Homage to Anna Piaggi by Silvia Gallini
Silvia Gallini splits her time between Italy and L.A, her choice of medium between the brush and the camera and loves “Anna Piaggi, garlic, fairy godmothers and marrons-glacés”. Over the last two years she’s been working on “Presences”, a series of portraits on canvas, in paint and pencil, detailing figures caught in moments of deep thought. At the same time, she’s been directing a deeply personal documentary – The Dog and the Duck – focusing on the life and work of Joe Blaustein, her art teacher in L.A who took to painting after the death of his wife. “The film is about how an artistic outlet gives meaning to one’s life,” says Gallini. “It serves as therapy to help people work through their personal problems. The film is about Joe, his students, and the tools that he has given and continues to give them after 50 years of figure drawing classes. They are tools that made me access the darkest, deepest and most hurting part of me – my self-doubt and self-criticism – in order to find my true voice.”
Gallini was born in Northern Italy, near the dead lake of Varese, and studied the History of Theatre in Milan before moving to California and taking an MA in Film Direction at the American Film Institute. Shortly after arriving in L.A, she began working with Blaustein, who became her mentor. While working full time as a painter and promo director, The Dog and the Duck has become a labour of love. “We live in a time when art and education are being deprived of funds, and self expression is becoming standardised and controlled,” she says. “Our brains are getting duller and sleepier, our identities are confused. Our dreams slowly deteriorate. It’s at a time like this that the appearance of a great teacher in one’s life is more important than ever.” While continuing to film with Blaustein, Gallini has a long term vision of creating a community for artists in a medieval castle somewhere in central Italy.
A show of Silvia Gallini’s work is on show at Michael Reeves Associates in London until 31st December 2012. For more details on The Dog and the Duck visit dog-duck.com
Michael Reeves Associates, 30 Pimlico Road London SW1
020-7730 3009; michaelreevesassociates.co.uk