Nancy Polo
Nancy Polo
Average Vendor RatingI am an evolving artist. My medium has varied to suit what I have to express. I have turned clay on a wheel-- shaping, cutting and sculpting it to serve multiple functions. I have dug in the dirt to shift stones and bricks to start a farm. I have designed experiences for students to fully explore emotions with line, shape, color, value, texture, space and form. I have kneaded dough into delicate noodles, ravioli and empanadas stuffed with ingredients my partner and friends have honestly grown. I continue to sell meat and home cooked food on street corners talking to people about real food. I also paint rich, surreal scenes that dance in color and carefully choreographed compositions.
I was born to Italian immigrant parents in Washington, DC in 1973. My existence has been shaped by being bilingual and bicultural. When the world does not make sense in American, I retreat to a deep space where Italian sounds, smells, tastes and touch lull me into comprehension. I have kept this part of myself alive by traveling to Italy, singing and writing in Italian, and talking to my family. Rolling consonants and vowels on my tongue and with my hands in a torrent of spoken, sung, cooked and eaten expression is how I stay centered and whole.
I help manage a farm and commercial kitchen in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Paperwork, taxes, hiring & training staff, business planning and being a mom are what shape my days. Any spare moment I can, I spend drawing and painting. My Master’s Degree in Art History was a compromise I made with myself in my twenties because I didn’t think being an artist would be practical. Nonetheless, I have used art as a balm for processing lived experience my whole life.
My work is on display at La Capretta Gallery and Studio on Smithfield Farm, in Berryville, VA. Guests are welcome to visit any time. This is one of the oldest buildings on Smithfield Farm. The strcucture has been adapted and renovated several times. Feel free to look at my work. I look forward to reading your comments in my guest book. Because I am not a full time artist, this is an honesty policy gallery. If you wish to purchase a print, please take it to the Farm Store. Orginal works are available for purchase.
For more information, please visit my business page here.