Rosemary Connelly says that when her husband Bob asked her how she hoped to spend their retirement, her response was that she wanted to “live cheap and make art.” In other words, she wanted to live simply with fewer possessions and spend her days painting, something she was passionate about. Bob, an accomplished photographer shared that dream, and after a trip to Europe for their 25th wedding anniversary, the couple decided to do just that. From 2005 through 2007, they lived in four different locations in Italy after retiring.
Gallery Opening
On February 3, 2012, the Dover Art League will begin displaying an exhibit of the artwork the couple created during and since their Italian adventure. The Opening Reception will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm, and the couple will present a digital slide presentation in the upstairs gallery beginning at 6 pm. Bob’s photographs will be displayed, as will Rosemary’s watercolors, offering insight into the time they spent in small Italian towns over a two-year period.
The Trip
During their anniversary trip, the couple found that short trips were not enough to see all of Italy. In addition, Rosemary’s grandparents were born in Sicily and near Naples and she wanted to find information on her ancestors, visit the small towns where they grew up and learn more about her heritage. They rented small, furnished apartments in each town and only arranged for the first apartment in Perugia before they left the United States. They learned Italian at a local community college before their departure, and took additional classes in Italy once they arrived. Rosemary says that the one thing that stands out in her mind about the trip is how warmly the people they met during the adventure received them. They were invited to spend holidays with landlords and neighbors, and they are still in touch with the people they met.
Perugia
Perugia is the capital of the region of Umbria, known as “the green heart of Italy,” a town with many colleges and universities. The Connelly’s did not own a car while they lived in Perugia, as there are many trains and buses available. The city is larger than many in Italy, and even small towns were accessible by bus or train. It was also easier for the couple to speak English in Perugia due to the large number of international college students. Originally, they planned to stay in each region for six months, but remained in Perugia for eight.
Sicily
The second Italian city the Connelly’s lived in was on the southeast coast of Sicily. They used the internet to find an apartment. The owner met them after they departed the ferry and rented them the apartment with no references and no security deposit, even serving the couple food and wine upon their arrival. The apartment was close to the beach and there was a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean from their wide balcony on the third floor. Because transportation was not as accessible in Sicily, the Connelly’s purchased a car before they left Perugia. While in Sicily, Rosemary was able to locate birth records for her grandparents and to visit places where her ancestors grew up.
Verona
The third stop on the couple’s adventure was Verona, one of the main tourist attractions in northern Italy. The town has a renowned artistic heritage evidenced by the many fairs, shows and operas the town hosts. Rosemary says that it was wonderful to wake up in the morning and say “Do you want to go to Venice today?” and simply get in the car and drive there and to the many interesting locations surrounding Verona.
Amalfi Coast
The final location the couple chose was the Amalfi Coast region. There, the couple lived in a ground floor apartment with a view of the Bay of Salerno from their patio. The roads around this region have many twists and turns, and Rosemary stated that driving was often a wild experience, as the locals drove very fast. The area is also a well-known tourist area, so renting in the winter months made it affordable.
Rosemary started a blog, available through their website of the events leading up to their Italian adventure and continued writing and posting photographs and paintings throughout their life abroad. Rosemary and Bob have lived in Milford for about four years and own Live Cheap and Make Art Studios located in the Studios Upstairs at 4 Park Avenue at the Riverwalk Center for the Arts in historic downtown Milford. Rosemary accepts commissioned work and offers well-attended classes in watercolor journaling.
On Sunday, February 5, 2012 from 10am until 3pm, Rosemary, along with Maria Sadler, a local potter, will hold a Watercolor Journaling and Hand-building with Clay workshop at Kalypso Pottery, located at 612 Abbott Drive in Milford. The cost is $65 and includes lunch. Call Rosemary at 302-359-5534 for more information on this or future workshops.
The exhibition at the Dover Art League, runs from February 3 to the 29, Reception, February 3, 5-7pm. 21 Lockerman Street, downtown Dover, www.doverartleague.com
For more information about Rosemary and Bob’s classes or artwork, or to read more about their Italian experience, visit www.livecheapmakeart.com for links to their Italy and USA blogs. Or visit Live Cheap and Make Art Studios Wednesday – Saturday from 11am-4pm.
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