Experience Sicily

Tag: arte

  • It May Be Blustery, But Here Comes the Sun

    Ceramic artist Mirella Pipia of Bagheria demonstrated to us how she makes her beautiful designs. This sun is very simple in comparison to her other work. During our visit to her workshop in September she explained that she loves to listen to American R&B when she works. She studied art in Palermo, but really, she…

  • The Orange of Renato’s Eye 

    Renato Guttuso from Bagheria painted scenes of his homeland, Sicily, like this one of an orange orchard titled “Aranceto” from 1957. 

  • Sicilian Fiat 500

    There are many treasures in Castelvetrano, and this Fiat 500, painted by Ceramiche Galfano in the style of the Sicilian carts, is one of them. Therefore, on your way to or from Selinunte archaeological park, be sure to leave some extra time to stop by to visit this masterpiece!  Galfano has ceramic miniatures for sale…

  • Savoring Sicily, Day 10: Connections and Fascinations

    During a planned surprise today (a surprise for our guests), Day 10 of Savoring Sicily, we were graciously hosted by Michele Ducato in his workshop. Michele is a fourth generation Sicilian cart painter from Bagheria, and he proudly showed us a cart he’s currently outfitting.  We all loved learning about the culture of the carts…

  • Serving Up My Smile

    Experience Sicily’s Evelina Buttitta was in Cefalù last evening for the street food festival, and she sent me this photo she took knowing that I would love this hand-painted food cart, decorated in the style of the traditional and historic Sicilian cargo-carting carts. 💙💛💚

  • Salt to Taste 

    I love when art and utility meet. Here’s my salt holder, which is over my stove in New York City, made by Palermo ceramica artist, Nino Parrucca. Of course, it’s filled with sea salt from Trapani! Just lift the door, and salt to taste. 

  • Dressed to Impress 

    An intricately decorated, more colorful Sicilian cart was a way of showing off the owner’s wealth and success. So, just like if you are driving an elegant, luxury, name-brand car today, a Sicilian cart driver would pay a high price to the cart maker to make his cart more elaborate in order to illustrate his…

  • The Assumption: Celebrating the Virgin Mother’s Life

    August 15, a national holiday in Italy, marks the Feast of the Assumption, the day that the Virgin Mother ascended body and soul into Heaven. Thoughout Sicily it is celebrated in various ways, most often with processions, festivals, and gatherings with near and dear ones at the sea or in the mountains.  The Assumption is…

  • The Exotic Parrot Vendor 

    “Venditore di Pappagalli” (“Parrot Vendor”) detail from my father’s toy, hand-painted Sicilian cart. The cart was painted in Bagheria by Onofrio Ducato. It was given to my dad by his uncle Domenico in 1950.