to choose one memory, so I got creative and figured out a way to share 10 memories, with love.
From Benno
From Brandy
I spotted this beetle while on my trip to LaRomita in the fall of 2018. I was there for a painting class taught by Deb Bonsack. One of our excursions was to San Gemini. We were given assignments to look for key things to paint. While exploring some gardens I took a photo of this very colorful creature. One of the lessons I learned during my experience at La Romita was the art of seeing!
From Cindy
Being at LaRomita felt like living in a dream state. Every step and glance offered quiet tranquility. Even the watering hole was a treasured sight to sketch.
From Claudette
From Cynthia
I attended La Romita in July, 2018...a truly inspirational experience. Each day, after our excursion, I would sit above the courtyard, with a glass of wine and marvel at the beauty around me. The courtyard, captured my attention so much so, that I did a watercolor of it in my journal. I hope to return one day soon!
From Deamer and Marian -LaRomitaMemoryBook2021
This is a collaboration for the 2021 La Romita Memory Book. A Deamer La Romita courtyard sketch of the infamous Happy Hour, with the watercolors added by Marian.
From Dorothy
From Fritz
"Vallo di Nera" This is painting is one of my favorite villages in Umbria. Vallo di Nera is the perfect place to wander and paint.
From Gabrielle
While in the bus heading to La Romita I was looking out the window admiring the scenery and I remember a field of poppies as far as the eye can see. It was my first time seeing poppies and the lush green dotted with bright red was just breathtaking.
From Gigi
When I was at La Romita several years ago I admired huge healthy artichoke plants growing on the grounds. Sometime after I returned home I read that in historic times only men were allowed to eat artichokes, as they were thought at the time to increase virility. Since then I have often imagined artichoke plants as a kind of symbol of gate keeping: Who is denied access to certain things or knowledge or freedoms, and why?
From Glen P.
Fits on a postcard and remains true no matter where I'm waking up.
From Glenn M.
From Heidi
I created a collage of a poem I wrote this past summer that was inspired by my summer 2021: seeing the Rothko painting at the MOMA in NY on a trip this past July and shortly after, the holiday with my grown children to New Mexico, as well as the unusual heat experienced in Seattle this summer, where I live. The poem is the Zuihitsu form that allowed me to 'follow the brush stroke' of my memory of the summer. But it is also an ekphrastic following the stacking multiform of Rothko down the page. While this poem is laced with concerns, it is ultimately a love poem to my children, to beauty in art and nature, to all that is precious. Thank you for giving me a reason to create this art from art
From Holly
This is my little sentence calligraphed by me and collaged as well. This world is a paper palace held together by fire.
From Jenny
From Judy
Inspired by photos of Trevi taken from the La Romita bus as we rumbled past on one of our daily adventures.
from Judy K.
From Juliet
One of things that I dearly love doing is riding horse in different parts of the world as I travel, and my dream has been riding a tamed horse while visiting at La Romita. It is also one of the events that I miss terribly during the 20 months of lockdown at home period caused by Covid. It would be a dream come true if during my next visit to La Romita, which would be my 6th tour there at this amazing art school in Terni, that I might be able to get a horse to ride somewhere in Umbria. My second dream is to eat the delicious Pochette sandwich again。 Edmund and Vallerio， help me please!
From Kathy
Love note to my granddaughter
From Laurie
I painted this on the streets of Perugia in 2008 while enjoying my stay at La Romita.
From Laurie
From Linda
From LInda C
"Uphill to La Romita" Using my memories and my sketchbooks, I painted this imagined view of LR. It helped me travel there, even as I knew it wasn't possible now...during the Pandemic. Note that I left the light on in 'my room'...the one I've occupied for 3 of the 4 years at LR. 🙂 In 2002, it was my first trip to Italy (and Europe!) and it changed my life and my art. I dream of returning.
From Lisa
From Michelle
I can't wait until the doors of Umbria are open to me again.
From Ming
"On a Cloudy Day"
From Nancie
From Nancy
Transformation: This frog was not intentional, but it appeared anyway. The medium is alcohol ink on ceramic tile, and I intentionally chose to go abstract with all of my work that day. It was a way to escape reality (which I needed), to play, and to rest all at the same time by just letting the ink flow. Frogs can symbolize many things. Transformation his one, and sums up the experience of the day. It now reminds me to let go and let things happen, whether it's in art or life.
From Patricia
From Paulette
A walk in San Francisco, California in a small park with flowering crabapple trees inspired this painting.
From Penelope
"Full Moon Dreaming"
Covid time has been like no other time in my lifetime. Travels near and far postponed, canceled, yet remaining in my dreams. New ways to connect with people in other places have helped — Zoom Zoom Zoom — such as the Apertivi Gatherings with LaRomita friends. But always, during Covid, I have found respite and inspiration in "travels" quite local, even in my own yard, with sketchbook and paints at the ready.
From Phebe
"Girasoli"
I've always loved the joyous look of sunflowers, especially the fields and fields of them in Italy and southern France. While doing road trips within the US during this pandemic era, I realized that we also have fields and fields of sunflowers here!
So, both looking back at trips to Italy as well as criss-crossing the US, and looking forward to international travel once again, I decided to sketch and paint happy sunflowers, bright and shining in the sunlight.
These two are "Girasoli," as I hope to some day return to the Italian sunshine.
From Rachelle
"Double Vision"
On my early morning walks I often come across something in the my urban environment that I find curious and ultimately visually inspiring. I am particularly drawn to detailed sections of landscape that appear abstracted and out of context.
From Sally
From Sarah
Watercolor sketch from a trip...
From Sheila
My memories are many but the beautiful sunsets from LaRomita were breathtaking and added to the excitement of the hope of tomorrow's adventure!
From Susan
The memories of a beautiful Italy
From Susan
My poetic photo!
From Suzanne
From Suzi
Dreaming of Italy is a collage of postcards - both vintage and new,
drawings and photos from beautiful experiences at La Romita.
From Tonya
I wanted to walk back through my memories of writing in La Romita and look around. That's what I did. What a pleasure to remember being there. I'm so looking forward to my next visit and to being in the company of people willing to delve into themselves and make art from there.
From Victoria
La Romita art trip
experience was the most significant in my life; loved every minute of it and dreaming to come back!