Art Prize for Medieval Archery Competiton: Palio di Pescia; Apollo and Artemis

Art Prize for Medieval Archery Competiton:  Palio di Pescia; Apollo and Artemis

In this issue of Borsheim Art News (October 29, 2025): 

•     Apollo with Dolphin sculpture by Vasily Fedorouk
•     Artemis painting by Dragana Adamov
  
•     Sandy:  Early nude art ready to hang
•     Abundance:  Prints available of this sold Foodie Art
  
•     Palio di Pescia - Medieval Archery Competition with Kelly Borsheim's painting as the prize

Dear Art Lover,

     Sometime back in March or maybe April, I created a small painting (a bozzetto in Italian, maquette in French) as my application for a contest to create the banner artwork for the Palio of Pescia (in Tuscany).  Palio is an old word for a public competition, of archery in the case of Pescia.  And all done with citizens wearing Medieval costumes.  

I won!  And I share the story with my favorite photos of the Palio 2025 below.  

     First, I would like to show you two of the artists I represent on my site.

Guest Artist:  Vasily Fedorouk

     Apollo gets the honor of being the Greek god of music, dance, truth, healing, poetry, and ARCHERY!

     Ukrainian-American sculptor Vasily Fedorouk created this composition of the God Apollo riding a diving dolphin.  The stone carving is topped off with an actual GOLD cap on the deity's head.

Apollo

• 13 h x 12 x 7 inches 
• one-of-a-kind sculpture, Portuguese Marble and Gold
  
• copyright 2006 Vasily Fedorouk
• Price:  $ 4,900  USD, [payment plan available]

See more views here:

https://borsheimarts.com/products/vasily-fedorouk-apollo-on-dolphin-stone-sculpture-with-gold

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Guest Artist:  Dragana Adamov

     Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo.  She is the Greek goddess of the hunt (often portrayed with a bow and arrows), and virginity, but also of childbirth and the care of children.  Interesting combination, no?

     My lovely friend Dragana works as a designer (Gucci and others) and this is one of her personal creations that she painted outside of her "official" work.  Note her use of the color blue that often stands for purity.

Artemis

• Oil on Canvas, Original Art, gallery-wrapped canvas (no frame needed)
• 150 x 150 cm.  (59 x 59 in.)
• $3,000.00                     

https://borsheimarts.com/products/dragana-adamov-artemis-painting

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My Art:

     I had hoped to present to you my newest painting inspired by a trip to Portugal some years ago.  However, I had to put her aside after I was recently asked to restore two WWI memorials before 4 November (Day of National Unity and the Armed Forces, commemorates the end of WWI in 1918) in Italy.  I will show you what I did for that project in the next newsletter since I have yet to finish.  For now:

     One of the perks of going through my things once in a while is rediscovering old favorites.  This last trip into storage spaces had me revisiting a monochromatic (sepia) painting I did that was inspired from a session sketch with a live model in my drawing sessions in Austin, Texas.

     Sandy was painted in 2005 and I rarely ever showed her (not sure why, she is one of my favorites).  The composition shows my love of triangles and hands.  It was the time in my career when I was zooming in on the human body to abstract a bit, but also notice the beautiful things about people, other than their faces.

• Sandy (painting shown, right, with bronze sculpture Together and Alone, left)
• 18 x 24 inches
• Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas (framing is optional)
• Signed with logo on front, hand signature on the back
• $ 750   [Ships from Norfolk, Virginia US]
• https://borsheimarts.com/products/sandy-life-drawing-study-oil-painting

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Abundance:

     It is not so often that I have painted food, but at the end of 2018, I delivered the commissioned pastel painting Abundance to the happy owner.  This past summer I borrowed the painting to be able to have a proper hi-res image shot of the artwork.  Now I may offer prints of this bright-colored and healthy artwork.

     The prints will arrive with a white border and I can even offer them with a few choices of frames (message me for information on the latter).  To see how I created the composition of this painting, as well as more images, click on this page:

https://borsheimarts.com/products/abundance-colorful-food-art-print

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Palio di Pescia:  annual Medieval Archery Competition in Tuscany

     2025 marked the 48th year of the Palio in Pescia, a Tuscan town that lies between Firenze (Florence) and Lucca.  

     The much more famous Palio is in Siena, consisting of two horse races annually (once in July, the second in August).  Unlike Siena, Pescia's Palio is an archery competition between four rioni (districts, or neighborhoods).  Each have their own coat of arms.  The Palio itself is held on the first Sunday in September, but there are events on the Friday and Saturday immediately before that, even if those days fall in August, as happened in 2024.

     This year's theme was St. Dorothy, the patron saint of Pescia (along with Caesarea, Turkey, where she was martyred, and Markowa, Poland).  Santa Dorotea, as the Italians call her, was born in 279 AD and was martyred (beheaded) on February 6, 311 AD (age 32). 

     There is an art competition each year to create the painted canvas that will be sewn into a vertical banner and used as the prize for the winning team of the archery competition.  The application rules page stated that some of the relics of Saint Dorothy are housed in the Church of Saints Stefano e Niccolao.  Thus, it seemed clear to me that they wanted that church depicted somewhere in the artwork.

      I had never heard of this saint and I had NO interest in depicting a decapitation (often a saint is identified in artwork with a reference for how s/he was martyred).  Thus, research gave me the story of her symbols:  apples and roses.  

     This part is gross and violent, and yet, maybe kind of a "duh moment":  The story goes that a lawyer or judge (details are vague on stories this old) tormented and taunted Dorotea before she was killed.  It is said that she promised him a basket of fruit and flowers after her death, as a sign that her faith and her god were valid.  Shortly after her gruesome end, an angel, in the form of a boy, presented the gift.  This converted the legal professional to Christianity, which unsurprisingly led to his own martyrdom.   Makes one wonder how good he could have been at his job, eh? 

       Here is the statement I submitted with my small painting (which the Palio organization also kept):

"48° Palio Città di Pescia 2025
Theme:  Santa Dorotea (Saint Dorothy) 

     Instead of portraying Saint Dorothy with the symbol of how she was martyred (as is often done during the centuries of paintings), I chose to show the gifts she gave.  The symbols for Saint Dorothy are a basket of fruit and flowers, but more specifically, three red roses and three apples.

     I did change one apple to green and one to slightly orange because I wanted to include more of the colors of the coats of arms of all four rioni to make the visuals more balanced and attractive.  And I added two rose buds because both the numbers three and five are sacred numbers.  The rose buds imply a promising future.

     You may note that the blue background is not a sky of realism.  Instead it is a design based on flowers and their petals can be seen as cloud shapes above the Church of Saints Stefano and Niccolao.

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     The author artist is Kelly Borsheim.  She is an American painter and sculptor who lives in Castelvecchio.  Her charcoal and/or pastel drawings, paintings, as well as bronze and stone sculpture are now in private collections throughout the United States and in Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.  She created a sculpture "Pinocchio Rides the Dove" for the Park of Pinocchio in Collodi."

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     [That last was added because Collodi is under the jurisdiction of the City of Pescia.]

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     Above:  Photo is a self-portrait taken on 18 April 2025.  It took me about a week in mid-April to research the subject, design a composition that I liked, and then make the small painting.  I tend to get lost in the details and also, I had applied in 2018 for this competition and rightly lost.  I decided that if I was going to do this, I should do it right.  Thus, my bozzetto was more detailed even than what I had originally intended.

     When I won, I dropped the other painting and sculpture projects I had been working on because I knew that I would be leaving for a family visit in Virginia and I would be back only two days before the Palio painting had to be done (and given to the seamstress for her portion of the work).  I started on top of a mattress to layout my design on the much-larger-than-expected canvas (dimensions of the final painting were not listed on the rules page, but also the ratio of the bozzetto was different from the measurements I was given when I picked up the supplies at the local art supply/frame shop in Pescia).  

Left:  21 May: Before stretcher bars arrived, I started to transfer the objects in the composition.  The canvas is rolled out upon and dropping off of one edge of a small sofa-bed protected with a green tarp.

     The stretcher bars were assembled and reused each year, and were far too large for me to take home in or on top of my car.  Thus, I had a week of painting awkwardly before a friend with a truck brought up the support for me.  Three weeks later, I finally finished the thing.  The President of the Palio had to come over to pick up the painting since I was not allowed to remove the canvas from the support and roll it up.

Photo taken 29 May 2025

     If you see my channel on YouTube, go to the "Shorts".  Despite my filming a lot of how I painting the beast on my bed (and slept on my couch for a month due to the size of the thing and my having too little space), I was sworn to secrecy and thus, have not had much time to edit and post the production videos since the event. 

See one that my phone made for me:

https://www.youtube.com/@BorsheimArts

Secret inclusion in the art:  Do you see the fish in the art?  He is swimming in the clouds top left above the statue and the gargoyle on top of the church.  It was what painter Bob Ross called "a happy little accident" as I was laying in the basic shapes.  I saw it the day afterwards and chose to leave it.  Pescia means 'fish' in Italian, so it seemed a lovely hidden surprise in the artwork.  I continued to develop those clouds to a finish, but I chose not to touch the swimmer.     Photo taken June 13, 2025

     I was relieved when I had completed the church and bottom third of the painting while the mounted canvas was horizontal on my bed.  And I had turned the canvas 180 degrees so that I could paint the top third on the bed, as well (painting the coats of arms and the blue cloud/flower patterns upside down).  I usually alter the height of my stone or sculpture or paintings so that I may work with my spine straight, especially if I need to work for many hours.

     Thus, the middle section was painted last and with a much better posture!  You may also see that I covered the church with plastic.  After painting far more detail than I anticipated when I created the bozzetto, including gold mosaic pieces, I did not want to pull a "Grace Kelly" and have paint drip down on the finished section, especially since acrylic paint dries so quickly.

     The finished painting was picked up on the evening of Tuesday, 24 June.  It gave me less than a week to finish the painting "Riomaggiore" and packing for my flights.  But, it was all good.  

September 5, 2025 Pescia Palio Blessing

     So, the Friday evening before the Sunday competition is when the four teams march to the Duomo (Cathedral, the church in a town where the bishop performs when he arrives).

     Only, the march is a parade with flag wavers, bands, and everyone wearing Medieval costumes!  The drummers are pounding, with each team having its individual cadence.  One by one they all pour inside the Duomo.  

     The banner, this year with MY painting on it, is blessed by the priest before it is turned to face the audience.  It is the first time that most are seeing the artwork and I was thrilled to be able to witness this!

Above, you may see the golden yellow backside of the "cencio" (the "rag," as they refer to the prize banner -- perhaps that is a Renaissance mentality?  I do not like the word used to indicate art.  The use of that word may stem from the fact that centuries ago, winners of a competition might receive an elegant CLOAK.)  After the blessing, the banner is turned around and presented to the public wearing Medieval clothes.

Tah-Dahhhhhhhh!  What a thrill this was!  

     I want to interject a small story here that warmed my heart.  There were two official photographers for the Palio, one of them, Roberto Flori, from Castelvecchio, I have known for years.  Castelvecchio is one of the ten "castled villages" in the mountains north and under the wing of Pescia. 

     After my painting was introduced to all in the church, I moved into the aisle a bit to document this happening in my life.  Those two photographers were in front of me, naturally, but as we all three backed up with the approaching parade, Roberto saw me.  He was lovely to turn to the other photographer and tell him that "This is the artist!" What made me feel special, as a foreigner, was when he added with pride in his voice, "And she is from Castelvecchio!" 

I adore how the children participate in this event!  

 I cannot even imagine growing up with so much art and beautiful architecture around me!

     After the blessing ceremony, everyone parades out of the Duomo and walks across the bridge and the River Pescia to the main square (in this case a long rectangle) Piazza Mazzini.  Below you see the presentation of the archer teams.  And from each rione there was a theater-type spectacular performance with the flag wavers, each telling a story, as a short play.  Props, dragons (Chinese style:  long and with many people under the large animal drape):  such fun.

     This being my first Palio attendance, I hoped to notice all the details!  Above is the edging and the fabric front of the "frame" sewn around my canvas.  The fabric includes loops for attaching the entire banner to the pole.  The pole also comes with a bottom that can be nested into a waist holster to aid the person holding the tall, heavy-enough drappo during the three-day event.

     Afterwards, some of the awards were presented.  I was given a plaque with my painting as a print on metal, framed with the name and date of this year's event.  And that is the Mayor of Pescia, Riccardo Franchi, posing beside me.  I am average height.  I had not remembered that he was quite tall.  Guiseppe, from the rione Santa Maria, is hiding behind my work.  After I saw this image on Facebook, I asked Giuseppe on Sunday evening why he hid out of the photo.  He said that the mayor had started to walk to his side to pose in the image, so he made way while still holding onto the banner.  Sweet man.  I think one of the photographers asked the mayor to instead stand beside the artist. 

This image above was taken by the other official photographer of the Palio.  I took this off of the Facebook page.

September 6, 2025:  La Bellezza

     The Saturday night was a part of the event that I had not been invited to by the organizers and thus, I stayed home to get some work done.  That was the evening of the competition for the most beautiful woman at the Palio.  I read later that the costumes have been noticed by those in the Italian fashion world and some of them have become judges.  Other designers have found inspiration in the variety and quality of these clothes.  They are beautiful, aren't they?

     Critics:  

     There were shared articles from newspapers and online publications about the Palio, including my participation as the chosen artist.  The City of Pescia has a Facebook page and when Roberto published his image there of the Mayor with my art and me, I was dismayed to see some comments that at first hurt me a bit.

     A few basically asked why an American painted the banner and not some Italian artist from Pescia.  Another asked why had I painted the Church of Saints Stefano e Niccolao, and not the Duomo, which he argued was more important to the city.

     After seeing the second criticism, I felt that I could defend myself without appearing petty.  I apologized if my art was not what the citizens wanted, but that I had applied for a competition open to all and never hid my birth origin from the committee who chose the winning artist.  And then I explained that the theme for this year was Saint Dorothy and the rules mentioned the church that holds her relics (which is NOT the Duomo).  I also added that her symbols are three roses and three apples.

     By the time that I had responded, I was able to see again that Roberto had defended me by including me.  His comment was that I was more a Pesciatina than many born in the town.  lol... that is not true, but kind.  Others who know me also came to defend my "character" which is always heartening.  

     After Roberto read my comment about the competition, he took advantage of that by commenting on the thread that it is a shame that I would know more about how the artist is chosen and about the history of city than those who criticize the choice of the Palio committee.  I just let that stand.  No point in correcting my defender that the only reason I learned more about that church, the saint, or the city was because I did research based on what was stated in the competition rules.

     Later, I reread the critical comments and decided that they really had nothing to do with me personally.  Instead, I chose to interpret the comments as a lament that Pescia had not more artists.  A general thing.   

     However, after the Palio ended on Sunday evening, someone commented to me that he felt sorry for whomever wins the banner competition NEXT YEAR.   I love my design and I am proud of how I was able to finish this painting.  So, I will keep that compliment as my win.

September 7, 2025 Pescia Palio Archery Competition

     Italians do love their costumed parades, including men in tights!  :-)  Thanks to Roberto Flori for so many photos in this post (used with his permission).  He puts his name in the lower right corner.  A few images I took from the Palio's Facebook page, but I do not know the name of the person who took them.  All other images were ones that I took.

     Here you see the Duomo of Pescia in the background, while the parade repeats the path from Friday evening, crossing the river and entering Piazza Mazzini.  The Palio starts at 4 p.m., but traffic is blocked about an hour earlier to minimize any of those on foot getting hurt.  Parking is a challenge during this well-attended event, but it is nothing like Siena!

     Half of the long piazza was closed off for paying or participating guests.  I was fortunate to have a seat with contributing others in a row of red velvet chairs next to the archer stage.  There was a large-screen to project details of the competition, as you see in concerts.  Outside of the pay area, there were stalls of Medieval products for display and some for sale.  It was attractive and I thought it was thoughtful to allow people to decide whether or not to pay to see the competition.  [I will add that the entrance fee was low, maybe less than 15 euro?]

Inside there were two large sets of bleachers, on either side of the archery setup.  Each holding two of the teams and their fans.

Notice the basket of roses and apples with these lovely ladies?

Stefano of Stiappa gives Giuseppe a break in holding up the banner.

Above:  Tom Grau, the man who had the red seat next to mine, said that he and his wife Daniela in red beside him began coming to this Palio years ago.  They love it more than others they have attended.  They come down each year from Bavaria.

Rione San Francesco... I love this photo with its striking BLUE!

Above:  I believe that she won the most beautiful woman competition.  San Michele rione.

A little bit of Steampunk for ya!  :-)

     I was having a lot of fun that weekend and decided to just ask the bearded archer if I could have my picture taken with them and my art and me.  He was so joyful and bouncing around about their win and said yes immediately.  He ran around getting the attention of the others and only later did I realize that he managed to NOT be in the group shot.

     By the way, the rione Ferraia won the competition.  And, it seemed fitting because it is their neighborhood where the Church with St. Dorothy's relics lie that resides.  [And it could very well be that the person who publicly on Facebook asked why I had not painted the Duomo was from the Santa Maria rione, the neighborhood of the cathedral.]

After the games and the cheering, I was told that the event was over and each team would retreat to its own neighborhood to have dinner together.  I received no invites and went home.  Later, I saw Roberto Flori's photographs and I was happy to see something of the celebration of the victors that happened after I had left Pescia.

     Here you see that my painting of the church is displayed in front of the Church of Saints Stefano e Niccolao (the mosaic above the doors shows St. Dorothy between her two masculine "colleagues").

These were taken inside of the church.

And the mayor has now removed his Medieval cloak.