Excursion to Gubbio

Civitellians visited the medieval town of Gubbio for the final cultural excursion of the season last Tuesday, 24 October. Gubbio, inaccessibile by railway, is known for its connection to St. Francis, a beautiful centro storico, and its open air cable car that brings visitors to the central Basilica. In May the town celebrates Saint Ubaldo Day with the Corsa dei Ceri, in which three teams race to the mountaintop Basilica carrying statues of the town's 3 patron saints, each mounted on an enormous wooden base.

The Fellows stopped to hear the story of St. Francis and the Wolf
upon arriving in town. 

Group 4 Fellow Md. Abdul Momen takes a photo
 at the bottom of the cable car.

The Bridge Book Award at Civitella Ranieri

This year's winners of the Bridge Book Award read from their work and fielded questions from the public in the castle library last Wednesday, 25 October. Representatives of the American Embassy in Rome were in attendance for the event.

Georgetown Professor Anna Harwell Celenza, winner of the Non-Fiction section,
read from the prologue of her book Jazz Italian Style: From its Origins
in New Orleans to Fascist Italy and Sinatra.

Jennifer Haigh, winner of the Fiction section, read from
her book Heat & Light.

The two authors answered questions from the audience after the readings.

Kate Tempest in Città di Castello

Current Fellow Kate Tempest was invited to Città di Castello last Saturday evening (28 October) for a panel discussion with Italian translator Ricardo Duranti, who translated her book-length poem Let Them Eat Chaos. Kate ended the evening by performing the poem live for the final time.

Originally scheduled to be held at Libreria Paci La Tifernate, the event was ultimately moved to the Teatro degli Illuminati due to space considerations. More than 150 people were in attendance.

Kate Tempest and translator Ricardo Duranti sit together
on stage to discuss her book.

Kate Tempest (Fellow 2017, DG 2015) performs Let Them Eat Chaos 
live for the final time. Photo credit: Serena Facchin/CaLibro Festival.

Kate Tempest on stage. Photo credit: Serena Facchin/CaLibro Festival.

Henrietta Rose-Innes & Judith Baulmer Presentations

Current Fellow Henrietta Rose-Innes and visiting guest Judith Baumel read their work in the castle library last Thursday, 26 October. The evening marked Civitella Ranieri's final public event of the 2017 season.

Judith Baumel read from her book of poetry. 

Henrietta Rose-Innes (Writing, South Africa) introduced her reading by
first speaking about borders in the context of Cape Town.

Group 4 Final Lunch

Last Friday, 27 October marked the Final Lunch for the final group of the season! As per tradition, the entire staff came to join in the festivities. Fellows received their program graduation certificates and shared a few final words with the group. The afternoon ended with Executive Director Dana Prescott's infamous Yankee Swap gift exchange.

The staff set a beautiful formal table for the event, complete with
custom painted nameplates.

Already departed Fellow Christian Mason (Music, UK)
joined the group via video message. 

Md. Abdul Momen (Milton) won the #1 pick in the Yankee Swap.

Program Coordinator Diego Mencaroni was feeling the
Christmas spirit already after opening his chosen gift.

Tiber River Hike

Civitellians went for a morning hike in the countryside near Perugia last Thursday, 26 October. We first found the Tiber, then followed the riverside to a nearby bakery to stop for breakfast.

Painter Augustine Boyce Cummings stops to admire the view.

Program Coordinator Diego Mencaroni explains the local lore
 attached to a shrine adjacent the trail.

Group photo by the riverside!

Birthdays at Civitella

How seriously do we take birthdays at Civitella? Here is Carl D'Alvia (DG 2009,2017) celebrating 52 years with two splendid cakes.

Surprise! The kitchen prepared a custom birthday cake and
two bottles of prosecco for the occasion.

Carl inspecting Chef Romana's craftsmanship.

Kate Tempest Presentation

Last Thursday, 19 October, current Fellow Kate Tempest (Writing, UK) performed a lyric-in-progress to an audience of Civitella Fellows, Guests and staff in the soggiorno di Scarabeo.

Kate Tempest performs her lyric without musical accompaniment
in a session closed to the public.

Open Gallery

Five visual artists currently in residence opened a group exhibition in the Civitella Gallery space last Friday, 20 October. Augustine Boyce Cummings (CRF 2017, USA), Milton Momen (CRF 2017, Bangladesh), Jackie Saccoccio (CRF 2017, USA) and Director's Guest Carl D'Alvia (USA) were all in attendance to present their work and answer questions from the public. The show continues to run until Thursday, 26 October and can be viewed upon reservation.

Guests were invited to freely browse the exhibition.

A guest inspects a piece-in-progress by Augustine Boyce Cummings.

Featured artist Milton Momen speaks to Music Fellow
Christian Mason (UK) about his work.

Carl D'Alvia speaks to the audience with one of his sculptures in the foreground.

Helena Tulve & Jerome Kitzke Presentations

Last Wednesday, 18 October marked another night of music at the Castle Ranieri. Both Helena Tulve and Jerome Kitzke presented their work to the public in a particularly intimate setting: from within the composer's studio Don Giovanni.

Music Fellow Helena Tulve (Estonia) gives a brief introduction to her
work before playing a composition she had written for vocal choir.

Director' Guest Jerome Kitzke (CRF 2003, USA) performs live at the piano.