Suddenly it’s my favorite month! Time for new beginnings. It’s also my birthday month and the Jewish New Year. It’s time to re-set and regenerate in this post-pandemic era we’re entering. Time snuck up on me. Summer is over? Not in California with off and on record high temps in our normally chilly SF summer/fall! But we’ve arrived at the Fall Equinox and now there’s a fresh scent in the air, a bit of rain in the clouds, and the grape vines are turning gold and red. So I’ll wrap up my springtime adventure in Italy.
“Christina in a Bed of Roses” is new in my ongoing digital original collage series. A new wide format, this is a life drawing of a model in San Francisco combined with my abstract paintings and photos. See these Golden Gate Park roses along with antique fabric and lace from a museum in Provence.
SPRINGTIME IN ITALY
I had never attended the Venice Biennale, and friends have been curious about my first experience there. You arty folks might want to plan your own trips to Venice if you haven’t yet. The good news is that there’s still time. You have until November.
When I traveled there, it was with a group of a dozen arty friends. Our first stop- of our one month trip - was into Venice, in mid-April. We also traveled through Northern Italy by bus and car, then into France. This trip was so dense, I had to break it into 3 bite-size chunks. I have far too many photos.
But, gosh, I sure do love art fairs. And I hope to return to the Biennale again some day soon. I want to see how this art fair differs from year to year. I love Venice with a passion, which I first discovered at 14 years old. That was when I wrote a poem called “The Rat and the Red Rose” (based on what floats by in the canals).
It seems I hit the Biennale the most perfect year for me - 2022 is the first year they honored and featured women artists.
NUTS AND BOLTS
Because friends asked…Here’s how the Venice Biennale works. It’s held every other year, but it’s been on hold due to Covid. Remember the videos of dolphins swimming in the Venice canals? Fake!
There are two main curated exhibition venues, plus many varied country pavilions, like The World’s Fair, with art exhibitions produced by one selected artist or a team. The Arsenal and the Castello are these main locations – but there are so many more art shows and installations throughout Venice. One ticket gets you into all these shows. All venues have food and water onsite so you don’t have to leave once you’re there. Like most art fairs, there’s quite a bit of standing, waiting, and walking. There are so many venues you can’t see it all.
I’ve included a few art reviews to peruse. I already sent a few friends recommendations compiled by my little travel group. My Venice pitch is that just because people go to see the Biennale in Venice doesn’t mean it isn’t totally worth seeing more of Venice and spending enough time for a leisurely visit. And traveling around N. Italy, as we did. Springtime (for your future trips) is an ideal season to travel to Europe. It’s still cool. All of my favorite spring flowers are blooming - and oh those shades of lilac to blue. Note my obsession with wisteria.
Wisteria and canals. Can’t get much is better than this.
A VENICE SLIDESHOW
RECOMMENDATIONS
“Curated by Cecilia Alemani, The Milk of Dreams will take place in the Central Pavilion (Giardini) and in the Arsenale. The exhibition takes its title from a book by Surrealist painter and writer Leonora Carrington, a work in which change, transformation, and otherworldly magic alter the lives and imaginations of its characters. A guiding principle of metamorphosis informs the three themes of the exhibition: the representation of bodies and their changes; the relationship between individuals and technology; and the connection between bodies and the Earth. This showcase offers an opportunity for visitors to engage with some of today’s most wide-ranging artistic perplexities.”
Excerpted from Phillips and you can see more at https://www.phillips.com/ Here’s a little compiled list of my recommendations supplemented by my travel friends:
Giardini is one of two main buildings featuring the curated show “The Milk of Dreams”. There are 28 country pavilions on its grounds.
“My favorite exhibit was from Denmark. We walked the Earth. The realism and capturing of a moment of extreme intensity stole my attention.” https://www.designboom.com/art/danish-pavilionwe-walked-the-earth-uffe-isolotto-venice-art-biennale-04-21-2022/
“The Polish Pavilion was my favorite national display.” https://labiennale.art.pl/en/
“Don’t miss Uganda and Japan”. I’m sorry to say that I missed both. See more here: https://www.labiennale.org/en/art/2022/japan and Uganda
In the exhibit of under-represented female artists, we were excited to see the works of these women: Vera Molnar (1970s) and Hannah Levy (1990s)
“I enjoyed walking through the long building at the Arsenal much more than the Giardini…I also enjoyed the various installations found around the city and worth the boat ride out to Giudecca”.
“The big building at the Arsenal was one wonder after another. The Polish pavilion was by one artist who told the story of the Roma people in a giant embroidered and appliquéd extravaganza.”
SO MUCH TO SEE
Walking around Venice to and from the expositions in the Biennale, luscious window displays lured me into shops to buy tiny treats such as malachite powdered pigment for a painter friend.
SCALE AND PERSPECTIVE
Amazing to walk underneath the life-sized horse and human body part sculptures, suspended between buildings, just to get from Point A to Point B.
This entire pavilion was lined with narrative art tapestries depicting the stories of Roma of Poland.
An ad kiosk has rare seating and promotes Venice Biennale events.
This game gives you some idea of the experience.
OA detail of one of the country pavilions made of gorgeous iridescent mosaic tile. What was inside the building was not as exciting.
Café paradise outside the Arsenal was a good place to eat cake and observe the larger-than-life sculptures of women wearing swimsuits cast in bronze.
Great concept! He is not an art piece. Or is he?
I was thrilled by these life-sized, story telling pastels and discovering the artist, Paula Rego, who just passed away.
One of the more interesting shows we came across by chance, this work was about a favorite topic of mine, invisibility.
SIMONE LEIGH: This figurative work is featured throughout the US Pavilion.
Life-size elephant in a gorgeous rotunda
IGSHAAN ADAMS: This is a ceiling to floor wall-length tapestry. “Stitched together with fragments of locally sourced wood, plastic, beads, shells, string, and rope, they are deeply linked to commodity trading and local environs in postcolonial Africa.” More here.
GABRIEL CHAILE: Enormous ceramics of objects usually seen quite small fill this huge space. By Gabriel Chaile.
This is a tiny detail of a very large embroidered wall piece.
Human signage for the Louise Nevelson show.
Ceramic inspiration in this roomful of erotically painted vignettes.
ANDRA URSUTA: Lead crystal sculptures by Andra Ursuta. Use of unusual materials were found throughout the show.
In The Castello, there were Cat People! Here’s a cut-out from the series.
I must pay a tribute to the numerous astounding video and multimedia experiences in Venice, and among my favorites, I loved Francis Alys: The Nature of the Game, in the Belgian Pavilion, Giardini. I don’t enjoy games myself, but what a unique perspective this film lent to the idea.
NOTE: Please forgive me for not listing all of the artists’ names for work shown in the photos. My records are messy and I need to get this blog post wrapped up with my next shows underway!
Who could not take a selfie in this graphic room of profound changing text?
Hard not to enjoy this immersive experience and not to want to take part in some way.
BEYOND VENICE
Verona , where we visited family, is a picturesque little city, rich in culture and history since Roman times.
A NEW FAVORITE MUSEUM
MUSEUM SLIDESHOW: ETTORE GUATELLI
This museum is the astonishingly dense private collection, now a foundation, belonging to a lifelong teacher with a distinctive eye toward finding, organizing, and displaying objects – often no longer used or abandoned. I wrote a blog awhile back about collecting, but I had never seen anything like this! It’s located way out in the countryside, southwest of Parma. If you’re fascinated by collections and have a chance to travel to this region known for its fine cured meats and cheeses, a visit to this museum will make its out of the way location worthwhile.
At a roadside stop for famous regional foods.
Last days of Italy – Babs waves good bye on the balcony of our room, located in a beautiful old monastery in Saluzzo.
WHAT’S NEXT?
2023: Watch for details about a show I’m curating featuring Bay Area figurative artists. Now in its third generation, The Bay Area Figurative Movement lives on!
EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS
Root Division: Exhibition & Art Auction/Reception: Thurs, Oct 20, 6-9pm, Oct 7-23,1131 Mission St, SF
SFWA Gallery: "Artist's Choice", Juried by Ashley Voss | Reception Sat., Oct 1, 2-4pm | Through Nov 4 | 647 Irving St @ 8th Ave, SF | Visit the online shop.
SFWA Gallery: "Botanicals", Juried by Anne Herbst | Through Sept 23 | 647 Irving St @ 8th Ave, SF | Visit the online shop.
Art Show International Online Gallery: Finalist Award, "4th Figurative Show, Sept-Oct 2022
ARTSPAN OPEN STUDIOS
My Open Studio Receptions: Sat-Sun, Nov 5 & 6, 11-6pm | Sobel Design Bldg, 680 8th St (btw Townsend / Brannan), Suite 230, SF
Artspan Open Studios Exhibition/Reception: Thurs, October 20 | Oct 22-Nov 13 | SOMArts, 934 Brannan St, SF
SFWA Gallery Opening Reception: "Artist's Choice" & Open Studios: Oct 1, 2-4pm | Sept 27-Nov 3 | 647 Irving St @ 8th Ave, SF
SFWA Gallery Receptions: Open Studio 12 Exhibiting Artists: Oct 29-30, 11am-6pm | SFWA: 647 Irving St @ 8th Ave, SF
SAVE THE DATES
The Bi-Annual Invisibility Collective group Show Re-Appears! Every other year our Collective – plus invited guest artists – have an exhibition at Radian Gallery (SF) in Dec-Jan. Reception Dec. 10. For more info see my website and social media posts.
SFWA Gala Benefit Fundraiser and Art Auction: Dec 7, 6-8:30pm, Salesforce Building - top floor with a 360 degree view. Details to follow on my website and social media posts.
ONGOING
See my live TV interview, Aug 17, 2022, on behalf of SFWA Gallery on KRON4 TV: LIVE! in the Bay on YouTube
Commissions and special orders available. Procreate workshops available. Studio visits by appointment Mon-Sat, 9-5pm.
Check out my ARTWEAR and various art products, including wall paper, where I am always adding new work, on the sites RedBubble and Spoonflower. We will never look alike!
Become my PATRON. See my art and photography that only patrons get to see. Every little bit helps. Join me on Patreon!
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BLOG PLANS
See my LAST blog post "Spain: Part 1" (This is Part 2 and yes, there will be a Part 3, France)
Send me your personal Barbie story for an upcoming Barbie blog post and website - all part of my on-going “Barbie on the Cusp” project.
I’m still fascinated by collectors. Send me your collection photos (JPG format please) for possible inclusion in another blog post about this exciting topic!