Shrouded in fog, faint silhouettes take shape as you move within a few feet of them. Your eyes only know what’s ahead if there is an established familiarity. Walking through uncharted territory in these conditions heightens the senses to the unknown.

I have become accustomed to these misty, dream-like days when visiting my husband’s family in Northern Italy during the winter months. Even though I find the fog’s ability to create a monochromatic atmosphere appealing, I eventually crave the crisp edges and long shadows of the winter sun.

Seeking warmth and light, my family takes hikes above the fog in the nearby Apennines. On one of these hikes, we connected with a local out for his daily walk. Through my very loose understanding of the beautiful Italian language, I gleaned he was talking to my husband about oak galls that he used to collect for natural dye artists. What are the chances? Once my interest and excitement were evident, he gladly showed us how and where to locate them. The treasure hunt was on. The whole family traipsed up the mountains and over wet blankets of leaves peppered with prickly chestnut hulls to seek out these tannin-packed spheres. 

Once we reached the top of the mountain, to our surprise, there was a tiny, yet stately, chapel called Madonna Del Monte. A tiny man standing outside leaning on a cane with a large ring of keys dangling from his weathered hand greeted us and asked if we would like to go inside. The chapel is only open a few times a year, mainly on August 15th for Ferragosto, when the locals parade from their homes to the top of the mountain to commemorate the assumption of Mary. We walked inside and were instantly filled with awe. From floor to ceiling on every wall were paintings and drawings representing different miracles experienced by locals. All different shapes and sizes, each piece contained the phrase, “Per Grazie Ricevuta.” The unlikely encounters during our hike that day left us feeling the same - grace received.

The gallnut’s protective cocoon of color coupled with pinecones and rusty bits collected throughout the yard of nonna’s home are the featured color sources for this body of work. All pieces were made on site with available materials.