Ekphrasis 2

Her large wreath, 

Delicately crafted,

centered,

Rests firmly on her head. 

Her curls bound tightly,

Brushed back, 

Tied in a bun

So that her face is exposed,

To the warm sun. 

She gazes out,

Through her almond-shaped eyes.

Her lips as thin as rose petals, 

Are closed shut. 

Stretching her long body on the bed, 

She fills the space,

She takes pride in her appearance. 

Long legs,

Perky breasts, 

Nipples protruding.

Soft skin, 

Full hips,

Round thighs,

The look of vanity, 

on her face

Can be seen from far and wide. 

The weight of her head,

Rests on her right arm 

So that she can support herself. 

A pearl bracelet, 

Hangs from her thin wrists, 

It is her favorite accessory.

Two satin pillows, 

Rest behind her,

Plump but small,

Stacked one on top of the other,

Touch her porcelain-like skin. 

Her other hand, 

Holds a small red apple. 

She amuses herself. 

She hasn’t decided yet, 

If it is time to eat, 

The sweet delicacy. 

So she continues, 

To rest it in the palm of her hand.

The silky cloth, 

Covers her fleshy legs. 

The cloth intangles her body,

Hugging her tightly. 

The edges of the cloth, 

Clutching the mattress of the bed. 

The extravagant structure, 

That she rests on,

Proudly holds her body, 

Supporting her beautiful frame. 

The bed, 

Is adorned in gold details, 

Gold flowers, 

Gold drapes, 

And gold feet. 

In her private chambers, 

It is only fitting,

For a woman so beautiful, 

To be reclining on such a magnificent bed. 

(Paolina Borghese, Antonio Canova 06.05.2019).

Giornale 1

    The sun slowly started to set. The humid air hung to us as we ran towards the metro station. I was determined to start my Giornale early so that I would not be scrambling to finish all three of them at the end of the trip. For my first Giornale, Hannah, Emily and I went to Santa Maria in Trastevere. I recognized the area since I had passed the church a few times while walking through the Piazza di Santa Maria, but I had never noticed the church in the corner of the Piazza. 
The first thing I noticed when I gazed up at the façade of the church was that the first floor was made of marble but it was a very simple exterior. The only decorations were the ionic columns on the first floor while on the second floor, it was decorated with mosaics and beautiful images of palm trees that adorned the outside of the building.   
  As I stood in the atrium of the church, I remembered how Professor Curley had told the class that Santa Maria in Trastevere was known for its beautiful mosaics. In preparation for entering the church, I covered my shoulders in a sweater and prayed that no one would notice how short my skirt was since I had forgotten to pack pants in my bag. 
    As I entered, my eyes had to adjust to the dimly lit space. There were people sitting on benches in the back and someone sang in Latin but I couldn’t tell where the song was coming from.  My first instinct was to look up to the ceiling. The symmetrical designs adorned in gold caught my attention. Growing up in a family that attended church consistently for most of my childhood, I never remember seeing ceilings that looked so magnificent and geometrical. There was always a focus on decorating the apse of churches I attended but never the ceiling. I also appreciated that while the ceilings were intricately designed in Santa Maria in Trastevere, the floors and walls were simple. The floor had basic geometric shapes like circles that I would later learn were called Cosmati floors.  
    The mosaics in the church were magnificent and adorned the interior. This was my first time in a church that had mosaics, and while I was not able to identify many of the figures in the apse, I did identify Mary and the apostles depicted as sheep. 
    What I liked about this church was that it was a balance of being exquisite yet simple. St. Peter’s Basilica was gorgeous but for me, it could be an extremely intimidating space.  While the churches I attended as a child were simple which made them extremely welcoming but the spaces did not feel very special. Santa Maria Maggiore did a good job of having simple and elaborate features. I wasn’t able to stay for a long time because I was worried about the length of my skirt but I did really enjoy the space while I was able to walk around. While many churches that I visited looked the same to me by the end of our trip in Rome, I am happy I visited Santa Maria in Trastevere because I feel like it really differentiated itself from others that I had seen through its mosaics, ceiling, and balance of being welcoming while also being intimidating.
( Santa Maria in Trastevere 05/24/2019)

Giornale 3

   I was the first person to step into the cold water of the lake. The goosebumps that covered my body were probably visible to everyone passing by but I kept slowly creeping further into the water. Most of the locals were wearing large coats, pants, and socks but I plunged into the crisp water with no hesitation. I had never been inside a volcanic crater lake before in my life. The black sand was soft with silt floating in the water which looked like flakes of crystal. Since I was the first person in the water, I was able to focus on the beauty of the lake without being distracted by my peers. The sun stopped hiding behind the clouds so that the tops of the mountains that surrounded the lake glistened. The clear water shimmered in the sunlight. I didn't’ stay in the water for a long time but I remember thinking to myself how lucky I am to be at the lake. I felt at peace with myself and the earth.

   A few hours before, I had felt the exact opposite feeling because of public transportation.I was sprinting through Termini with the hope of catching the train to the lake. As I ran through the crowded train station, I clutched my backpack in front of me and kept running even though my lungs were begging me to stop. Frances had said that the train to Lake Albano was leaving in 10 minutes but we still needed to buy our tickets once we arrived at the station. Sadly, after waiting in a ticket line, we missed the first train but caught the second one needed towards the lake. On the train, Hannah, Peter, Frances and I ate our McDonalds as we passed rustic Italian towns and farms.

   I awoke to Frances nudging me to warn me that we had arrived. I could feel the excitement in her voice. She had never been to this lake before but she seemed hopeful that we would find a space to swim. The town on the right was beautiful, on top of the hill, we could see the rooftops of restaurants and shops almost hidden behind overgrown trees and bushes. Frances also pointed out that we could see the roof of the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo.

To find the lake, we followed a group of obnoxious Italian teenagers blastic music down the hill. However, we took out time, admiring the walk down that was very steep and overgrown with plants. When we arrived at the lake, it was more beautiful than I had originally anticipated because of the clear water, dark sands, and lushes vegetation.

When I signed up for this seminar, I wasn’t aware of how living in a city for two weeks would be difficult for me. I grew up spending many of my weekends and holidays with my family in New York City but I never realized until this trip how important is it for me to have nature. Looking out at the lake by myself, it was refreshing to see trees and mountains without being blocked by buildings and monuments. I contemplated what was important to me as I looked out onto the still water before being splashed by Frances.

Voyeur

“While I get the rest of the blankets, make sure Cherry doesn’t eat that garbage over there and all the dogs need water.  It’s too hot right now from them not to have any water!” said Mary. While Mary made the last trip to the car, Tom, her partner of eight years and their four dogs lay under a stout palm tree. The couple had decided to pack their bags and head to Rome for the day with their dogs. They left EUR early that morning after packing their car with snacks for the dogs, their tapestries and blankets for the day.

Tom and Mary had decided to take a picnic break at Piazza Cavour. The busy Piazza was bustling with people who were also enjoying the sunny weather. Mary pointed a palm tree which was a bit smaller than the others in the Piazza and exclaimed to Tom who was behind her, carrying some of their things that she had found the perfect spot to picnic.

After settling most of their belongings, Tom opened the big black backpack to his left to get the bowls and Poland Springs water bottle for the dogs. Cherry, Mary’s brown pitbull panted in the shade. Coco, Jewel, and Mimi had placed themselves to the left of Tom. The three chihuahuas which Mary liked to call the triplets had been Tom’s gift to her.

Mary and Tom had been together for eight years. Cherry had been Mary’s first dogs after she had graduated from college. Mary met Tom at her office at a Christmas party the firm hosted every year and they started dating soon afterward. Six years later, Mary had had four miscarriages and was told that she could not have children by her doctor. Tom had helped her through her depression, making sure to find a therapist and giving her time to grieve in the months that followed. The triplets were the gift that Tom had given Mary six months after she had talked to her doctor.  As Mary made her trip back to her car, she looked back to see her family behind her all laying underneath the palm tree.

Momentary Blindness 2

        A single raindrop fell onto my right hand. I felt the cold droplet hit my tan skin. It surprised me. Another raindrop followed, hitting my forehead this time. Since it had just rained that morning, these raindrops were the ones that lingered on the tree above me. They refused to fall until that very moment.    
      The raindrops kept falling until my page felt wet when I ran my hand over the grainy pages of my journal. Every time one would fall, I heard the crisp paper being attacked by the small but powerful water. The impact of the raindrops made a sound as if to warn me of its presence. 
     With my pages now wet, I turned my attention to the birds, which could be heard loud and clear as if an orchestra of birds had assembled that morning. Chirps coming from all different directions. The birds moving above me, flying through the air, their song fading in and out. At times the noise grew hectic, it seemed to me as if there was no order to their chirps. I couldn’t see the birds, but I imagined them hoping on branches and gliding easily through the humid air. 
     The air was thick but warmer than it had been when we left Prati. I prefer it when the air is warmer even if that means that I’ll be too warm with all my layers of clothing. I also noticed that this space smelled like nothing. Usually, the streets of Rome smell like something whether it be the aroma of flowers, cigarettes being smoked by Europeans, food from the restaurants or from garbage piling on the street but this space smelled like nothing. It was the lack of flower, cigarette, and food smells that truly amazed me.

Giornale 2

My second excursion was very different than my first because in no way was it planned beforehand. After leaving the Roman Forum, Hannah and I wandered around Rome. I have learned through this travel seminar that I have a terrible sense of direction, and that without Hannah, I would be lost in the city most of the time. As we passed the gelato shops and vendors on the street, I looked up and thought I saw the Spanish Steps. As we approached the steps, I was extremely confused because we were approaching steps but my eyes had deceived me from afar. We were actually walking up the steps of the Piazza del Quirinale. While it was an accident to walk up the hill, we both decided to do our second giornale since we had the afternoon free to enjoy the exhibit at the Scuderie del Quirinale.

Hannah and I purchased our ticket, checked our bags and proceeded to walk upstairs to the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit that the museum has at the moment. I learned about Leonardo da Vinci as a child in history and art classes, so I was expecting to see his artwork however I was surprised not to find any of his paintings on the walls. Walking through the exhibit, I was guided through the drawings, models, and manuscripts that da Vinci either invented or inspired others to invent. The exhibit explores major topics that persisted during the renaissance like war innovations and what the design of an ideal city should look like.      

Two of my favorite pieces in the museum were on the second floor. Stored on the second floor is Leonardo da Vinci’s personal book collection. Each book is displayed in a glass case but it was amazing to see the only book with his handwritten notes. After moving further into the room, I spotted what looked like a wooden bird hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room. The structure had a circular wooden center and thin bat-shaped wings. It was the flying machine in which da Vinci used the anatomy of birds to help engineer the structure. He designed the device so that a man could “fly” by compressing it with quick movements. What amazed me was that most of da Vinci’s sketches have inspired inventions that are used today however this is one invention that still is left to be developed further. I feel like the longing to fly has always been around, and it is possible that one day, his sketches and ideas could be used to inspire others to invent a perfected flying machine.

While this excursion was unplanned and it was not exactly what I had anticipated, I am glad I had the experience to see da Vinci’s work and learn more about his life. The Scuderie del Quirinale is a beautiful space, and it has a staircase in the back with large glass windows to see a stunning view of the city. While I reflected on my time at the museum, what amazed me about some of his work was that many of the ideas he had were not fully developed, and that actually inspired other inventors and architects.

Ekphrasis 1

He radiates confidence,

Naked,

His body exposed,

To the elements of the forest.

Barefoot the young satyr stands,

His round toes,

Against the flattened earth.

This satyr has stopped,

Halting to rest,

Against the remnants of a tree.

He leans against the thin stump.

Its branches,

Long gone,

Broken,

Leaving only the base.

His smooth skin glistens in the sun.

The light hits his body,

Muscles chiseled,

Allowing the definition in his stomach,

To be seen from afar.

Hair slicked back,

It lightly brushes against his back,

Showing his delicate features,

Thin lips and almond-shaped eyes,

An oval face.

Long ears almost concealed,

Pointed at the tip.

Beautiful is his face,

Youthful and mischievous,

His thoughts wander.

Cradling the fruit,

He holds in his arms,

Swindled in a cloth.

Grapes and apples,

The fruit so heavy that it drops,

Almost falling onto the ground.

As he stretches his right hand,

Towards the open sky,

His stiff arm,

Hangs in the air.

He stares in awe,

He tilts his head,

To admire the imperfect fruit.

He grips the apple,

The soft skin of it,

Held between his hands.

The sweet juice,

Concealed within the round tender skin.

He takes pleasure,

In staring at the sweet beauty,

His eyes,

In a trance,

As if seduced,

About to be overcome with joy.

(05/26/2019, Giovane Satiro, Il sec dc da originale del tardo ellenismo, collez. albani)

Piazza San Pietro

Greta closed her eyes underneath her sunglasses and took a deep breath. Her daughters behind her played on their phones and her new husband was distracted by the camera he had bought for the trip. The girls insisted on taking a break after having seen St. Peter's Basilica and walking up the dome. This was Greta’s first time on vacation after her remarriage with Christian and she had decided to bring her two girls. Her oldest daughter, Mary, seemed excited by the idea of visiting Italy for three weeks before starting her internship in Berlin. As a junior studying history, Mary had wanted to visit Rome and Florence however Catherine, the youngest wanted to stay back in Germany with her father and friends. Greta and Mary had to force Catherine to come instead of having her stay in the countryside of Germany.

After arriving in Italy, the family had settled on staying in Prati. For the first time in years, Greta had left the trip to be planned by Christian who adored traveling. He was the person who purchased the tickets, found the AirBnB, and scheduled the itinerary according to the places that Greta and Mary wanted to visit.

As Greta, pushed her short curly hair into a hair tie, she noticed how busy the Vatican was becoming as the day progressed. She had pushed her family out of the apartment early in the morning so that they could arrive before the rush of tourists. Her father was the one to teach her to arrive early. Greta’s father, a devout Christian, was the first person to bring her to Italy before his sudden death a few weeks after the vacation to Rome. Sitting on the steps of the portico, looking to see the Vatican Obelisk in front of her and moving her eyes to watch people entering St. Peter's Basilica all reminded her of her father. This was one of the only places she remembered visiting with him as a child. He had taken Greta into St. Peter’s Basilica, he held her on his back as they listened to the priests singing during mass. Greta, having not gone to church in years since her father’s death, said a prayer for him as she closed her eyes again.

(Piazza San Pietro 05/24/2019)

Piazza Navona

     My tired eyes close easily, leaving me in the dark, so that I can tune into the sounds of the busy Piazza Navona. I know I am not in Saratoga Springs anymore because I can hear the sounds of a city. Rome, like most cities, is bustling and alive with movement. Compared to the first time I did the Momentary Blindness exercise, I am surrounded by people from around the world instead of inside my office space listening to Skidmore employees. My body melts onto the street curb, the cold pavement surprisingly is more comfortable than I expected. My white, creamy cardigan protects me from the cold breeze that hits my back. The sun, when not hidden behind the thick clouds, is able to warm my back however the chilly wind continues to attack my bare ankles. 
     Within the Piazza, I am sitting on a street curb facing Sant'Agnese in Agone. The water from the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi is the first sound I hear from behind me. The water, dripping off the sculptures hits the basin of the fountain with such force that I feel like I am standing near a waterfall. Milling around the Piazza Navona are people, with the hum of voices concentrated in front of the fountain but also spread out around the Piazza. After only listening for a few minutes, I hear Italian men talking, an American family strolling by and a French couple taking a walk. Everyone has their own agenda, some people moving through the space with their voices disappearing quickly, while others can be heard lingering in the Piazza. The lyrics of Frank Sinatra’s, “I Love You Baby ” is being sung behind me by a man with a heavy yet smooth Italian accent.
    His voice fades quickly as I hear the sound of traffic. From outside the Piazza, impatient drivers in their cars can be heard with their engines speeding up, getting faster just to fade into the distance until the sound of the engine disappears. People are walking on foot, but I also hear tire wheels of bicycles gliding against the cobblestone. A stroller makes its way across the street in front of me however the heavy wheels loudly clank across the uneven cobblestone.  A baby’s piercing cry interrupts my train of thought, and I open my eyes for a few seconds to write down what I am hearing. I close my journal, stand up and join the group of Skidmore students, only to add more movement and noise into the busy Piazza Navona.

(Piazza Navona, 05/22/2019)

Giornale

I looked down at my watch as I loudly shut the heavy wooden door of my bedroom. Once again, I was late.  I sprinted across North Quad onto the grass in front of the dining hall and down the path towards Case Center. My peers and professors were gathered in a circle, talking outside in the warm April weather. After a few minutes, we all broke into our groups to drive to Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza. Peter, Hannah and I all scrunched into the back of Katie’s car. We left Skidmore’s wooded campus, drove onto the highway, and made it to our final destination in Albany. We decided to ride with the windows down, so the five of us were practically screaming at one another in order to converse. Although we did talk about how the research was coming along for our site presentations, we spent the majority of the time discussing the different types of foods we wanted to try in Italy.

When we arrived in the parking lot, Professor Curley and Spinner greeted us with the tour equipment. Everyone put on their earphones that projected the professors' voices into our ears. After our group was oriented, we make our way to our first destination. Beautiful buildings and the surrounding environment took me by surprise. As we progressed on our adventure, we walked up the New York State Museum and came across the memorial to those who dedicated their lives to serving in World War II. The concealed space was standing behind a multitude of tall trees marking the perimeter of the walkway. A circular pool made from granite slabs rests in the middle. As I walked around the narrow path around the pool, the idea of sacrifice and freedom resonated within me. I read the names ingrained on the side of the granite slab of those who had died.

A few minutes later, we crossed the street to the Empire State Plaza. While sitting on the smooth steps of the museum, the class focused on the symmetry seen in the Brutalist buildings set around the reflecting pool. To the right of me were four Agency buildings which were block-like structures, while to the left of me, I could see an egg-shaped building. The oddly-shaped building was actually a theatre.  The buildings made with concrete looked modern and futuristic while the New York State Capitol building facing directly in front of the group looked completely different. The facade of the Capitol building was extremely decorative with a white exterior.

Next, Professor Spinner and Curley guided the group to the bottom of the stairs to stop at the wooden labyrinth and continue on to the Fallen Firefighters Memorial site. On our way, we passed children dancing, people skateboarding, and families walking around the plaza.

At the Fallen Firefighters Memorial, the class gathered in front of a massive bronze sculpture of two firefighters holding their injured partner. As I walked around the site, I looked at the names carved into the granite wall that lay behind the statue. While there were many names already etched into the stone, Professor Spinner and Curley explained how the empty spaces left were meant as placeholders for future deaths.

Our trip to Albany also included a visit to the concourse underground. While the corridor underneath resembled a regular train station at first, our eyes were quick to see the beautiful art collection hidden below. Large abstract pieces lined the walls next to coffee shops and restaurants which added fun colors to space. The concourse brought us back to the front of the plaza where we headed back to campus.

The field trip provided to be more informative and interesting than I had anticipated.  I was able to see a space that looks modern and harsh while appreciating the welcoming and fun side. The museum, the theatre, the reflecting pool, Capitol and Agency buildings all create a space where people can come together as a community. While it seems like this place is for government buildings, I also felt like people were drawn to the plaza even if it was only for a few hours. By exploring the plaza, I was able to see how art is important to the people of Albany in the concourse and theatre. I also noticed how a sense of structure and order could be found within the architecture. I liked how the space could be used in a variety of ways. Lastly, the reflecting pool and monuments seemed to be aimed at the past while the buildings were designed to be modern and look towards the future.

While reflecting on the field last week’s trip, I think the trip did an amazing job preparing the class for our future adventures in Rome. We were able to observe the space, symmetry, art, and culture of the plaza all within the course of a few hours. After spending time with the class, I am excited to see how we work together in Rome and I know that the discussions and observations we make will be interesting and eye-opening.

The air is stagnant in the crowded living room.

Plastic leaves erect from the synthetic tree,

Hidden in the corner of the room,

By dark velvety shadows.

A right leg of the plush couch in the middle of the room,

Melts into a zebra carpet,

Which sinks into the leopard matting.

The couch embraces her body.

Thick blankets cling to her curves encompassing her long physic.

The wall behind her is as blue and vast as the ocean,

A royal blue,

Wide and a deep enough to have her carried away.

The blue wall fighting for the viewer’s attention

But the fluorescent lights graze over her silky skin,

Stopping to greet her

And lightly kiss and caress her cheek.

Her dark skin radiating from afar.

She lounges like the goddess Venus

Exemplifying love, sex, and beauty,

All in one entity.

Her head tilted back,

Eyes closed,

Lips sealed,

Body still,

While her hand rests underneath her heavy head.

Her legs jetting on the end of the couch,

While her thick thighs stick together,

And tranquillity is being admitted from her gesture.

Her body tangled in her red blouse

The undone silk

Which Leaves her chest exposed.  

Her soft nipple protrude out

Just like Trajan’s column stands tall.

A bouquet rests in her hand,

Full of delicate petals,

With inflated roses and leafs bundled together,

Suffocating each other, while thirsting for water,

Hanging from the side of the couch

Flowing down onto the leopard carpet

Like the waters that run down the Trevi Fountain.

(Tang, March 21, Mickalene Thomas, Madame Mama Bush, 2012)

Her back is turned to me as she types away on her computer. Her eyes are concentrated on the screen however her black bangs fall over her porcelain skin, almost covering her eyes. While her mom argued with her about dying her hair, she decided to dye the tips an electric blue that matches her painted fingernails. Her hair is messy, with two french braids that she did last night before going to sleep. She’s discovered in the last few weeks that is more difficult than she expected to coordinate outfits with her new hair color but today she decided to wear a simple black turtleneck. She layered the turtleneck with a striped dress that she usually wears in the summer. The dress hugs her waist but flares out at the bottom. Her big hoop earrings, Doc Martens, and bright red lipstick complete the outfit.

She’s with her boyfriend studying in the library because she has a test on Monday that she has not started studying for yet. After her last exam went poorly, she promised herself that she would start studying on weekends but this new goal was proving to be more difficult than she anticipated. Every few minutes, her phone buzzes with notifications, and she can’t keep herself from texting her friends from back home. She misses home but the flights back home are too expensive to go anytime soon. Back at home, she always felt like she was suffocating because of her helicopter parents who wanted to control every aspect of her life. This is the reason why she decided to go to Skidmore and travel thousands of miles to start a new journey and learn to take care of herself.

Mapping Rome Examples of Writing Assignments

Momentary Blindness

My back sinks into the cushioned office chair while my feet stay planted on to the firm ground. While sitting at my desk, my pants which are too short expose my ankles to the warmth. With my eyes closed, I can hear in the far distance, the printer comes to life in the office and starts to spit out long documents. After a minute, the humming of the printer quickly comes to an abrupt stop. I can hear Nancy, the woman who sits next to me, typing away at her desk. Her fingers aggressively hitting the plastic keyboard.

To the left of me, people's conversations from the kitchen carry over and I can hear them faintly talking. Their laughter and excitement for the weekend can be heard loud and clear. One woman with a rusty voice keeps talking about the Super Bowl from across the room. Others in the office are intrigued and join in the conversation. In the other direction, I can hear people walking to the kitchen. Their footsteps scratch against the heavy carpet. 

I inhale deeply and put my head on my desk. The smell of my perfume radiates around me. The rose-like fragrance permeates my nose with a sweet smell. While my head rests in between the crevices of my elbow, I can feel the soft material of my sweater touching my checks. My sweater, also drenched in perfume feels fuzzy on my face. I listen for another minute, open my eyes, and sink back into my office chair.

(Office in North Hall, 02/01/2019)