Francesca’s Zia Sandra, her mother’s last surviving sibling suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while Francesca was in Italy. Coming out of her coma Francesca reached her by phone to say final goodbyes and exchanges of love. “Carry me my message of love to my mother” were the final words Francesca spoke knowing Zia Sandra would soon be joining Francesca’s mother who died 19 years ago. One week later, on June 13th, Francesca completed “Carry Me a Message,” a multimedia collage with representations of her mother and aunt. “Thirty minutes after I finished adding the final touches of fragmented light directed towards the open window carrying my message… mia Zia Sandra passed away, carrying my message,” Francesca stated. Her entire Doors of Passage series is currently featured in Enfuse EZine, a creative online publication illuminating the underground arts.
 

The first art exhibition in Italy was a success and was well attended with art enthusiasts from around the world. Brian Koetser, an art consultant to the Old Masters at Phillip and Son in London (the third largest art auction house in the world), purchased a Tiger Gaze Giclée for his daughter in addition to the local gelateria couple! Donna Roberts, a California artist is the proud owner of an Eye of the Jaguar Giclée. International art students studying in Florence came in by train to meet Francesca and discuss her personal artistic style.  The local doctor's family had the opportunity to learn about tiger conservation through Francesca’s art. Principessa Antonia Owens won rave reviews from the local sisters on her first international exhibit. Brava Antonia!  

Valdichiana, an Italian journal for the region of Tuscan featured a two page spread about Francesca’s art and work with Save the Tiger Fund in Washington D.C. By the end of the summer, locals referred to her as the tiger woman artist. We guess this tiger artist’s visit to an Italian hair salon for highlights was apropos!