Our Blog: All Things Food and Art

April 04, 2011
Featured Artist Elizabeth Tomasetti

Fine Artichoke is very pleased to welcome artist Elizabeth Tomasetti and her beautiful print “#4 Mancaza Series” to our catalog. This print was inspired by a man named Fulvio Ciccone, born in 1933 in Capodacqua, in the region of Abruzzo, Italy.

Elizabeth explains how Fulvio became her muse: “I met Fulvio in 2007 when I spent about 7 straight months in the region, working on a house that my great grandfather had bought. He stopped in his car one day to talk about the trees in the yard, it was a bit of a confusing conversation, but all was clear when the 70 year old man showed up the next morning about 8 am with a chainsaw. He was there to “help” me cut them down. From that day on, he came buy everyday to help with any and everything that was being done, and always showering us with amazing bounties from his garden. Followed by wine drinking, most of the time, his homemade magic.”

artichoke

Fulvio, Elizabeth explains, is self-sufficient, paying for nothing more than gas and cigarettes (and sometimes cheese, one of the few things he does not make or grow). This print is one of a series of four, dedicated to archiving Fulvio’s daily rhythms and processes. His relationship to the waxing and waning on the moon (la mancaza) is the core of this series as well as his life.

Elizabeth found inspiration in Fulvio and his relationship to his land and the food it produces. Her work inspires us and makes us just a tad hungry. To help, Elizabeth offers this freestyle recipe from Abruzzo: “Fulvio’s sisters Olga and Bruna have given me many cooking tips. One of my favorites is an “insalata di fagioli”, blanching fresh green beans, a little oil, salt and fresh mint. The mint and beans are an amazing flavor together.”