Malik's Reflection: 2014 TYTT Co-Recipient

A few things I have gained through going through application process twice is perseverance. I had a strong desire to win. After losing the first time I realized that I really had to utilize my time into perfecting my assignments and not procrastinating. This was a good craft to perfect because its comes up in life all the time.  Procrastination always played a big role in my daily life style, and after going through this process I felt like not only did I improve on not procrastinating, but I learned through perseverance I can conquer any task at hand. In preparation for the trip we had meetings and gained a lot of information on Roman history. Through the required reading in preparation for the trip I learned that Bernini and Borromini basically framed the foundations of Baroque for Rome. Those two artists were basically involved with everything.  Also we researched a lot on the potential walks we were going to participate in while in Italy. It  was cool because I felt I was prepared for the content the docents would teach us before they explained it. 

Overall I feel like this trip had really changed me as a person. Even though I had the chance to taste the most amazing food In the world I still had this strange attraction to art. Returning back from Rome I just didn't  see things the same way. When I look at building it's nothing compared to the ones in Rome. And when I eat pizza or pasta or even just drinking water I realize it's just not the same as Rome. And in all honesty I really miss it and I really want to go back because I had a true connection with everything I learned. Having the chance to travel to a whole different country at such a young age has really impacted me. This experience will live with me forever, and all the knowledge I acquired will forever remain in my mind. 

After the trip we made reflective videos of what we sought most interesting this also was a good lesson for the future. Now I'm more familiar with Macs and Final Cut Pro. I know the ins and outs of the audio and video for apple computers now.

Discovering the Power of Art in Rome

          Today I realized that we only had one more day to spend in Rome. Time really flies when you're having a fantastic time learning and exploring. To think about leaving such a beautiful place filled with such a humble culture, great food, and history makes me so sad. It's hard to admit, but I'm truly heartbroken that we have to go. Ten days wasn't near enough time to fully experience all aspects of the Roman humanities. There are definitely some places that I need to revisit in the future, as well as some places I plan on showing my parents so they can experience what I have felt these past several days. It is an amazing feeling to actually connect with something on a higher level of thinking, especially when it's unexpected. The many different docents I have had have all opened my eyes to new topics in history, and all have encouraged these connections I'm having, especially with art.  Here are descriptions of my top three “aha” moments with Roman art and architecture.

1.  Borromini and Bernini rivalry and effective style of baroque art in complementing the counter reformation. I found it very interesting that these two brilliant minds didn't get along with each other, but it's understandable because they were complete opposites. One was always trying to outdo the other which made them both produce to their full potential. They both basically created stepping stones to a new style of art and architecture that they perfected very well. Bernini's sculptures were breath taking, the movements and the aura they gave off made them seem like they were alive. Borromini's fantastic architectural style really demonstrate his hard work and dedication towards how serious he was about his art. Their influences on church architecture were amazing, both making you feel warm and close to God.

2. Caravaggio's paintings really made me feel some type of way. He related to poor people and changed a lot of ways we look at art. He showed true emotions portrayed through suffering, not only other people but his own. He showed emotions through painting realistic characteristics of actual people which was breaking the rules at this time. His renegade approach to living life was very vivid and spoke to me.

photos courtesy wikimedia commons

3.  Seeing Michelangelo’s Last Judgement was emotional – more so than I had expected. Because we had learned about Michelangelo’s situation when he painted this (doubting his destiny after death and possibly battling the faith that he’d heavily believed in his entire life), the painting was brought to life for us in a new and unexpected way. This painting was a broad summarization of his understanding of life – which turned out to be a beautiful work of art. It made me sad to an extent, but also brought joy to my soul in an odd way – because even though the story was sad, I felt joyful because I understood his clear message.

photos courtesy wikimedia commons

            Before we left for Italy, all I could think about was food and how delicious everything was going to be, which it was, don't get me wrong. But when I stood and looked at a painting or a sculpture and analyzed them with insightful docents from Context Travel, it was like I could feel the emotions and all the characteristics of the artist. In that moment, I could picture what the artist was trying to share and connect them to my emotions and personal experiences. It's a beautiful process through my eyes, and I am so excited to make connections between the art history skills that I have developed and all of the art at home and abroad that I have yet to experience.  

- Malik lee

Filling my Five Stomachs in Naples

           I awoke feeling refreshed and excited not only to see Naples, the center of the culinary world, but to taste it as well! Every time we told someone that we were coming to Naples, the first thing that came out of their mouths was some variation of "delicious food". This was good for a variety of reasons, including that all of us – myself, my fellow student Myriah, and our faculty advisor, David, share a love of great food. Knowing that, we couldn't wait to see what different tastes the city would offer us.

Photo credit: David Marks

          We were in Italy to take part in several ContextTravel tours. Our fantastic docent, Fiorella, took us to an amazing pizzeria that was famous for serving the best pizza in the world. It was a great environment with classical music, great servers, and families having a fantastic time. From our entrance until we sat down, all I could smell was the old fashioned brick oven doing what it does best. When our waiter took our order, I felt stuck between two emotions…total excitement because I felt like this was about to be the peak of my whole entire experience of being in Italy, and on the other hand, doubt. What if I had come all this way in search of great food that might not even be appealing to me? But...I never back down from a challenge. I had come way too far to be second guessing myself, so I ordered the most meat-filled pizza on the menu and waited patiently for the moment of truth.

           As you could guess from a true foodie, my heart was beating fast, and my taste buds were tingling in anticipation. It wasn't long until the saints brought me the most elegant and beautiful piece of pizza I have ever seen in my whole life. Strangely, I felt as if the world stopped. All eyes were on me. I paused for a second, then took a very deep and confident bite...

           This moment was when I became a man in the food world. That first bite almost brought tears to my eyes, and in that instant all I could do was smile with my mouth full and my taste buds satisfied. This bite? It totally changed my view on pizza. I realized that nothing - and I mean nothing - will ever compare to what I was eating in Naples…and this was just the start of my gastronomic journey.

           The next day after breakfast, another amazing docent, Alberto, arrived to take us on a culinary tour of Napoli. He took us to several local farm markets to pick up fresh ingredients. We arrived at a fish store, where they had a live octopus that Alberto and I touched out of curiosity. While the octopus had behaved itself for Alberto and I, it got a little friendly with Myriah. She jumped, screamed, and ran across the street, as far away from the moving tentacles as possible. After everyone was finished laughing, we proceeded onward with our walk since we knew we had a lot of shopping to do.  After scanning the stand that had fish, eels, shrimp, and assorted marine life, we bought a kilo of Naples clams that were so fresh that their little eyes were stretching out of their shells. We entered a small delicatessen with ham hanging from the ceiling, and sampled buffalo mozzarella that was so fresh that milk came out of it when it was cut.  Our shopping basket quickly filled with the rest of our amazing ingredients: bitter greens, fresh baked bread, hard bread for bruschetta, and olive oil, lots of olive oil.    

           

Photo credit: Malik Lee

              With our arms full of goods and watering mouths, we headed to Alberto's house to cook a traditional Neapolitan dinner. Alberto was an excellent teacher for Myriah and I, as neither of us had cooked these recipes before.  He guided us perfectly through the making of many Neapolitan dishes, including making pizza dough, pasta, friarielli, and the proper way to cook clams. After all our hard work, we got to reap the rewards The clams with linguine sung in my mouth with the taste of perfectly al dente pasta swimming in briny goodness.  Caprese salad held the perfect culinary blend of Italy’s trifecta: mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes.  Although our hand made pizzas were delicious and a notch above the American variety, they could not hold a candle to the pizza of the restaurant, where they have 900 degree ovens and bake the pizza for no longer than 90 seconds!  Our bruschetta held the perfect crunch of the bread with a simple cherry tomato and basil tapenade.  We had made an extraordinary and very delicious Neapolitan meal!  Myriah and I were happy that our hard work and hands-on learning experience was so satisfactory to all those lucky enough to be seated around the table. We ate until we were stuffed, and then ate some more. While, as a growing teen, I can eat a lot, this was the first time I’ve ever felt like I filled my five stomachs. Luckily, my memories will ruminate with me for a lifetime.

-Malik Lee

Courtesans, Caravaggio, and Connections

The great Italian painter, Caravaggio, is known for his rock star personality to the Roman public and going through money like toilet paper.  I have always overlooked him and thought that he was unimportant, especially when compared to the great geniuses who came before him, such as Michelangelo or Raphael. Why would a man who used dirty people from the street as models for religious icons get recognition? I found out why when I recently took a Context Travel walk in Rome, called Caravaggio’s Mean Streets. Our docent, Lauren Golden, a British art history PhD who resembles JK Rowling, was a walking encyclopedia who clearly laid it all out the table like she was serving a five course Italian dinner.  

Photo credit: David Marks

Our first stop, the Church of Sant’Agostino, was the only church in Rome where courtesans (ladies of the night) could attend mass each Sunday and repent for their sins! One of these courtesans even became famous as Caravaggio’s muse and lover. As soon as we stepped inside the church, I was immersed into a world where I could visualize the courtesans sitting in their designated pews in the front of the church so they would not distract the men.If they had sat in the back of the church then there was fear that the men would constantly turn around in their seats to gawk at their beautiful faces. I understood how the courtesans would feel trying to repent like everyone else, only to repeat their sins the next day in order to survive. The main thing that caught my eye in this church, however, was the painting, Madonna di Loreto, and how it contained the same model for Mary as in his painting, Dei Palafrenieri, located in the Borghese art gallery. I imagined the model courtesan attending this church and seeing herself in the painting and feeling quite empowered…or embarrassed. What must it have been like, seeing yourself on the church walls every Sunday morning? She must have been of some importance to Caravaggio if he used her twice. I wonder if she loved him - or felt adored or used by him?   

As we walked up to the painting, the church guard quickly turned off the lights on the painting in hopes of receiving offerings to the church - the painting was muted by darkness. In his dark green jacket and stressed face, he asked for donations with his eyes as if he were barely containing his annoyance for cheap tourists.  As soon as a new group would walk up, he would turn off the light so that they would not be able to see the painting in all of its glory unless an offering was made! I could not get a good picture or appreciate it for more than 2 minutes at a time. I wonder if church guards back then haggled for donations to keep the paintings illuminated by candlelight.

Photo credit: Myriah Catalano

My perspective and appreciation for Caravaggio grew at our next stop, where we analyzed the Saint Matthew series at San Luigi dei Francesi church. The immense, powerful trio of paintings reminded me of this show I used to watch as a little girl, called “Out of the Box.” In that show, the characters jumped into pictures. I, too, felt as if I could  jump into Caravaggio’s life as I stared in wonder at these paintings. The first piece is called The Calling of St. Matthew.  The painting truly makes the viewer wonder if Caravaggio used his personal experience in gambling halls to show the debt collecting of Matthew’s profession. The painting is so lifelike, I could smell the dingy air in the room, and feel the tension of Jesus asking Matthew to join his Apostles. I sensed the protective instinct of the boy reaching for his sword to defend Matthew from supposed thieves. I could detect as if Matthew was about to look up and question everything he has ever done with his life. I imagined him struggling with being a greedy tax collector. His head is bowed in the painting, as if questioning his life, thinking, am I a bad person? Do I need to change?

          This painting reminded me of times when I realized that I had done something wrong and started questioning everything that I had ever stood for and done.  Surprisingly, Caravaggio turned on a whole new light for me, as if he were the haughty church guard who had just collected a donation. He painted his life and real people in his works, to connect the paintings to how people on the streets coming in would associate themselves with the pictures. The people would see the dirtiness of Madonna di Loreto’s feet and the grimy haggard way of the pilgrims. They jumped inside them, just like I did - and I am not even a particularly religious person.

           Caravaggio touched the little faith I had in his artistic capabilities and my own religious beliefs, and I could intertwine his personal experiences with mine. With his realistic paintings, he knew how to reach the church’s main audience, no matter how offended the church got. Caravaggio told you his life story, and someone else’s - through his paintings, and that is why I could relate to him. I could relate to him since he shows real life and situations in his paintings.  Each piece throws me back into things I see in my own modern community where one wrong look can still mean a problem as it did in the 1600’s - Caravaggio captured that. It was as if the foggiest cloud dissipated from in front of my eyes, and I saw what he was trying to say. I am grateful that Context Travel gave me the tools and context in which to begin to appreciate this master painter.  

-Myriah Catalano