Yin and My Friend

Claudio Bonanni.

I have not thought of that name in 30 years, and whammo out of the blue it popped in my head during yin class last night. Claudio Bonanni..it has a beautiful ring to it, doesn't it?

It is a name that belongs to a beautiful man. I met him in 1982, in Paris, where I was a student of political science in the French university system. What I really loved to study was art, and it was during this academic year when I first began to veer away from 'serious studies' to begin to seriously study something that deeply touched my heart. I spent most of my spare time in the Louvre or the Jeu de Paume, gazing for hours at paintings that literally took my breath away.

I signed up for art history class at the Ecole de Louvre on a hunch. The museums were our textbook so we were able to get up close and personal with the art. I'll never forget my teacher, Madame Cotte (prounced Ko-tay). I nicknamed her Mad Woman Cotte. Her appearance was always somewhat discheveled, a rip in her stockings, her shirt half untucked, her bright red lipstick always outside the lipline, and usually some on her teeth. She had fiery and obviously dyed short auburn hair with no discernible style but it did draw out her intelligent green eyes. She would get so excited about the information she presented in her lectures, her arms would flail about and spit would fly out of her mouth as she spoke. The paintings came to life when she taught. I adored this woman from the first Bonjour.

There was no way I could not go back to the museum on the weekends. I wanted to get a closer look at the works of art Madame had talked about and I ventured further through the halls exploring new ones. One Sunday, in the 18th century galleries, I was captivated by small JBS Chardin painting when I felt a tap on my shoulder and heard 'escuse' followed by a string of Italian. I turned to meet the friendly voice. It was Claudio.

Great art, like yoga, has the ability to communicate, to fill in the gaps when language is insufficient, or in the case of my new found friend, non existent. His English speaking skills were minimal, and my Italian less than that. In our own way we had a lovely conversation about the Chardin, and moved though the galleries together for several more hours drinking in masterpiece after masterpiece. Claudio was an artist and had a different approach to looking at paintings than Madame Cotte. I was thrilled to find another source to fuel my art interest. (And was doubled thrilled that gift came wrapped in a very handsome package). We started hanging out in museums and cafes together. He was a tres nice guy.

Claudio was in Paris on a student visa and had to return to his home in Tivoli, Italy a few months after our meeting. I accepted an invitation to visit him and his parents that winter. When walking through the Tivoli gardens Claudio turned to kiss me. I was crazy about him, but didn't care to pursue a relationship, you know, in the biblical sense. It was all to weird after that and we drifted out of each other's life.

Until last night when his name came up in yin. I don't know what it means, or IF it means anything when this happens, but I feel this Claudio Bonanni business is a bloggable event. And I googled him. I found he is a working artist in Italy. I emailed him and hope he can read English better than he speaks it.

If he ever writes back I will thank him for being an early teacher that inspired my 20 year career in the fine arts and a life long love of French art. And maybe, if he is still sweet, cute and single, one day I'll jump on a plane and tell him myself. In Italian.

So much for yin being a passive practice.