I just returned from the Guido Zone, NW Italy to be specific. My major ties there center around a dear departed friend, Guido Monfalcone, and the many artists in and around Cuneo that he introduced me to. Cuneo is a provincial town in southwest Piemonte, at the foot of the Maritime Alps, a gorgeous green place while not your tourist stereotype of Italy at all. Living there back in the early 80’s was for me a serendipitous gift that I was barely prepared for, but one that I looked to extend as long as feasibly possible. And so I did. The experience of becoming a guest member of the local community was both the capstone of my hodgepodge art education and more importantly a voyage of the heart.

The picture here was taken to commemorate a group exposition, (mostra), of those pictured and included photos, paintings, and performance in the photography studio of Chico, pictured about in the sweater vest on the far right.

Shown in this version, a little bit sfocato/mosso, from top left row: Corrado, Guido, Nando, middle row: myself, a fellow who stepped in to the shot with shawl, Gabriella, Marta, Chico; bottom row: Cavellino (Paolo), Antonio, and Massimo.

Seeing three of the artists in this group again on my recent trip was an incredible treat and we did our best to get caught up over risotto, peperonata with bagna cauda, and wine. Each one continues to make the art that they are driven to do. While Guido and Chico are gone now, I’m grateful to be reconnected to these others in the Guido Zone.