the farmhouse we stayed at in spoleto was the former home of american artist sol lewitt, one of the founders of minimalist & conceptual art. of course i didn't know this when i booked it. you can read more about him HERE and HERE. he died some years back but his wife still owns the property and luckily for us, rents it as a vacation rental. the history of the house isn't mentioned anywhere in the description. the book and art collection plus the beautiful bones of this house made it one of our very favorites ever. all of the various cubes and the star in the photos above are by sol lewitt.
if you came with me to venice via TTV then you might know about my encounter with another artist's studio space. much to my surprise i discovered that i was actually staying at a former studio in venice. i made this discovery on christmas eve when i found an unlocked closet filled with letters, correspondence, blueprints, sales receipts, and wrapped paintings belonging to virgilio lilli, a venetian artist and writer. originally i made a video about my discovery for the class blog, but later removed it, deciding it was prudent to contact the owners of the apartment (which i've done) before i started yacking about the unlocked closet filled with treasure. so there you have it TTV members – the "christmas surprise" mystery revealed!
dumb luck. i'm surrounded by it. and i'm not complaining one single bit!
You have cosmic awareness my friend. Cosmic awareness.
Oh my goodness, Sol LeWitt – such a major artist. He was of my time, and I remember studying him and the minimalist movement while at art school. I’d be beside myself trying to imagine his presence as I walked in his footsteps around his place and garden. You must have some kind of magnetism that draws you unknowingly into these wonderful homes.
Really is pretty groovy.
Those rentals were definitely meant for you. You have the basis for appreciating them. Kindred souls connect. It’s simple.
Magical! I’m stowing away in your luggage for the next trip!
the Universe lead you to these places….you were tuned in to their energy….WAY COOL is right! 😉
Luck favors the prepared, and you are just the person to appreciate your luck. There’s plenty of others in the world who wouldn’t even stop to notice – but I like to think that our world is richer because of precisely that. Stopping to notice. This house was really a find, though!
I was also wondering about the Christmas mystery post, and I looked and looked through TTV and couldn’t find it – now I know, it went back into hiding! Perhaps for the best…
How cool is that? Artists’ houses and there you are creating your art in them. Good feelings! I agree with Susie L. – there’s a connection thing here that speaks to the creative spirit of you and place.
No thing as dumb luck, just the Universe conspiring on your behalf. Every single little detail, all by design. Can’t wait to see how all the pieces fall beautifully together.
I’m a firm believe in things happening as they are meant to happen…like you renting that house! So much colour and so much texture!
Ya know I’d been wondering about the TTV mystery, remembering your delight, wonder and surprise when you found the treasure trove. I don’t think it’s dumb luck at all that you’ve found these wondrous spaces…a tiny piece of me believes that such moments are equal parts fate, magic with a little bit of ‘luck’ thrown in for good measure, you’ve been to so many destinations far and wide over the years; that you wander into such places is woven into the fibers of your life Mary Ann, you carry with you so much ‘goodness’ mixed in with the spirit of a capricious explorer, that special places *find* you. How could it just be luck? Can’t be, no siree Miss Mary Ann…no way…xxooxxx
How lucky can one get! What!!? Not once but TWICE~ that’s more than dumb luck kid.
Photos are breathtaking. Look forward to your posts each day like a kid waiting for the ice cream truck.
So cool. 😀