Blind Artist Vision: blog by Stella De Genova
All of the seasons have their own special inspiration for an artist: spring with the promise of new life; autumn’s crisp and vibrant foliage and the sparkle of winter’s first snow. Although we are in the beginning of autumn, I am thinking about what I did this summer so I’ll do a little reminiscing Summers are short in the Midwest so we get energized as soon as the temperatures start to rise, planting our gardens and planning our vacations. And in the city, we try to squeeze in as many outdoor BBQ’s, events and festivals as we possibly can before the winds pick up and temperatures drop.
With all of this filling my days, as well as playing with the grandkids, I don’t usually get much artwork in during summer months. We also took a trip to Italy this summer. A European trip is more than the trip itself and for a visually impaired person, preparing can take a little longer.
First, we have to do some research, deciding exactly what we want to do and where to go. Not all websites have the best accessibility and I’ll admit, I can get exhausted from doing the research on my own. Next, we think about what to pack and what we need to buy to streamline the process and the weight of the bags. My husband and cousin help find things to do on the trip and book places that we will stay. They forward me the information and I get to give it the thumbs up or down.
Of course, shopping with my cousin for cute thigs to bring along is part of the fun. There are some very helpful new apps that, with the use of AI, describe the color and what an item is and there are readers that tell me the cost of an item. If I had to shop by myself, these would be lifesavers and I like having them at my disposal but I am lucky to have the company of family and friends who don’t mind shopping with me. Airports have assistants for people with disabilities and they can be invaluable, but I travel with my husband and/or family and I am OK with them reading the signs and leading the way.
After all of the preparation, our trip to Italy came in late June. We were off to Bari, on the Adriatic Sea and where my maternal roots are from. From there, we crossed to the Mediterranean side of the boot where we visited Amalfi and then up to Naples. Near Naples is a small town called Acerra, where my dad’s family is from. There are cousins in Acerra whom we always enjoy visiting. We finished our trip in Rome. We enjoyed the people, the food, and the sites everywhere we went but if I had to choose, I would say my favorite part of the trip was being where my family roots are from and walking on the same ancient streets that my ancestors did. I have found that when traveling as a blind person, people are kind and respectful of my disability and in many ways, more cognizant than those in the U.S.
At the end of summer, we gathered for a family weekend in Door County, WI. It’s great to escape the city and be surrounded by nature. We had lots of laughs and also found time for peace and relaxation. Be it a big well-planned trip or a short journey to get out of the usual routine for a breather, I highly recommend it to everyone.
Now, our travels are captured in our photographs and memories and summer has come to an end. In the coming months, I will think about where we’ve been and go through photos many times. What I may not notice one day will jump out to me another day and will inspire a new painting. I’ve added a couple paintings from past travels and one painting I did finish this summer of my grandson picking grapes from the vine in our yard. He is my little farmer. Stay tuned for future Italy memories in pastel interpretations.
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