CRIME IN THE BEAUTIFUL ITALIAN COUNTRYSIDE
Signora Volpe, Season 3 (Acorn)
Former spy Sylvia Fox moves to Panicale outside Perugia to be near her artist sister Isabel and her husband Matteo. Although retired, Sylvia has a nose for trouble and inserts herself into local crime investigations. She is friendly, actually more than just friendly, with the local police captain Giovanni, and while sometimes a nuisance often provides valuable information and clues. This series is lighter than some as it plays up the lovely scenery and the café lifestyle, but I thought the episodes this season had more depth with greater character development.
Each of these 3 episodes of Signora Volpe is 90 minutes in length. The first one is about a wine-making family while the last one brings back Adam, Syliva’s ex-husband and former colleague. Emilia Fox plays Slyvia, Tara Fitzgerald is Isabel, and the handsome Capitano Riva is played by Giovanni Cirfiera. All three principals are easy on the eyes. Recommended!
ART STUDIO OUTING
Orange County Artists Guild (OCAG) Open Studio Tour
Yesterday my sisters and I with my Durham niece had a wonderful tour of a few of the 85 artist studios open to the public in Hillsborough, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill. Niece K proposed this outing, and we each suggested our three top studios to visit. She mapped out the route, booked a lunch reservation, and included way stations for parking and facilities, so that we could be in one car, not three, for most of the day. We met at Weaver Street in Hillsborough, visited six studios, and ended the day in Carrboro before we went our separate ways.
The artists were all welcoming, happy to show off their work, and most of them delighted to talk about their techniques and their approach to their art. We first visited jewelry designer Anita Mills who also does needlework purses and hangings. I succumbed to a necklace of hers.
Print maker Katie Hayes of New South Pattern House creates detailed carvings in linoleum which are then inked (sometimes with multiple colors) and printed. She does runs of no more than 100, and usually a few of them are in several colors while the majority are just one color.
Her designs are also made into wallpaper and fabric. It was fascinating to see all the steps in the process, and I got a much better appreciation for the intricacies of creating these works.
Potter Susan Filley works in porcelain, and her works are beautifully shaped and range from mugs and bowls to stunning vases, some in dark red, others in soft greens or blues.
Nancy Smith’s outdoor scenes are diffuse and delicate with an almost shimmering quality.
Kendal Brown paints sunflowers, petunias, and elephants which are often boldly colorful. Karen Sosa’s paintings are atmospheric and more abstract with gradations of color.
We had lunch at Antonia’s in downtown Hillsborough. It’s an attractive casual place with works by local artists adorning the walls and a menu of tempting salads, sandwiches, and homemade pasta. We opted for a steak panini and some half sandwiches (salmon and bacon, e.g.) with small side salads. The food was tasty with service on the leisurely side.
It was a packed fun day, and we left with hands and minds full! The studios are also open next Saturday and Sunday, November 14 and 15, so if you like art, have some time, and don’t mind traversing away from Cary, it’s well worth it!
Note: Unattributed photos by JWFarrington.
