Sunday, September 21, 2008

Montefalco Facade

The town of Montefalco sits on a windy Umbrian hillside. We came to see the 15th century frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli, which are in the desanctified church that is now a museum. Afterwards, walking along a quiet street, we found this building. Like so many in Italy, it has been allowed to show its age. You can see how the path of the sun hits the door, and that the whole thing tilts slightly. It has not been replaced with a newer, "better" building. Back here in the U.S. we work hard to mix that same peach-gelato shade applying faux finishes to our walls. We make artworks from new things, working to achieve an old and tattered look. Perhaps it is a reaction to living a life surrounded mainly by things that are too new, too plastic for our souls. It compels us to create our own quickie version of time and age and wear.