I am honored to be a Fellow of the Civita Institute, an organization dedicated to creative excellence, cultural exchange and strategies for the preservation of Italian hill towns (civitainstitute.org). In the fall of 2019, I lived and worked for a month in the small hill town of Civita di Bagnoregio, about an hour north of Rome.
Like an aging human being, Civita was born in another time, is indelibly marked by history, and remains deeply proud of its unique identity. Civita proved to be a perfect subject — almost a metaphor — for my exploration of aging.
My days in Civita were enhanced by many expected as well as many unexpected gifts, all which influenced my creative work. I was very honored to be welcomed by Civita’s residents. I was privileged to hear their personal histories. I was fascinated to learn about the town and its unique relationship to the land. I was moved as I witnessed the deep impact that place and tradition has in nurturing the souls of residents and visitors. And I was constantly compelled to reflect upon the delicate dance between aging and adaptation.
The interviews, photographs and videos taken during my fellowship resulted in a 20-minute film named Dovuto al Tempo, an Italian phrase that means “due to time.” The film had its debut in late 2020 during a virtual event hosted by the Civita Institute and now is available for wider viewing.
Please watch the trailer or click here to see the entire film on Vimeo.
