1. A Room with a view

A visit to Pina and Abele's flat 
 
There are 58 steep stairs winding their way up to the fifth floor flat where Pina and Abele live in Pimlico. 
When I arrive breathless at the top, my legs aching from the climb, I am greeted with understanding and warm smiles from Pina and Abele and led into a bright sunlit front room.
"Those stairs are terrible," I complain. "How do you manage to carry your shopping up all these flights?"
"Yes they are too hard," says Pina. "That's why I don't go out much anymore. I can't do the stairs down then up. I leave all the shopping to Abele, he goes out every morning."
Pina flops down on the sofa whilst Abele makes Italian coffee and Pina tells me about her health and how Abele is doing since his dementia diagnosis.
I look about the room and admire the mantelpiece which is a monument to both their lives.

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​On the left, above the framed word Grandad made up of small family photos, is a picture of Abele as a handsome young man. Over on the right, the word Grandma mirrors his and there's a photo of Pina as a young woman complementing the one of Abele. They are both surrounded by a collection of photographs of children and grandchildren.  In the heart of the mantelpiece, an Italia calendar unites both sides and along the cluttered mantelpiece itself, an assortment of ornaments and knickknacks collected over the years, or brought back by grandchildren from each of the places they have visited.
Over coffee, we discuss the Remembering Together arts and reminiscence project which they both attended through Westminster Arts' Resonate programme.  I ask Abele to show me the special art piece which was created for the couple by Claire.
"It's a window looking out over Salerno where I grew up," he tells me proudly. "This is where my village was," he points. "And here is the beach. Many people go there, many tourists come from all over. Just a minute, let me show you the light."
Abele reaches back for a cleverly hidden switch and suddenly the picture lights up as if the sun has come out and Abele is beaming too. "Look, it is nice yes?"
I ask Abele what the light box means to him.
"Claire, she made it for me. It is where I come from. It is a very nice place. It is nice to remember."

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This remarkable art piece was the creation of Claire Francis, who whilst not describing herself as a 'practicing artist', is clearly a very creative and inventive person. I wanted to find out more about her way of working.
"I've a keen interest in collecting and displaying vintage and other unusual paraphernalia," she tells me when we meet up. "And on a more personal level, I was interested in combining my interest in all things vintage in reminiscence work."
Claire went on to explain what inspired her to make the Salerno window. "The art work piece is a 3D interpretation of the memories that Abele and Pina shared with apprentices in the very first session that they attended on the Remembering Together sessions."
Since English is not the first language of Pina and Abele, I wanted to understand whether there were any particular challenges whilst working with the couple. Claire fills me in.

"Using drawings to record what Pina and Abele were saying helped them to express themselves when they couldn't find the words they were looking for in English." 
Claire tells me that during a session, they described the little town from where they both originated – Salerno near Naples. 

"They said it was a beautiful town, close to the Amalfi Coast, and seemed to enjoy the interest shown by the group. The drawings that were created illustrated olive harvests, vegetable growing, a grapevine harvest, wine, coffee and more. I found out that Abele and Pina have an apartment in Salerno and Abele in particular enjoys looking out of the balcony window at the people passing by". 

The 'view from a window' of her artwork design concept then was obviously inspired by Abele's own description of the things he enjoyed doing when he visited Salerno?
"That's right," Claire tells me. "My understanding of the significance of this pastime was also reinforced further by Pina, who told me that Abele would not relocate to Basingstoke to be near their son, even though they live in a flat on the fifth floor without a lift and Abele has to carry the shopping up many flights of stairs. He liked his home and he particularly liked the view from their flat on the fifth floor!"
I ask Claire to describe how she went about creating her art piece for them.
"From the outset, I was mindful that the artwork was not about me having fun or simply creating something pretty or impressive – but that it should be a true and sensitive reflection of some of the memories shared by Pina and Abele. I used the drawings as my main source of inspiration, as a reference to ensure my creation was based on their memories and would offer personal relevance and significance.  From the very beginning, I focussed on their Italian origins, which appeared to be a source of vivid, lucid and special memories.  I was also conscious that as they got older or perhaps if they were forced to relocate, the piece would focus on sunny Salerno and might provide welcome sunshine and comfort on darker days."
How useful did you find the visual reference material for your piece?
"By using the drawings as reference, together with my own observations and conversations with the couple, I felt confident that the end product would be relevant as well as a welcome reminder of their sunny origins."

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​I couldn't agree more! The art work is a perfect reminder of their Italian homeland away from London and of happier times when life was a little easier for them.
As say my farewells and leave Pina and Abele's flat, I find that when I am outside in the street, something compels me to turn once more and look back at the house where they live, and there by the window, is Abele, leaning out and waving me goodbye!

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