SUMMER 2025

It is kind of fitting that the Uber driver driving me to JFK tried to convert me to Christianity and that was the beginning of my trip. I arrived in Ireland feeling very sad and missing Fiona as she would be so excited to have me begin this journey. But in the beginnings of the Irish summer, she was everywhere.

My trip home to Fethard was quick and very full. Ewanso and El collected me. Sheela na Gig walks with Lucy. Then Ewan had to go back up North because 4 wheels were calling him. Coffee and DJs with Siobhan and Niamho. Walks and Dinners with Mammy and Daddy and Dessie. Visits from Holly. And Danny grown up Godson/Nephew that he is, drove me to Thurles in his new car!

Ostia by the sea, right next to Ostia Antica was my first stop for the night and for a morning walk on the beach.

And then through Tuscany to Siena, my home for a month, with some guardian friends and many bells

My Studio is half an hour walk from my apartment through Siena and past the city walls. In a garden with bees and smells of Jasmine and Linden trees and where my first inspiration came “ Queens Anne’s lace”

At Siena Art Institute I met the other residents on the program with Pratt- all from Manhattan, Grey Drashler, Nancy Davison and Chris Radcliff and Pablo Sinaí from Buenos Aires who gave a talk about his work. The organizers took us for a lovely lunch at the Palazzo Delle Papesse.

I visited the Pinacoteca Museum and saw beautiful ( and some disturbing ) 13th to 16th century work. Yes that’s her slain lovers heart and she is about to eat it with poison.

Discovering the Siena as a pedestrian, rather than a tourist is very fun. Coming across aqueducts that gave me the shivers and antique shops that did the same. You can feel the Middle Ages here.

And then..Surprise! Sister Seerah ( Sarah ) visited. Thats what happens when you live in Europe! Sarah roamed the city and took cooking classes while I worked in my studio until we met for a gelato evening stroll. Plus cats in cafes, fashions problem, life vending machine and random doorbells

And the cafe! Some local and some NYC recommendations brought me to my fav torrefazione fiorella. Still getting used to the way to order! Do I order, pay and eat or do I order, eat and pay, or? I’m trying to follow the locals but it seems to be different all the time.

I feel so lucky to have this time to think, look out the windows, breathe and be creative.

Of course there is a farmers market.

Discussions with botanist and permaculture expert in Siena Art’s garden farm

It was a hot one this weekend here - nearly 100 degree F. So I moved slowly using the duo of a fan and gelato as a cooling system. And saw lots of art ( and some of Saint Catherine’s torture instruments) along the way. From Santa Maria Las Scala in Siena to the Palazzo Corboli in Asciano on a space agey train with bike racks through the tuscan countryside.

Plus watched lots of men and boys jump around in medieval costumes contrado against contrado preparing for the Palio horse race, Goldfish in medieval aqueducts. And more coffee.

A super early morning train trip to Florence to see the Tracey Emin show, visit Polimodo and have coffee of course. Then onto Milano for the night.

One of my favorite cities - Milano where I visited with old friends, walked in new parks with amazing architecture and landscaping, had Milanese Risotto, and saw huge moving faces in Corso Como

Being just a quick jump across to Ireland I had another sister visit Niamho. Lucky me. We visited the duomo, saw relics and other weird and wonderful catholic oddities - hot priests! And of course men in tights. We also visited Orto de Pecci a park in the valley of Siena with a medieval kitchen garden.

The luxury of time and space to just be and explore goes on

I gave a talk on my practice and my work at the Palazzo Delle Papesse

We had open studios at Siena Art and it was great to be able to share our work

My boys got here!!

The Palio race prep has begun and it’s an insiders game. The history and the emotions ( and apparently the bribery) behind this race are incredible. We are living in the Drago ( dragon) contrado ( as the flag under our window attests) but we are supporting the Lupa ( she-wolf) as we were invited to that dinner - shuuussshh! Il Campo has been transformed into a race track almost overnight and there are singing groups wearing their contrado scarves roaming the neighborhood and 24 hour protection of the ( mostly) Calabrian Jockeys.

Views from and inside the amazing duomo. Micat I N Vertice - it shines at the top.

And it’s Palio time finally…We saw many “tratta’s” and the Final “ Provera Generale” plus flag throwing, carbineri charging, and we got invited to a contrado dinner. Because the weather decided July 2nd wasn’t the date - we got to see the actual race on July 3rd ( which was 90 secs) but the buildup was worth a lifetime of memories.

And the winner is…the Goose Contrado. The “Oca” celebrated all night drumming outside our window….