Art Novice in Venice
How a mysterious city seduced me into a love affair with Art.
The Grand Canal in Venice, Italy
I have always had an appreciation for art, but was never one to take a day off for a museum… I suppose as a California girl, I have a natural gravitation towards the ocean.
Finding myself in Venice, Italy, a storybook city of Italian elegance and romance, also a city on water, turns out to be where my love affair of art began.
As soon as I landed, my suitcases and I were whisked off into a boat and headed into the sunset. Perhaps never to return!
One cannot quite fathom the beauty and grandeur of Venice until you are actually amongst it. The architecture is so grand, you wonder how on earth they built an entire city of massive palazzos floating on water! Simply boating by took my breathe away, gazing out in bewilderment… picturing myself hanging off the beautifully ornate balconies in the old Renaissance days while my Romeo came by boat to sweep me away.
Although Venice is known to be the most romantic city in the world in the world (though a bit smelly and touristy in the hot summer months), this particular week in Venice was especially buzzing as the city was set up to the utmost brilliance for the Venice Biennale!
The palazzos are lit aglow and party go-ers dressed in couture stumble off boats with champagne in hand and loud accents from other lands. The hum of the engines and lapping of the waves blur the background of philharmonics escorting the entrances of gallery dinners. What a feast! Prosciutto and cheese, truffle and spaghetti, Picasso and Giacometti!
My first mission of course was to seek out a local shoe maker to purchase an authentic pair of velvet venetian slippers to finally pull off my chic silk pajama look. Fortunately I stumbled upon a humble little shop with hanging slippers in all the colors of the rainbow - I went with a maroon pair (mostly because my American feet are humungous and my options are always limited in Italy!) Unfortunately, however, it began to rain (which is rare - apparently) and velvet slippers do not fair in the rain so they were regrettably replaced by sneakers for the remainder of the trip - as to compliment a white silk skirt and my cherished vintage YSL blazer - looking like I just came in off my yacht!
Now back to the program - Art! My boyfriend, an art dealer, was my most diligent host and tour guy for the trip. The program began with Carpenters Workshop, a gallery of art and design from NY that I have only recently been exposed to (but love). Their exquisitely curated exhibition, called Dysfunction, takes place in a massive ornate Palazzo where each masterpiece was very carefully positioned to juxtapose the remarkable palazzo.
*Tip I have learned from insiders of the Art world - never say the word “juxtapose”, unless you are actually in the art world, because you will stand out as a major poser!
We were lucky enough to arrive during press time so all the artists were there with their pieces and I entertained myself with creating my own art by taking pictures of the artists taking pictures of their own works. Art has no bounds!
We continued from one enchanting palazzo to another, marveling at the architecture, history and distinguished works of art - only stopping for fresh mouth watering peach Blinis - they have never tasted as good as they do in front of the water at Harry’s Bar - and make art touring even more fun!
The lifestyle of Venice is captivating. My original secret plan was to shop, walk, and party in infamous palazzo's but to my surprise, it was the art overtaking the city that truly stole my attention. One of my most favorite works of all time is Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, and when I heard it happened to be on display at La Academia, I was overwhelmed with excitement. The ‘Universal Man’ in its beauty, complexity, and symmetry of the human frame, right before my eyes.
My boyfriend must have fallen more in love with me when I started sprinting through the rain to get to galleries in time to catch works I haven’t seen. (He usually has to drag me around art shows and check on me to make sure I haven’t drifted off). This experience in Venice ended up to be the light switch that turned me on to Art itself, in every manifestation, and in all canals of creativity.
How is it possible all of my favorite things can be in one mysterious city? Style, history, beauty, romance, boats, blinis, and the Vitruvian Man. They say the purpose of the Vitruvian Man is “to bring together ideas about art, architecture, human anatomy, and symmetry in one district and commanding image. Venice, thank you for revealing yourself and myself to me, I will be back…
MORAL OF THE STORY
Avoid big words when describing art as a novice. Enjoy what you enjoy, and not what you think you are meant to enjoy. Go on a journey with art the same way you explore a new city, you never know what will stay with you. Timing is everything, nothing should be forced, you are meant to be right where you are. When Venice calls, let your Venetian slippers guide you!
