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This morning was a delight. We had tea and juice brought to our room this morning as well as some bites to eat. First place we went to was Piazza San Marco and Basilica San Marco and then to la Biennale di Venezia. Well, we couldn't focus on the art on an empty stomach, so Emily and I grabbed something to eat. I had Tramozzino con Prosciutto cotto e funghi, which is Italian for ham and mushroom sandwich I suppose. My favorite part of the Biennale was the cafeteria. The walls had a lot of contrast (black & white) and there was a lot of abstraction going on as well.
 


Jean Frederic Schnyder: Apocalypso, 1976-78

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After that, we took a tour around and looked at a few artist
such as Jean Frederic Schnyder, who created a piece called Apocalypso, which caught my attention. The form of his work is a painting; he used oil, textile and watercolor on linen. The rest of his works done with oil on canvas. The work unfolds a peculiar story of images, which is divided into three principal scenes. Skeletons standing by a railing, gesticulating, watch colorful planets pass by, while in a circus scene, a black nude lifts a curtain, revealing a staggering tropical scenery (research). There is a variety of colors that move your eye all over the artwork.
 The detail in his work was inspiring to me. For example, the color he chose, which was a lot of dark and light colors which added a lot of contrast.  The scale of the piece took his work to another level. I feel that if the piece was smaller it wouldn't have been effective because there was so much detail. The more I studied the piece that more I tried to figure out what the artist was trying to communicate. From my point of view, the doves could symbolize the beginning and the end as well as the stick figures could symbolize chanting and escaping the apocalypse, or the before and after of the apocalypse in his mind. Overall, this piece was one of my favorites from the Biennale with the whole concept, the details, the colors, and the placement of everything.

Marisa Merz: Senzsa Titolo, 1981-82

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Mixed media on paper, copper wire, iron frame, 180 x 140 cm. Maria Lassnig, born in Kappel, Austria, in 1919, has always been focused on self-portraiture. Her early works are highly expressionistic and rooted in early 20th-century figurative traditions as well as the treatment of the body used by the Viennese Actionists. In recent years she has become known for her self-coined “drastic paintings.” In 1980, Lassnig exhibited in the Austrian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale; she has also participated in two editions of Documenta, the 8th Gwangju Biennale and in many important group and solo exhibitions (http://lucyreesart.com/2013/07/10/illeone-doro/). I think the artists focuses on the expression in the piece. Even though there is only one color, it is effective for the simple fact that there are different shades of blue in certain areas. There is a variety of lines, which I think adds more depth to the piece. The thickness of some lines make it stand out more. The little area of texture that is to the right of her head create its own movement and mimics some of the shading in other areas such as the top of the head. The hands in this picture create more meaning to the piece. For example, the viewer can associate the hands with the facial expression and relate them to one another. The negative space that is used for the background makes the piece dominant, if there was another color added to the background it may take away from the piece. The piece is a good work of art for the simple fact that the way the lines are used to create focal points in certain areas.

Anna Zemankova: Untitled works, 1960s-1970s

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Working in the pre-dawn hours between four and seven o’clock, Anna Zemánková found solace in art, creating floral and botanical drawings that served as a brief respite from the duties of her regular life. It was during these hours of solitude that she created, as she said, “I am growing flowers that are not grown anywhere else. ”  (http://www.petulloartcollection.org/thecollection/about_the_artists/artist.cfm?a_id=65)  Looking at the body of Zemánková’s work distinct periods can be seen. Her early drawings were done on large sheets of paper, featuring botanical or organically inspired pieces, often done in pastel or oil pastel.  The technique that she uses is interesting. It adds a lot more character to the art. I think the blue string strengthens the piece and brings it together. The way she took a different approach to flowers can change the way viewers look at flowers visually. Eventhough there is so much going on with the top of the flower everything from the patterns to the lines unifies the flower as a whole.

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye

The little colors in her work, really bring out the piece while everything else isn't as dominant. Below is video of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye talking about her work (youtube). And get this!...she does all of her work in ONE DAY, that really makes me think that when I work on an art project I really need to appreciate and use all the time that is given to me. Since she can dedicate herself to create beautiful artwork in one day, so can everybody else. Not only does she focus on the people, but on the body languages and she brings those positions to life whether it is the color she chooses or where she decides to put the color to grab the viewers attention.

Varda Caivano

Domenico Gnoli

Cathy Wilkes

James Lee Byars

Shinro Ohtake

Artur Zmijewski

Antti Laitinen

Brasile

Egitto

Mathias Poledna

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I found my artist that I was looking for!! The piece explores the relationship between art and entertainment; modernity in
architecture and design; the language of film; and the connections between film and the process of creating the image in contemporary culture (http://www.domusweb.it/en/art/2013/06/6/mathias_poledna_imitationoflife.html). Seeing her artwork in person was so amazing to me. When I watched animation, I know that my face lit up like a kid on Christmas day. I love animation and because her animation relates to life is a big deal to me. Other cartoons now relate to goofiness, funniness, and other characteristics, but hers makes a point. Not only did her art capture my attention because it was a cartoon, but it had movement from the bird swirling down and approaching the donkey in a sailor suit. There is a certain dominance with the picture in the front and the background. For example, when there is a focal point such as the donkey, everything else in the back ground is either fuzzy/dull, or does not standout as much as the other objects in the film. Rhythm is carried through out the film as well, not so much related to art, but to music, but it can still relate to art in some kind've way.  

Russia

Not all of art has to be colorful or have lines. Some art just can have a purpose, such as Russia. It was a little sketchy going in there with coins dropping everywhere (and coins hurt too). I almost went in there with no umbrella..tragic. The lady explained the whole concept of what was about to happen and the purpose. Men were not allowed to go and pick up any of the coins only women. Women were allowed to keep one coin and then put the rest in the bucket. A coin was for good luck if I can remember. Still to this day I do not know what the sayings on the wall meant. I did not know if women picking up the coins and how much they picked up were to relate to the bags on the floor and the quote that related to that. I assumed that the quotes may relate to the men because there was a guy sitting on a sattle picking peanuts. The quote in the picture below I believe relates to the man at the top of that ladder, and possibly that last quote relates to the gentlemen in the room standing beside the coin machine. Also, they did a good job on picking those guys by the way, they were very nice to look at.  ;-)
The first Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, initiated by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, marked an important step forward in the process of reintegrating contemporary Russian art into the international art world. The Moscow Biennale intends to be not only a great event in the artistic life of Moscow and Russia but also to play an important social, cultural and political role internationally (http://www.biennialfoundation.org/biennials/moscow-biennale/).

Venezuela

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Venezuela was one of my favorites. The graffiti type art on the walls. It created a sense of expression in the piece. The lines are very curvy which keep your eye moving around the piece. Because the colors are so dominant and the line work is so dominant they go hand and hand together very well. The work on the wall has a three dimensional effect, even in the video hat you will see below has the same effect. The type of media that was used I guess was spray paint. The video has the same effect on me as the animation did with Mathius Poledna. Anything with color and movement is an attention grabber for me. A series of solo exhibitions, give him a chance to present their own work in Italy and abroad. Entre ellas podemos mencionar la del Museo de Arte Moderno de Nueva York en 1966, en Venecia en 1968, Vicenza, Londres y París en 1974 y Madrid en 1978. Among them we can mention the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1966, in Venice in 1968, Vicenza, London and Paris in 1974 and Madrid in 1978 (research).

 
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We started off our day by going to the Galleria dell Accademia, which is where the statue of David awaits. I don't recall taking any pictures or if we were allowed to, but I did get some post cards of David before I left. The statue was a very good size and EVERYTHING was up close and personal. By looking at the pose of David, I believe that the artist (Michelangelo) wanted to make the statue iconic or inspirational. After viewing David, we moved to the next part of the museum, which had heads of females and males. They also had a video of why there were tiny black holes in the statues. I believe its purpose was to make sure that the statues did not crack or break in any kind of way. The other two rooms showed the catholic type art. The museum was pretty simple and to the point, but had a lot inside that impacted on people. After I went to the gift shop and bought me and my family some post cards, a new sketch book with Leonardo Da Vinci on the front, and a book on Michelangelo which is in Italian. Our next meeting spot was the Piazza Della Signoria. Here, we just waited until our next appointment. While we waited we took photos of the statues and grabbed some gelato for a quick second. From there we went to the Galleria degli Uffizi...which was a pretty...big...museum. We walked around for awhile, then we got turned around and had to go back to the other side in order to find a certain painting. We finally found the painting, Birth of Venus (1485), which was done by Sandro Botticelli. At a certain part of the museum, when you looked out the window located was the Arno River. After touring the museum, we had a free afternoon. We did some exploring and that's when we went to the tattoo shop, got a tattoo, and then later on that night it was off to our last dinner in Florence.

 
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Happy Fourth of July!! We departed from the hotel at 12:45 and then took the train to Florence. Well before the train left the station some gypsies wanted to give us some trouble. Well, it wasn't happening!! Fro anybody who doesn't know, don't trust anybody who doesn't have a uniform on and they look sketchy. Anyway, we arrived in Florence, it took a good while to get there, but when we did arrive we checked in to our hotel after they checked our passports. After settling in everybody visited the Santa Maria Del Fiore (The Duomo) and Duomo Baptistery. It was a quick walk through, but I tried and soaked it all in. The top of the baptistery was so gold, as If they used gold leaf for everything. There was plenty of repition throughout the ceiling, doors, and floors. At one point we were amped up to walk up the Duomo...but we were too tired to walk up anything, so we went back to the room to get ourselves together and to cool out. Professor Snipes told us if you see the top of the Duomo you should know where you are at or close to the hotel.    

 
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First, we went to visit St. Peter's Basilica, which is St. Peter's Basilica is a Late Renaissance church located within Vatican
City. Designed principally by Michelangelo, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and Donato Bramante. When we first arrived we had to go through metal detectors and then cruise on to enter. Every single piece of work was very detailed. When we entered the Basilica it was a little overwhelming and a lot to take in and try to analyze almost everything inside. The emotions looked very realistic, I'm guessing the artists intensions were to create a sense of emotion that the viewers could relate to.

After we toured the Basilica we were on our way to the Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel. Unfortunately I do not have any pictures of the inside of the chapel, but I did take a picture of the sign leading to the chapel which shows proof that I was there. If anybody was able snap a quick picture inside, hopefully I can get a copy :-). So, we went into the Vatican Museum, and we all split up. First we went to see the Egyptian era, which had the carvings in the stone that were hung up on the wall. In the next room was displayed the mummy it self, the person wrapped up and they still had there fingernails and toenails attached. Of course I loved the eyes on the tombs. The next room they had pendants and cat statues. Egyptians worshiped cats and they were a sense of grace and poise and cats were also mummified just like humans were. Next, (forgive me for not having the names of certain areas) we went to a room that was filled with all these head of people with different and certain expressions. Some expressions were serious and others were more tranquil. It was a pretty long walk, so we turned back around shortly to head outside. We walked around, it was pretty toasty out there. From what I can remember, Em and I went into the cistine chapel, which is the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican City. There was a lot of people in there and everybody was looking up of course. Of there was a "don't touch" rule, but Emily and I touched a little piece of the side when we left to say that we went to the Sistine chapel and we touch a corner of it. It was smaller than I imagined, with so much detailed work. I wish we could've examined the work up close and personal, but all you could was try and squint your eyes and capture everything you possibly could. We saw the iconic image of the hand of god giving life to Adam, which was done by Michelangelo. After we toured the museum, we got lunch across the street from the Vatican Museum, which had a pretty tasty sandwiches. I forgot the name of it, but you can't miss it, they also served gelato as well. Later on that day we took the metro to Flaminio (Piazza Del Popolo) where we visited the Church of Santa Maria Del Popolo. Until 3pm we went to the park, which is where everybody had gathered around to take some pictures and explore the park. It was still roasty and toasty, so we all walk, stop, sit, etc. What did me and the girls come across!! A fountain that you could put your feet in and cool off, so we took about 15-20 minutes to recuperate, so during that time, once again we sat, took pictures, talked, and then moseyed on to the Galleria Borghese. Here is where I sketched some of the work from the walls, Caravaggio, which was done by Michelangelo Merisi, Possagno- Antonio Canova, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. After we toured the museum we sat outside and had a little group discussion. We then went to Piazza di Spagna (Spanish steps) and took pictures of the trevi fountain, which is were you can make a wish. We also grabbed something to eat at this place called Bar and then walked around and headed back to the hotel.

 
Throughout the trip there was nothing but pictures being taken of course. Here are some pictures that I will always reminisce about the wonderful time I had on this trip.
 
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I had so much fun when we went to the beach, and I also got a tan ;-) Emily and I went on this hunt for seashells at one point and found some real interesting ones, for example I found a hermit crab shell, but there was a crab in there and I accidentally threw it at this girl because I was so scared that it would touch me...No worries because I found another shell right after that one and kept it. Later on, Me, Brandy, Emily (Bamfield), Emily, Anne, Caitlin decided to give the Venice beach a dance show, that was until the music cut off at one point, but I'm sure we showed everybody how American's get down.

 
Food from Chinese, McDonald's, Pasta, Pizza, and more. Every now and then i'd take a break from Italian food and try to find  some American food. I admit from time to time I missed it.
 

Rome

Florence

Venice

 
 

Today, we left from Florence to Venice. The scenery was beautiful and I did not have to worry about getting ran over by a bus. They have face masks, which I plan on getting and hopefully have a romantic gondala ride with some of my good friends.

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    I am a Senior at Lander University. My major is Visual Arts, Graphic Design emphasis. I am looking forward for more adventures to come in the future.

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