NEWs! Blog Move

Important announcement - I'm moving out and into the new ZeroTheOne.com - please update your readers, hope to still have you in this creative journey. I've never felt more inspired to take on new challenges like the Muse online workshop at Skillshare that is starting.... TODAY! Loads happening. Whelmed but content.

A big thank you to those who have been so kind and supported me in this blogger-existence, its been a wonderful trip. New adventures await. Hope to see you again!
Love,
Kat

Italy Tarot Tour

Last year was full of interesting encounters and travels around Italy. One of the best was this sojourn with a merry band of tarot travelers, tracing the history, symbolism, and art of Tarot where it was originally found/created, in northern Italy. I wrote about it last year before the actual trip here. And now, months after, I've finally come around completing the trailer below, with things you might expect to see/find on this tour.

Muse: 5 Key Steps

We had fun creating the materials and shooting parts of the video lecture for the upcoming Muse: A Video Portrait Workshop. Here are the 5 Key Steps - each of which will help you tell your muse video story in the best, easiest, and most enjoyable way. Class is starting soon, so join us if you haven't already and get started on your project here.

Phoenix Imago

Recently spent some time shooting the music video for Rob of Phoenix Imago around Rome. This is probably the fastest and most spontaneous multi-collaboration I've done with not just one but two creatives - the other being British artist Amy Hiley as main photographer (with most of her photos featured here).

First of all, it is so easy to shoot in Rome with its fine weather and perfect scenery. I think Rome did half of the work and all we really did was stand there with our cameras, eyes open, catching those beams and glimpses of wonder - whilst Rob finds his voice and song.

Muse: A Video Portrait Workshop

Excellent news! We are teaching our first online class over at Skillshare and its all about creating Video Portraits. Learn more about that here. It is a really exciting new project for us - me and Francesco. Something we're both crazy about doing (doing it half crazy too, in a good way). Hope you'll join and explore this new territory with us. Don't worry, we'll try and cover everything important in a memorable way, playing with the online/digital possibilities available today. ;)

Childhood Apples

Two beautiful Lithuanians spent some time with us in Rome and cooked up this delish dish from their childhood. I'll be writing down the accurate ingredients + process soon. Meanwhile, enjoy this heart-warming treat.

In other news, finishing a lot of video projects plus upcoming skillshare online class on creating video portraits here. Sign up and enjoy 15% off with code EUNOIA. Video trailer for that will be coming soon. :)

Unplugged in Monti: Sam Beeton

Treat yourself to some live music direct from Monti in Rome. If it weren't for Francesca Tesei, deejay-ing crafter architect, I wouldn't have found the Black Market and Manuele Minuz and spontaneously shoot bits of this talented folkabilly Sam Beeton. It happened almost overnight. Tonight he plays at the club for all yea Rome dwellers.

You are worth more than many sparrows

We witnessed the making of this giant mural - a human tiered cake of the system (otherwise referred to as the tower of babel) and saw parts of what it took to make long time-lapse videos. In this case it took a week and around 3-4 different cameras all operated by Giacomo, not to mention all the tools/machinery required to paint this on the side of a building. Ozmo, the artist, says everything here like a giant mirror of Italy. Looking back and looking at this, I think both of them made a masterpiece. Find this at Macro in Via Nizza, Rome.

The dust may have settled. There is still so much to be done at least for me and the work that waits every morning for its turn, waits still with others. I like to think that I am not alone in this quest for completion. Everyday is still a chance and every now is someplace else than where we were before.

Jellyfishy for The Hive

I'll be holding a workshop at The Hive - European Blog Conference 2013.
Tickets are still available if you want to join in here!

Everyone's the Same - Kaapin

Made this music video after nearly a year in the back burner. I was asked by two good friends from home, talented musicians, who formed this electronic duo called KaapiN to work on their song which I loved to pieces. Being often in the realm of music as player/performer/appreciator, it was obvious I would accept this proposal. It was just a matter of when and how, and with who.

Early 2012 I got acquainted with Lucia and Simone - two very talented theater actors/directors who then became great friends as they too have a son the same age as ours. We've discussed this collaboration earlier last year but never really had the time (as all new moms) and now since we are serendipitously here in Ancona for the first week of 2013 and with the great power of minds that come together to make things work - voila, we did it! I'm really happy even if its nothing like the original plan. Porto Nuovo and Monte Conero of Ancona as our playground worked just right. and of course, Lucia, sei veramente BRAVA!

If you are predisposed to new music, different kinds of sounds and art and the manner in which people express themselves in reckless abandon then feel free to check out KaapiN. I used to be in a band with one of them and we made some awesome stuff together. Very proud of these guys.

Lets just say we are off to a good start 2013.

Rome Creatives 1st Meet

Not too long ago I opened up a group within the InterNations community called Rome Creatives. The concept was to "Learn. Share. Create." - which became a kind of advocacy over the years of collaborating with creatives: artists, designers, musicians, philosophers, scientists, meditators, and their kin. They say "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Eat, drink and be merry? Perhaps that and a bit more substance.

By chance I found this sweet spot not too far from my son's first ever asilo/school. Its called Officina Dolce (more photos + article here), and immediately I thought - CUPCAKES! and also, brilliant location for a meet! One baby step led to another. I talked to the owner and created this little video portrait, put up my online flyer and had four people show up.

Affordable Art Fair

Welcome to the Affordable Art Fair in Rome. I didn't expect to be so enthralled by this affair but as I was approaching the entrance with this gigantic bamboo installation, I knew I was about to be - well, wowed.

A short video I took of the event here:

Libya 2006

That is a picture of the ancient Greek and Roman ruins of Libya, from a distance. It is hard to imagine that once upon a time here in this dry desert was a thriving enterprise and an empire teeming with activity, drama, and culture just a few thousand years ago. Perhaps now it is all left completely to our imagination especially after the recent civil war and bombings. Without these landmarks, these fossils, who will remember? Unless one bothers to pick up a book, or look through some photographs, it is as if nothing happened. All turned into dust.

These film photographs were taken in 2006 by my husband Francesco. Back then he had the lucky opportunity to visit (it was never so easy for foreigners to visit Libya under Geddafi). At the time he was so inspired by his experience that he immediately wrote a book, very personal and he was about to publish it but unfortunately one of the real-life characters involved in the book did not approve of it and it had to go hidden until the recent war broke out and a sudden desire to release this work made him rewrite the whole book and publish it this year. I used some of his pictures from the actual trip to create the cover for Libya 2006: Viaggio a tre voci (A Trip in 3 Voices). Here is the design I came up with, my imagination of what Libya feels like.

The publisher has a fixed format for their books so I didn't have to design the title and text but here is how it looks printed.

It is in Italian and Francesco has some copies if anyone is interested in purchasing. Do you think its a good idea to try and make it available for purchase online?

InterNations

Not too long ago I thought I'd finally attend one of the gatherings of InterNations here in Italy. We happened to be in Bologna for the 5th anniversary party and so I contacted Neima Sitawi, an expat fashion designer who was the host of the event, and asked if I could do a short video/photo coverage. So I did and went and met some interesting people. One of them a bag designer for Prada in Florence who seemed too nice and friendly to be working for a haute couture brand. Tamsin, a certified expat and traveller, led me to this site and network and I thought, brilliant! People out of their countries all in one place! Have you connected with your local InterNations community yet?

Letter

This is a chapter worth skipping as I am about to tread past blogging SOP and move back to how I once wrote online, back when nobody read my rambles and I was much more intense/intimate with life. It has been almost three years that I/we have been moving about and around Italy. Rome is treating us well, fairest weather, vibrant and crazy. It reminds me a little bit of another crazy capital - Manila, ten times more wacky where I last spent my days before I made this big move.

Rome our new Home

We recently got back from a trip up north covering this awesome Tarot tour and other interesting encounters. More on that soon. Of course we brought all our stuff with us (pots, pans, underwear, the necessities) throughout the trip until our final stop to our new home in Rome. We are undoubtedly lucky: first, to have found this apartment at the last minute. Second, to be alive to experience this life and meet such amazing people. Third - well, just thank you universe and whoever's out there winking. We are winking back and giggling! ;)

One last.. Summer Jamboree!

Just one more summer fling before we turn the page and let the leaves fall. Come swing by Senigallia around august for Summer Jamboree, the hottest rockin' holiday on earth! I had been wanting to go for two years and finally came this time around - what a blast! Here are some of the photos from the big event with bands flying from everywhere in the world and lots and lots of dancing. :) better late than never!

Muse: La Tela

So I've finally completed the video for La Tela, our next door neighbor while we were living in Macerata for about a year (sometime last May). It is also a museum on artisan weaving and a handicrafts workshop! I know, I know.. It was one of the most amazing discoveries literally right outside our doorstep. I also wrote an article on them over at Poppytalk.

Learning Curve

Once again we are at the crossroads with just a few week/s left before we leave Pesaro *tear*. Moving is an art and maybe it takes a lifetime to master because honestly, I've still got boxes to unpack and damn I should've taken Tamsin's word for it.

Always and always the same two words in my head, "Pack light."
Two days ago I saw a crate-full of magazines (travel, interior design) at the trash and seriously stood there and reflected... and let go..

Summer has been a seriously busy month. Can't say it was unpleasant or super BUT, and I mean this in all ways, full of learning. And much more learning awaits! While I've been busily finishing projects and freelancing I've also made a point to get back into study and learning. Not quite knowing where to invest my full energy on with the many passions I have and buffering the frustration of not being able to fulfill them, I must learn, I must expose myself to the elements and hope that over time some form of mastery will come of it.

Thankfully there are things like Coursera and Skillshare to fuel the curious learner in you. I've signed up for several classes come September and October (my official "vacation" period. I do think learning is FUN). and I would so love to organize google hangouts with you or anyone who plan on taking some of the free online courses to discuss and exchange notes/homework. :) geek out with me?

Oh, and to all new readers - welcome, Welcome!
To those who've been following for a while now, sorry for the lack of presence lately. I assure you I haven't gone off-the-grid (although I like the idea). I'm still passionate about sharing my love for people, art, travel - making things happen with others. SO you bet I'll be around and hopefully more often soon.

Stay in touch.

Love,
Kat

Muse: Stella Cerioni

 Stella is one of the first people we met when we moved to Pesaro. Through her, a whole different side of Italy opened up for me. She and her folk musician friends played at Gradara that beautiful night - a testament to the spiritedness of Italians (lucky that I get to see it intimately, ashamed I used to think that this heightened sense of communion and community was exclusive to where I am from).

Compared to most Italian women I've met, Stella holds conversations looking at you in the eye. Warm, open, a bit shy, curious, starry-eyed (Stella means star in Italian), I can tell her life is full of interesting stories and adventures waiting ahead of her. Here she spends some time sharing her music. I've only managed to capture some of our conversations because shes camera-shy but the little I took (with a baby in one arm. haha) tells the story of how she started playing the Organetto. Take a look at the video below.