I find it disturbing that every year November 9th (& 10th) comes and goes as uneventful as any other day. Germans (and Germany) do nothing, or very little, to commomorate or memorialize Kristallnacht (1938), which was the beginning of the Holocaust. However, the Neo-Nazis seem to do something every year on this date.
Last year in Berlin, they destoyed a Kristallnacht memorial and this year (a couple of days ago) they took a bus to Prague and wanted to march in the old Jewish Quarter there. We were there (in Prague) last year and the video footage I saw about this event was haunting. There's something strange about seeing the same places you have been full of Neo-Nazis and police. The Czech people came out in big numbers and said, "No way in hell are the Nazis going to march in the Jewish Quarter here". I wonder why the same thing didn't happen in Germany 70 years ago? This is a big quesiton for me. I'm beginning to explore it through my artwork... stay tuned.



Jewish Synagogue Burns During Kristallnacht - Almost immediately upon assuming the Chancellorship of Germany, Hitler began promulgating legal actions against Germany's Jews. In 1933, he proclaimed a one-day boycott against Jewish shops, a law was passed against kosher butchering and Jewish children began experiencing restrictions in public schools. By 1935, the Nuremberg Laws deprived Jews of German citizenship. By 1936, Jews were prohibited from participation in parliamentary elections and signs reading "Jews Not Welcome" appeared in many German cities. (Incidentally, these signs were taken down in the late summer in preparation for the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin).

Well, I have four days of exciting news to try to fit into one (short) blog entry. I haven’t had time to write because I’ve been busy (non-stop) with workshops in Reus, Espana, or really Catalonia (aka Spain). If you’ve never been to Spain, I can tell you it’s my personal favorite place in Europe (yes, I like it better than Italy). The people are unbelievably friendly, the cities are gorgeous and cultural abounds (not to mention the food, wine and prices here). We left Germany early Saturday morning and drove to Avignon, France, a beautiful old city. We stayed the night there and got up early Sunday morning and drove into Reus, Catalonia (Spain). The Catalonians are wonderful people and are very protective of their culture. They speak both Espanol and Catalan here, however, they prefer Catalan. Reus is south of Barcelona. It takes about an hour to drive to Barcelona from Reus. Reus is a beautiful small Mediterranean city, full of culture. We came here because I was invited to do a three day workshop in Collodion at the Center for Photography, Reus (Mas Inglesias). The workshop went very well and kept me very busy! There were six people that attended. All of them very talented in their own ways (as artists), it was very rewarding and enriching for me. I had a wonderful time. Summer spent two days with me and Jeanne came over to the studio a couple of times too. Tonight, they had a journalist and a photographer there to do a story on the event – they took photos of me and asked questions (they also looked at my work and watch my DVD). Afterward, the city of Reus presented me with gifts and made me an honorary member of the Photography Society of Reus (a very high honor). They also awarded me the Gaudi Medal of Honor. I was beside myself. Finally, they gave me the last set of editioned Gaudi works (photographs and text) the center had. I couldn’t believe it!! Jean, Summer and Lucky was there to see it all! Tomorrow, we are on our way into Barcelona to do one more workshop. Friday we will see the city and Saturday we will head back to Germany.

What do you think of when you think FIRENZE (Florence), Italy? Michaelangelo's David has been forever burned into mind. The 15 foot marble miracle is something that almost takes your breath away (unfortunately, they didn't allow cameras in the gallery). It's over 500 years old and it looks like it will stand for another 5000 years. You can see the metaphor he used in the work. The hands and feet seem huge and the meditative gaze of David, who just killed a giant, is powerful and strange. His nakedness and size is also an important metaphor. And, as Jean said as we were looking at the work, David also danced naked for God.

Florence's (Firenze's) claim to fame reads like a who's who from a college world history class. Da Vinci, inventor and painter. The Medicis, one of Europe's most ruthless ruling families. Danté, whose Inferno stabilized the Italian language and gave us metaphors we still use today. Savonarola, a Reformer a century too soon. Michaelangelo, history's greatest sculptor. Machiavelli, father of modern politicians. Galileo, who redefined the universe. Vespucci, a mapmaker who named a couple of continents. Artists, politicians, writers, explorers. The world would not be what it is today without Firenze. And you can feel that idea as you walk the streets of the city. It's a living, breathing city of art and history (gelato too).

We wish you all were here with us!! We are leaving Italy in the morning. We'll do a little bit of shopping today in Lucca and meet up with Fulvio this afternoon to go see some things off of the tourist track - Ciao!

There were several works in the Piazza della Signoria that were amazing!

Benvenuto Cellini's statue Perseus With the Head of Medusa in The Loggia dei Lanzi gallery on the edge of the Piazza della Signoria.

What do you think of when you think of Firenze? Michaelangelo's David has to be at the top of the list - that and the Firenze Duomo!

We had to get get tight to get the shot, but we did it! This is the fake David, we did see the real one in the Accademia -

A detail of the Duomo - incredible and beautiful!

The Duomo from another angle.


One of the most amazing sites in Firenze is the Duomo - the center of the city. It's amazing and the photographs do it NO justice. The detail and size it truly mind-blowing.

Poppa and Summer sharing Sumer's Ipod on the train back to Lucca.

" Merda" means shit in Italian - I've always liked stick figures.

Momma and Lucky on the train back to Lucca.

A constant reminder everywhere in Europe is that the current administration has really made it hard for Americans living (and traveling) abroad.

Today started with a long, hard rain storm. It cleared by 1000 and we were on the road to Viareggio, Italy by noon. It was only 30 minutes from the hotel and a very nice drive.Viareggio, Italy is on the west coast. The Mediterranean Sea is gorgeous and most of it in Viareggio is exclusive (private beaches). However, we didn’t know that. So, the first place we went was the beach called “Perla del Tirreno” (see photo below). We were on a private beach taking pictures, picking up seashells and basking in the sun when a young man approached Jean and told her that this was a private beach and dogs weren’t allowed. It was ok, we were ready to go anyway. It was fun and beautiful! Although, there were people in Speedos and Bikinis there that shouldn’t have been (no, not me!).

After the beach, we wandered the beach walk and ate lunch then did some shopping. Just a WONDERFUL time all around and a giorno bello!


A street painter in Viareggio. It seemed he was teaching these two young ladies how to paint. It smelled wonderful.


Isn't this a cute picture!!!??!!


This is the private beach we "used" - gorgeous!!


Another "sexy-beast" shot (at least that's what Jean calls them).


How dramatic!! Our young Drama Queen!!

Summer braids my hair now. This is random but relavant. You know why!


Is that the Med Sea behind us?? Yes it is!!! (sorry Lucky).

This is the play Jean and Summer went to in Firenze!


This is the way to live!! Bella, Bella Bella!!!!!

It’s difficult to find time to edit photos, write text and get on the web to upload, so I’m combining two days into one blog entry.

First, we met a friend named Fulvio Notarstefano. I know Fulvio from my wet plate photography board. He lives in Lucca. He spent the day with us. He showed us Lucca and we had lunch together. He also gave us one of his wet plate Collodion images and a nice bottle of wine (Italians are so friendly!). Lucca is beautiful (Bella Italia!) It’s very unique in that EVERYTHING is old! It’s all original stuff. The architecture is gorgeous and the little alleys are amazing.

Later, we went to the train station and got on a train to Firenze (Florence). It’s about 50 km from Lucca, but takes 1.5 hours by train because it stops a lot. Jean and Summer had tickets to the opera of La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini (Pucinni is from Lucca) at 18 Maggio street in Firenze (Florence). I watched Lucky (strolled him around the city at night) while they were at the opera. I ended up at a café (sitting outside) talking to an English couple for almost two hours. I drank a couple of glasses of “Bianco Toscono” (they even bought me one). I enjoyed it very much. Jean and Summer liked the opera too, we got back to the hotel at about 0130.

Yesterday, we drove into Pisa. It’s only six miles from where we are staying. Pisa is a great city. It’s a lot like Lucca but with the “Torre de Pisa” (Leaning Tower of Pisa). We had to get some “super kitsch” from this lady. She was about four feet tall and had huge teeth. Her “super kitsch” was cheap and interesting. Not that we like to buy kitsch, but we have made it kind of a “tradition” to buy “super kitsch” at the heavy tourist spots. As long as it’s cheap and inexpensive, we’ll buy a few pieces.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has a big beautiful grass (park) where you can sit/lay in the shade of the tower. We “chillaxed” there for a while and then wandered down the road and found a nice café called, “De Mura da Nomma Teta” on Largo Pariascio 33/34 – Pisa. And yes, pizza and wine DO taste different (much better!!) in Italy.




Inside one of the MANY churches in Lucca.


I was very intriguied with several of these kinds of alleys. This has posters for a Firenze art show.

I loved these paintings you see on the churches in Lucca. They are beautiful.

This is one of my favorite pictures. I've made a habit of shooting portraits in these reflective disks. Left to right; Fulvio, Summer, Quinn, Jean and Lucky (below).

The Leaning Tower of Lucky! Pisa, Italy.


An empty street in Lucca during "siesta". Italians KNOW how to live.

The Jacobsons in the Torre park... no hands leaning against the tower, NO!!


Down the road from the tower....


Molto bella! Italian kitsch lady! Oh, so many torres and super kitsch!

A tunnel through the wall of Lucca... very interesting history!


Walking on TOP of the walls of the city of Lucca.


Can you guess what this is??? It's in Pisa.


Old bike in Lucca. I'm attracted to these views... I don't know why... they are harmless and innocuos.


Four nuns late for church in Lucca.