FacultyFocus Enriched in Italy
by Pam O’Krent A small, cozy apartment in a quiet neighborhood became my home for two weeks. It was located a few blocks from the art studio and near the city’s center that is dominated by the enormous presence of the Florence Cathedral, the Duomo. The Cathedral’s dome quickly became my compass in this compact little city.
Art is my great passion.
Making art is a
lifelong endeavor. This past May, I had the privilege of traveling to Florence, Italy, capital of the Tuscany region, to engage in a printmaking workshop through the Mattingly Award. Working alongside artists from San Antonio to Dubai, we shared a common desire to make art, uninterrupted, in a city known for its culture and its artistic and architectural heritage.
Each day began at Rosano Caffe for my morning espresso. It was a blissful place where I would sketch ideas and contemplate the day that lay ahead. The locals chattered on in Italian, and birds sang through the open windows. A short jaunt away was The Reparata International School of Art. It was here that master printmaker Ron Pokrasso would start our mornings by demonstrating a technique or approach, followed by dialogue. No further stimulation was needed to continue my adventure with ink, paper, collage,
Meeting of the Mattinglys Former Head of School Pat Mattingly visited Lamplighter to attend a presentation by art teacher Pam O’Krent, who was last year’s Mattingly Award winner. Established in 2000, the award honors Mattingly, an advocate for lifelong learning. The annual award is a “Fund for Excellence in Education.” The purpose of the professional development program is to assist members of faculty and staff to grow personally and professionally, enabling them to enhance the contributions they make to Lamplighter. Pictured here with Mattingly: (Bottom row L-R) are former recipients Jody Stout, Liz Curlin, Pat Mattingly, Debbie Herskovitz, and Patricia Vermillion; (Top row L-R) Jezabel Guadalupe, Kathy Ritz, Bill Burton, Pam O’Krent, Kate Ogden, and Cheryl Shulman. 16
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drawing, and anything else that seemed just right for that moment. Throughout my stay in Italy, I experimented with new approaches and delved deeper into familiar ways of working. Walks through the city were absolutely inspiring and often influenced my work. My camera worked overtime capturing ancient art juxtaposed with the modern world, an endless variety of patterns, and textures found on the narrow cobblestone streets. I had time to reflect on my journey as an artist; what had I done so far, what was I currently exploring, and in what direction I was headed. I’m often surprised by what I think I’m going to experience and what actually happens. The opportunity to spend two whole weeks in an ancient city, submerged in creative pursuits, has thoroughly enriched my life. I loved going to museums, indulging in gelato, and breathing in the essence of the Florentine culture. Being awarded the gift of time to be creative in a stimulating atmosphere is the dream of most artists. It certainly was one of my most meaningful life experiences.