VENICE - Giardini

10th Biennale of Architecture. The book From Fiorucci to the Guerrilla Stores by Claudio Marenco Mores, published by Marsilio Editori and Fondazione Pitti Discovery was launched at the Biennale during the press days. It focuses on 30 years of architecture for fashion and communication strategies. The book spans the period from Elio Fiorucci (in the photo with Pitti's CEO Raffaello Napoleone) to Rei Kawakubo via Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani, learning the Japanese lessons and overturning communications logic with Prada. Today fashion and architecture are essential components of the culture industry, while the boundaries between art and consumerism are fading away and are becoming more and more difficult to identify. What more can fashion do to architecture?

www.labiennale.org www.pittimmagine.com www.marsilioeditori.it www.giorgioarmani.com www.prada.com www.calvinklein.com

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VENICE - Giardini

10th Biennale of Architecture - Italian Pavilion. Cities, architecture and society is the theme of the 10th International Architecture Exhibition, which is curated by Richard Burdett. The Italian Pavilion is transformed into a window on the state-of-the-art of urban research in cities. Thirteen international research institutions display projects and ideas on cities, reflecting the current re-engagement of the architectural profession with social and economic processes. The central space of the pavilion is dedicated to an exhibition of city photographs curated by C-Photo Magazine, providing a historic panorama of how cities have captured the imagination of photographers and artists around the globe for over a century. The photograph above is by Chinese photographer, Wang Qingsong, entitled, Dormitory, light jet print 2005.

www.labiennale.org www.ivorypress.com

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VENICE - Giardini

10th Biennale of Architecture. Nigel Coates is head of the architectural department at the Royal College of Art in London, he is also the curator of the exhibition Babylon:Don which is being shown in the Italian Pavilion. While we were waiting, for the The Long Blondes concert outside the British Pavilion, he told me about the Babylon:Don exhibition "We tried to look at London from the gutter not from the air. And, we are trying to demonstrate how the city, which is over revolved, too rich can deal with it's future. It is so layered, so multicultural that it could fall apart in two minutes."

www.labiennale.org. www.rca.ac.uk www.bransoncoates.com

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VENICE - Giardini

10th Biennale of Architecture - Italian Pavilion. The Royal College of Art Architecture deptment's contribution to this year's Biennale with the theme Cities, Architecture and Society (curated by Biennale Director Richard Burdett) is an interesting exhibition of fifteen projects called Babylon:Don and is curated by Nigel Coates. As one of the most cosmopolitan cities anywhere, London is transforming into Europe's only ubercity; it is now a place that belongs to the world and no longer just to Britain. Though it offers high rewards for an infinite variety of aspirations, its multi-culture is showing serious signs of strain. Is the role of architecture to help pull a disparate city together or to accentuate its differences? The coordinated selection of projects reflect on these broad issues for London. Rather than solutions, they are intended as critiques or 'mightlihoods'. The show features architectural consequences of current tendencies such as the ecstatic city, the city as brand environment, idiocy as modernist critique, the cross-over of underworld and overworld, and sustainable futures with a selfish edge. Shown above is Nicola's Koller's project called, This Sceptered Isle.

www.labiennale.org. www.rca.ac.uk

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VENICE

The Missoni Party for the movie "Nuovomondo". Charlotte Gainsbourg, the star of the movie, Nuovomondo (Golden Door) directed by Emanuele Crialese, arrives at San Giorgio Island to board the Missoni barge "Timoteo" for the party. Nuovomondo, an Italian film, won the Silver Lion award at the Venice Film Festival. The film tells the story of Italian immigration through a Sicilian family at the beginning of the last century. Charlotte is working on her next film which is called I'm not There, directed by Tod Haynes. And, her mother, Jane Birkin has just finished directing a film on her own life, called Boxes. Happy viewing!

www.missoni.com www.labiennale.org

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VENICE

The Missoni party for the movie "Nuovomondo". Fashion designer, Angela Missoni's youngest daughter, Teresa is just as beautiful as her sister Margherita. Teresa is studying languages at school and was in Venice for the Film Festival and also for the party hosted by Angela and Vittorio Missoni for the cast of the film Nuovomondo (Golden Door), directed by Emanuele Crialese. The party was held onboard the "Timoteo", the last surviving Venetian transport barge. The barge was built in 1904 and found by Tai and Rosita Missoni in the 1980's, it took three renovations to bring it to it's former splendor. Nearby Giuliana Camerino's yacht "Giada" was anchored, as well as, Alberta Ferretti's boat "Prometej", whilst further out in the lagoon, and rather tricky to reach, Valentino's yacht "T.M. Blue One". A Venetian floating fashion party n'est pas?

www.missoni.com www.labiennale.com www.robertadicamerino.com www.albertaferretti.com www.valentino.it

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VENICE

VizioVirtu Cioccolateria. No these are not architectural models or installations, but the best chocolates you can buy in Venice. VizioVirtu Cioccolateria, which translate as vice/virtue, is just off Campo San Toma, towards the Accademia. The owner, Mariangela Penzo hand-makes the chocolates right there in front of your eyes in the shop/laboratory, so when you enter you are greeted with a delicate aroma. Mariangela, convinced supporter of traditional handcrafts finds the need to spread this real "good chocolate" culture. She blends genuine ingredients and tradition with modern awareness in exclusive recipes. And, the exquisite creations are inspired by the shapes and magical, picturesque Venetian surroundings. They are also the perfect gift for the sweet tooth and the chocoholics.

www.viziovirtu.com

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VENICE

Palazzo Grassi - Gucci Group Award 2006. The selection committee for the first Gucci Group Award was composed of some leading creative personalities, including the bold and unpredictable fashion designer, Alexander McQueen, political activist and humanitarian Moby and award winning international actor, Jeremy Irons photographed above with mathematician, Sarah Laraki and chocolate entrepreneur Hermann Buhlbecker. "I have been on a jury before in Cannes and I spent a nice day and a half in LA watching all the films and I'm very happy that Nick Cave won." Irons said. Jeremy Irons was recently awarded an Emmy for best supporting actor in Elisabeth I. And, Helen Mirren got an Emmy award for best actress in Elisabeth I, she also won the best actress award at The Venice Film Festival for her portrayal of Queen Elisabeth II in The Queen directed by Stephen Frears. Dame Helen is the only actress to play both Queen Elisabeth I and Queen Elisabeth II and be awarded for both performances.

www.palazzograssi.it www.guccigroup.com www.labiennale.org www.emmys.org www.lambertz.de

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VENICE

Palazzo Grassi - Gucci Group Award 2006. The Australian rock musician, Nicholas Edward Cave, photographed here with his beautiful green eyed wife Susie, won the first Gucci Group Award for screenwriting the film, The Proposition directed by John Hillcoat. Nick is very talented, he is also a songwriter, author and occasional actor. He is best known for his work in the rock and roll band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The Gucci Group prize will be awarded every year during The Venice Film Festival to an artist who has made a remarkable contribution to a film in any capacity, whether in the role of the film's director, actor, screenwriter, set or costume designer. Gucci Group president and CEO, Robert Polet commented "Gucci loves supporting the arts, for we well know the profound effect that the arts have on our creativity and in enriching our lives."

www.palazzograssi.it www.guccigroup.com www.labiennale.org www.nickcaveandthebadseeds.com

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VENICE

Palazzo Grassi - Gucci Group Award 2006. Former newscaster and journalist, now Euro-parliamentarian, Lilli Gruber arrives with the president of the Fondazione Gruppo Coin, Piergiorgio Coin and his wife Franca for the first Gucci Group Award at Palazzo Grassi. Lilli, is in Venice to promote her new Book, America Anno Zero (America year zero- Rizzoli). Franca Coin, who is also president of The Venice International Foundation said "I'm very Happy, and it is also important that Gucci has started this new tradition, hopefully it will revitalize The Venice Film Festival." The prize will be given to an internationally acclaimed artist whose achievements, until now, have been accomplished in areas other than cinema, but whose leap into the world of film has been an auspicious one.

www.guccigroup.com www.palazzograssi.it www.venicefoundation.org www.labiennale.org. www.rcsmediagroup.it

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VENICE - Arsenale

10th Biennale of Architecture - China Pavilion - Giardino delle Vergini. This poetic installation is called Tile Garden: a Dialogue Beyond City, Between an Architect and an Artist and is curated by Wang Mingxiam. Behind the Tile Garden is a five year-long dialogue and cooperation between architect, Wang Shu and artist, Xu Jiang. Their unique thinking idea of; how to re-establish site texture with vernacular resources; how to apply the tradition of co-existing nature and buildings in today's reality; how to deal with large-scale demolition and reconstruction, unique in Chinese cities, and to return to the tradition of recycling and reconstruction. Their communication of ideas and spirit is presented in this installation, an environment that connects landscape and inner soul. More than 60000 pieces of old southern Chinese blue tile expands into a giant surface of tiles. When walking above on the bamboo bridge, the experience is like walking on the roof and facing the garden looking back to nature. Perhaps nostalgia will arise in your heart, a sentiment of city and your cultural origin, a nostalgia that crosses all land and goes beyond cities and boundaries. This is my favorite pavilion. The Chinese also won the Golden Lion award for best film at The Venice Film Festival with Still Life directed by Jia Zhang-Ke.

www.labiennale.org

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photograph courtesy La Biennale press office
VENICE - Arsenale

10th Biennale of Architecture - Le Fonderie. One of the most dynamic real estate companies in Italy, Risanamento, whose activities are centered on large-scale development projects, participates at the Biennale with the exhibition Renzo Piano and Norman Foster - Cities within the City. Build Today the Milan of the Future. The exhibition illustrates the projects of these two mega star architects. Renzo Piano, on the disused industrial estate of the former Falck steelworks in Sesto San Giovanni, has designed a new city, set in a park of over a million square meters, in a harmonious balance between industrial archaeology and futuristic towers suspended in the greenery. In Piano's project, quality of life, environmental sustainability and optimal quality and transport will produce a new concept of contemporary living. Milano Santa Giulia, south east of Milan, whose design was commissioned to Norman Foster (pictured above) will represent a true "city within the city". It is the result of careful research on the evolution of the contemporary man's spiritual and material requirements. It will comprise high-quality residential buildings, tertiary and commercial facilities and services. The objective is to apply design and architecture to the aim of improving the quality of life and community living in the modern metropolis.

www.labiennale.org www.risanamentospa.it www.rpbw.com www.fosterandpartners.com

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VENICE - Arsenale
10th Biennale of Architecture - Artiglierie. The exhibition, Metro-polis or The Rail Transport Challenge in Naples and Campania is curated by Alessandro Mendini and Benedetto Gravagnuolo. The new stations projects involve the urban web where the city scenes are redesigned in relation to the new interventions determinating the quality of a new lifestyle in the mega-city where the new built-up areas are taken up by the constant flow of this new mobility. In each station there will also be art installations curated by Achille Bonito Oliva, these will generate a sort of distributed museum of contemporary art, open to all citizens. Shown above is Richard Rogers's model for the Capodichino Airport. The Lord Rogers of Riverside, was presented by Renzo Piano, with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award. Rogers has a distinguished career as an architect and is responsible for some of the most iconic buildings of the last twenty-five years, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris (with Renzo Piano) and Lloyd's of London. Rogers said "I am passionate about cities. They are the most complex of artifacts and many are in great need of revitalization."
www.biennale.org. www.ateliermendini.it www.achillebonitoliva.com www.richardrogers.co.uk www.rpbw.com www.centrepompidou.fr www.lloyds.com

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VENICE - arsenale

10th Biennale of Architecture - Le Corderie. At the Cities, Architecture and Society exhibition I bumped into Mario Bellini who was thrilled with the show "This year for the first time the Biennale 'talks' about cities, from which emerges a big problem, it's a serious warning bell." Bellini is designing the Islamic extension at the Louvre Museum in Paris, due to open in 2009. "It is like an iridescent scarf or a big sail, it is very emotional technologically ." he added.

www.labiennale.org www.bellini.it www.louvre.fr

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VENICE - Arsenale

10th Biennale of Architecture - Le Corderie. Cities, Architecture and Society, the exhibition curated by Richard Burdett and beautifully designed by Cibic&Partners analyses the urban experiences of sixteen world cities in four different continents. It provides an overview of scale, location and form of these cities and city-regions. Satellite images, aerial views and figure-ground drawings illustrate the diversity, dynamism and complexity of the human footprint alongside statistics on population and size. Together they constitute the physical and social backdrop for the city experiences and urban projects described in the individual 'city rooms' ordered by continent. Shown above are the Density stalagmite models of the sixteen cities.

www.labiennale.org

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VENICE - Arsenale

10th Biennale of Architecture - Le Corderie. Visiting the exhibition, Cities, Architecture and Society, in the Corderie dell'Arsenale, on the left, the leader of the Senate, Fausto Bertinotti is given a private tour by it's curator Richard Burdett. The Theme of the 10th International Architectural Exhibition is dedicated to cities, global urbanization, and to the architecture that can determine the cities' governance and transformations, the deep changes and the development of a harmonious social fabric. For the first time Venice's Biennale focuses its attention on the tangible concerns arising in contemporary society, investigating models of interaction between cities, architecture and it's inhabitants. Asked what was his idea of an ideal city, Mr Bertinotti replied "My ideal city of the future would be a place where men and women of different ethnic cultures can enrich their lives, side by side."

www.labiennale.org

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VENICE - Arsenale

10th Biennale of Architecture - The Italian Pavilion. At last, Italy has it's own pavilion, but it's not in the Giardini where all the other countries have theirs, it's at the Arsenale. Let me specify, there is an Italian Pavilion in the giardini, but it is used as a pot-pourri showcase. The New Italian Pavilion's exhibition, curated by Franco Purini, is called The New City. Italia-y-2026. Invitation to Vema. Vema is an ideal city with streets leading towards the future of Italian architecture. Situated between VErona and MAntova, this is a city that is feasible, testing the planning talents of twenty young architects and emerging architectural groups. On show are plastic models and a gigantic model of the city summarizing and presenting a possible hypothesis of Italy in twenty years. I bumped into Alessandro Mendini on the vaporetto home and we both had exactly the same impression of the new Italian Pavilion, in Mendini's words "It looks just like a private loft for two people."

www.labiennale.org www.ateliermendini.it

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VENICE- The Granaries of The Hotel Cipriani

Gipsy Biennale of Architecture. The exhibition, Gipsy Biennale of Architecture (until September 21st and then in Vienna at the Atelier Faerbergasse from November 22 to January 7th 2007), is also the travel log of Venetian, journalist and photographer, Manfred Manera, who was given the title of gipsy ambassador by the gipsy emperor of Romania. The photographic exhibition is accompanied by a video and by a collection of textiles and carpets which originated from the road covered by the gypsies to arrive in Romania from India. The interesting architecture of the Rom is spontaneous, without the canons of a proper project and its peculiar characteristic is of being unfinished, as if the Rom People, although they have settled down, still can't escape their nomadic inclinations. The improvised buildings have sprung up all over the Rumanian countryside. They often resemble castles, temples and luxury villas and are, in fact, constant works in progress, because of the poor quality of the materials, the gap between the initial idea, and the capacity to accomplish it or because of the whims of the builder, suddenly infatuated by a new model of turret, balcony or window. Manfred hopes that "This show will give a small contribution to a more in depth knowledge of the Rom People who are too often object of romantic idealization or unfortunately, and even more frequently, victims of ancestral negative prejudices."

manfredmanera@libero.it

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VENICE

Ca Tron - Bollywood in Venice. Alongside The Venice Film Festival the Bollywood in Venice exhibition at Ca Tron, until September 22nd, chronicles the evolution of the Hindi Cinema through the last seventy-five years. It uses a mix of informative panels, old film posters and hand-made billboard paintings by traditional hoarding artists in an engaging style. Next to these, Giuliana Camerino presents, as a tribute to India, her original trompe l'oeil toiles for the Roberta di Camerino collection of dresses, designed in the 1960's, inspired by the drapery of the Indian sari.

www.robertadicamerino.com info@sitaaray.com www.bollywood.com

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VENICE

Ca Tron - Bollywood in Venice. Lively and stylish, Venetian, octogenarian, Giuliana Camerino started designing her fashion brand, Roberta di Camerino fifty years ago. It all started with a bag, almost by chance, followed by others, in a kaleidoscope of forms, colors and materials. In fact, she was the first designer to attribute a key role to accessories in a woman's wardrobe. Her creations feature the inborn style and class she conveys to all her work, united with a remarkable sense of color and a predilection for fine materials. Giuliana was the first to have a "logo", when nobody else did them, and she was the second only after Elsa Schiaparelli to do trompe l'oeil. In Fact she is showing her trompe l'oeil toiles inspired by Indian sari's next to original Bollywood film posters, in the exhibition Bollywood in Venice (until September 22nd) at Palazzo Tron. "They are a tribute to India. I wanted to translate the elegant pleats of the saris, I love so much, into occidental dresses."

www.robertadicamerino.com info@sitaaray.com Pin It

VENICE

Good luck pepperoncino bouquets. One of the food stalls on the Rialto bridge sells these good luck pepperoncino (red hot chili pepper) bouquets. As just under half of the Italians believe in the evil eye these are the perfect gift. In fact, Venetian book publisher, Alessandro Tusset bought his fiancee Alessandra one to carry on their wedding day. He had the bouquet rearranged and intersected with Lily of the Valley, Alessandro told me that "The bouquet was very original and much admired and the best part is that we are still using the red hot chili peppers today." Alessandro's publishing house is called Elzeviro, and his latest book on Venice is called Vita Veneziana (Venetian Life) by William Dean Howells who was the first American Consul in Venice in the mid nineteenth century.

L'Oasi - San Polo 610 - Rialto www.elzeviro.com

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VENICE

Naranzaria - wine bar in Rialto. What could be nicer than to eat or sip an aperitif while you watch the boats go by on the Grand Canal? For centuries Venice was the gateway to the Orient, a point of exchange between East and West. Rialto was the centre of this magnificent city, a meeting point of aromas, flavors, people and cultures. The name Naranzaria comes from the ancient warehouse where citrus fruits were stored. Now in the same location and with the same name is a tiny tiny restaurant or osteria where you can enjoy the exotic flavors of sushi, the Mediterranean freshness of couscous, and the typical flavors of the hinterland of the Serene republic such as the salami from Friuli and the wines of the Veneto. We particularly recommend Count Brandino Brandolini d'Adda's Vistorta wines, a sushi dish as a starter (made with the freshest fish, as the fish market is just next door) and then the very Venetian dish of Polenta and Baccala Mantecato.
www.naranzaria.it www.vistorta.it Naranzaria - San Polo 130 - tel: +39 041 72 41 035

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photograph courtesy peggy guggenheim collection
VENICE

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Though we went to the Guggenheim for the preview of the VetriEtereiEterocliti, three beautiful works in glass, by Luigi Ontani and the party on the roof terrace with the stunning view of the Grand Canal, it was the Lucio Fontana Venice/New York exhibition (until September 24th and then at the Solomon R. Guggenheim museum, NYC from October 10th to January 21st, 2007) that I fell in love with. The exhibition is magnificent, it presents Fontana's series of Venice paintings and New York metals of the early 1960s, shown together for the first time. The exhibition is conceived and curated by Luca Massimo Barbero. The Venice series is remarkable for its thickly layered paint, often punctured or cut, with glass inserts. Fontana worked the surfaces with swirling gestures that allude to the Baroque whirls of Venetian churches, to the mosaics of San Marco, or in general to the Byzantine splendors of the city. Whereas, the New York series consists of large sheets of shiny and scratched copper, pierced and gouged, cut through by dramatic vertical gestures that simulate the force of skyscrapers, their metal and glass constructions. This is a show not to be missed. Shown above: "Concetto spaziale, At Dawn Venice was All Silver", 1961, Oil and glass on canvas.

www.guggenheim-venice.it www.guggenheim.org

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VENICE - Lido

Palazzo del Cinema. A standing ovation for Emilio Estevez, at The 63rd Venice Film Festival, he wrote, directed and acted in the film Bobby. Since Emilio was five years old and met Bobby Kennedy while he was sitting on his father's, Martin Sheen's, shoulders he has had a fascination with Robert Kennedy. He told me that if Kennedy hadn't been shot... it's one of "The famous What If's...of our time.". The movie is about the loss. It is the story of the assassination of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, on June 6th, 1968, which centers around 22 people who were at the Ambassador Hotel where he was killed. The movie has an exceptional cast; Lindsay Lohan, Elijah Wood, Emilio Estevez, Harry Belafonte, Anthony Hopkins, Helen Hunt, Martin Sheen, Christian Slater, Ashton Kutcher and award winning performances by Sharon Stone and Demi Moore. The movie will be released just in time for the Oscar nominations, and I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't take home a few. Estevez's next film will be called Johnny Long Shot. It is an action packed and exciting story about a family and harness racing. Asked if any member of his family will be in the film, Emilio replied "No, they have done working with me, because I never pay them."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilio_Estevez www.labiennale.org

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VENICE

The Missoni Party for the movie "Bobby". The face of Missoni, Margherita Maccapani Missoni takes some acting advice from actor, Christian Slater. Slater is probably known as the most badly behaved American actor and has a well tabloid-reported personal life. In the film Bobby he plays the disagreeable Timmons who is in charge of the hotel's restaurant and catering department, and makes no secret of his dislike of the African-Americans and Latinos under his employ. He is currently working with Gena Rowlands in Slipstream which is written, directed and acted by Anthony Hopkins. Margherita is studying acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York. She would like to play the exotic and beautiful, Tina Modotti in a movie. Modotti was a fine-arts photographer, model and silent film actress. She often published her photos in left wing and Communist papers. Her epitaph was composed by the poet, Pablo Neruda.

www.missoni.com www.christian-slater.com www.newyork-strasberg.com www.modotti.com

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VENICE

The Missoni Party for the movie "Bobby". Fashion designer and hostess, Angela Missoni poses with actress, Svetlana Metkina. In the movie Bobby, Svetlana plays the part of a journalist from a communist country trying to interview Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Svetlana is married to Bold Films producer, Michael Litwak. Bold films has produced two films ready to be released in November, Bobby and Come Early Morning, written and directed by Joey Lauren Adams with Ashley Judd.

www.missoni.com www.boldfilms.com

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VENICE

The Missoni Party for the movie "Bobby". Angela and Vittorio Missoni hosted a cocktail party before the screening of Bobby on board the Missoni's Venetian barge, Timoteo, built at the beginning of the last century, which was moored on the Island of San Giorgio. Bobby, written, directed and acted by Emilo Estevez, tells the story of twenty-two people who become unwitting participants in the tragic last night of Senator Robert F. Kennedy's life. Francesco and Margherita Maccapani Missoni stand next to uncle Vittorio with actress, Lindsay Lohan and stylist, Rachel Zoe. Lindsay brilliantly plays the role of woman who marries her best friend in order to save him from going to Vietnam. And, don't all the girls look glamorous in their Missonis?

www.missoni.com

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VENICE

Welcome to MY VENICE SUPERBLOG, there is so much information in this blog that it is nearly as big as this monster of a cruise ship, that goes by the name of Norwegian Jewel and accommodates 2,376 passengers! Featured you will find photographs and text on Fashion and film stars, The Venice Film Festival, shopping, parties, art, a flea market, a restaurant and unprofessional highlights from The 10th Architectural Biennale (September 10th-November 19th). This is my third blog on The Biennale - see archives: Sept. 2004 and June 2005 - and I guess it is recognition when The Architecture Foundation and The Museum of Modern Art's Department of Architecture and Design present a Venice SuperBlog. Thank you. Below is their link, which will be online until the end of the Biennale. Enjoy both blogs.

www.7blueseas.com www.venicesuperblog.net Pin It

photograph by manfredi bellati

LIGURIA

As Labor Day approaches, which "officially" marks the end of the holidays. Pixel and Jay peg would like to thank Nora and Alex for all the fun and games they had in their pool this summer.

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photograph by manfredi bellati
CISON DI VALMARINO - Treviso

Artigianato Vivo. When Monica Buscone and Giacomo Martucci Ventura decided to change lifestyle, they moved to a small old farmhouse in the middle of the woods, near Piacenza. They looked around the house and noticed that of all the pieces they had collected at flea markets there prevailed a vast quantity of objects made in iron wire. Monica told me that "Before we decided to work with iron wire, we went to France to research the origins of this antique peasant culture. It was there that I fell in love with Camargue and the art of the nomads. In France in the Eighteenth Century, gypsys toured the country to mend pottery and china in the courts. Wire, was like glue, a material that held together other materials." Their company Fil di Ferro is a "two man" operation. Not only do they remake antique pieces and styles, but also invent new pieces, as well as, designing special installations for parties. Above is a pretty tiny basket made to hold garlic. They will be present at the show Frutti Antichi at the Castello di Paderna 7/8th October.

www.artigianatovivo.it Monica Busconi and Giacomo Martucci Ventura:fildiferro.pc@libero.it or +39 338 4801750

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CISON di VALMARINO - Treviso

Artigianato Vivo. Mid August brings us to the 26th annual village fair, Artigianato Vivo, in Cison, where artisans take over all the rustic hamlets, courtyards and streets of this charming village at the feet of the Dolomite mountains. It is a pleasure to walk around and discover almost "forgotten", and in some cases, extinct crafts. This year I found a couple of very interesting artisans. Above, is the work of a charismatic Tuscan, Romano Cheli who makes beautiful spinning tops. He has always had a passion for wood, and as a hobby, for the past five years, he has been making spinning tops because" They are complete, beautiful, aesthetic and they move as well." Each piece is different and made out of precious, compact and hard woods, so that they can guarantee the energy needed for the initial throw. Besides the classic model he makes many styles, shapes, sizes and types and it is really difficult to choose one. Maybe, the most unusual is the traveling top, Romano explains "When you go away from home you must take something from home with you, to ward off the evil eye, as well as, to remind you, of home by it's shape and it's scent."

www.artigianatovivo.it Romano Cheli: Via Roma 73 - Livorno - Cell +39 335 5434722 or romche@tin.it - his next Fair will be in Milan - Artigiani in Fiera - 2/10 December, 2006. www.unioneartigiani.it

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SAINT PAUL DE VENCE

Fondation Maeght. The fortified village of Saint Paul de Vence is home to yet another artistic treat: the remarkable Fondation Maeght created in the 1950s by Aime and Marguerite Maeght, art collectors and dealers who knew all the great artists who worked in Provence. This Summers exhibition is called Black is a Color, curated by Dominique Paini (until November 5th, 2006), it is a tribute to Aime Maeght, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. Maeght was the first to put on an exhibition in Paris in 1946 with the theme "Black is a Color." But, it was Matisse who originally coined the phrase at the beginning of the 20th Century. Paini has designed an exhibition that encompasses six steps of blackness, he says that " The whole experience is more sensual than intellectual. I wanted to promote new experiences and to stimulate visually. I am showing works that are not often seen here." The show brings together different artists of all styles and eras and aims to illustrate Jean Dubuffet's words: "Black is an abstraction. There is no black, only black materials." Shown above, Barnett Newman's Yellow Edge, acrylic on canvas, 1968.

www.fondation-maeght.com

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SAINT PAUL DE VENCE

La Colombe d'Or. You certainly don't come to eat at La Colombe d'Or for the food, but for the celebrity spotting and the atmosphere where the provencal art of living is associated with one of the most astonishing private collections of modern art. While we were there for lunch, billionaire, Saudi arms-dealer and businessman Adnan Khashoggi walked in with French philosopher, intellectual and writer, Bernard-Henri Levy. Now, the only thing I can possibly imagine these two VIPs have in common is that they always dress in the same way. Their "uniforms" consists of, for Khashoggi; a safari style, pale blue "polyester" suit, with short sleeves, white T shirt, socks and moccasins and for Bernard-Henri Levy, a white shirt and black trousers, though in Summer, the shirt is mostly unbuttoned. Both were with their respective wives, Lamia and French actress, Arielle Dombasle. They had a very healthy and abundant basket of crudite as a first course. The same evening saw rock star Keith Richards there for an early dinner. He was in Nice for The Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang World Tour. He was wearing a Burgundy scarf on his head, tied "a la Johnny Depp" in Pirates of the Caribbean, his shirt was also unbuttoned, way down and he was wearing two silver necklaces, one with a gothic cross and the compulsory dark shades associated with celebrities. Dining with him were is wife Patti Hansen and their two girls Alexandra and Theodora. Did you know that the Rolling Stones free concert on Copacabana beach in Rio was attended by 2 Million fans?

www.la-colombe-dor.com www.iorr.org/tour05/tour06 www.disney.go.com/disneypictures/pirates

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photograph by manfredi bellati
SAINT PAUL DE VENCE
La Colombe d'Or. "Provence has a treasure; it's La Colombe d'Or. It has the precious scent of thyme and nostalgia and the golden colour of olive oil and happy days. The Colombe is part of my life. For me it's a place that's full of promise as of magnificent memories. The Colombe is indefinable, inimitable. I'm happy that today a book brings back the atmosphere of the place which is like no other in the world." wrote Cesar in the preface to the book La Colombe d'Or, Saint Paul de Vence (Assouline 1993). And, like his sculpture, which stands to greet you in the entrance to the terrace restaurant, Cesar gives the "thumbs up" to this idyllic retreat. La Colombe d'Or is the best spot for art-lovers, it is better than a museum, the walls are covered in art, you can dine under a Bonnard, Dufy, Braque, Leger, Miro, Chagall, Villon, Picabia, Matisse Picasso, Arman, Tinguely, Delaunay and Calder, just to name a few. Or you can easily dine next to Dukes, Countesses, millionaires, famous artists, film stars, intellectuals and authors. And, like Collette, who took up her pen one day to write in the visitors' book these words "Wait for me, Colombe, I'm coming back." So will I, for a long weekend next year.

www.la-colombe-dor.com

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NICE - Cote d'Azur

Marche a la Brocante. Anne Neree specializes in antique fabrics and among her treasures I found these exquisite white and blue striped, jacquard, hand woven pieces of fabric from the 1880's. They are typical of the Basque region of France. When a young woman was betrothed in the 19th Century, weavers would come to the house with their looms and weave the hemp and linen grown in the backyard for her trousseau. The smaller and finer pieces in linen, would be used as napkins or towels, whereas the longer and heavier pieces in hemp, would be used as runners down the table. These runners not only served as "tablecloths" but also as napkins, especially during the wine picking season when the pickers would clean and dry their hands on them. Should you ever come across a white with red stripes, grab it as the red ones is very rare.

Anne Neree +33 (0) 493530699 - Marche a la Brocante; Cours Saleya - every Monday from 6am to 6pm.

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NICE - Cote d'Azur

Marche a la Brocante. This funny little "mutt" is very happy to follow his master every Monday to the flea market in the Cours Saleya. Not only does he guard the stall, but he also loves to play "hide and seek" in the empty crates, defying my camera. The Marche a la Brocante is held every Monday from 6 am to 6 pm, near the port and just off the Quai des Etats-Unis. It is so much fun, though August isn't the best month for antiques, the dealers cater more to tourist than to serious shoppers. Up and down the Cours Saleya there are fabulous gift shops, these are open everyday, selling beautiful baskets and many local products from Provence. It is certainly worth a visit.

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Postcard from Venice:
HAPPY SUMMER HOLIDAYS
XOX from Pixel and Jay peg Pin It

VENEZIA

Punta Sabbioni - Sand art. Ollek Masarik is from Czechoslovakia and he spends his summers going up and down the coasts of Italy, France and Spain, "sculpting" big crocodiles and big fishes in the sand. It takes him about six hours to complete a three to four meter alligator. He is very talented and has two assistants who bring him buckets of sea water. I couldn't think of a better way to enjoy the seaside, create and also earn a little bit of pocket money on the side. Have you come across him yet?

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photograph courtesy Missoni Press

LOVE BEADS
Margherita Missoni, president of orphanage Africa Italia, is the advocate of the Love Beads, Sexy e Solidale Campaign by Missoni, made in Ghana. All the proceeds from this lovely belt will go the Orphanage Africa Onlus, a non profit organization, that helps the needy children of Ghana. Love beads are not only a symbol of feminality, but also a ceremonial ornament. Hand made, of very tiny glass beads, these belts are worn by the women of Ghana, traditionally next to the skin, hidden, as if they were an intimate part of the body. Every color has a particular significance, and the belts are worn in odd numbers only. Once worn, they should never be taken off. And, they have a strong sexual claim so, don't waste any time. You can buy the Love beads in all the Missoni Boutiques and support the needy children of Ghana.
www.missoni.com Orphanage Africa Onlus: Tel. 340 8715915 italia@oafrica.org - www.oafrica.org

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Photograph by Manfredi Bellati
VIVA L'ITALIA
Jay Peg is still enjoying basking in the glory of Italy's fourth victory in the soccer World Cup, while Pixel eagerly looks on hoping for more celebratory treats. They are completely exhausted from rooting for the Azzurri this past month. BRAVISSIMI.............. Pin It

VENEZIA

Basilica di San Marco. Let me leave you with this "magical" special effect, in which I am trying to transmit to you too, the emotion we all felt during this unforgettable concert. Lorin Maazel conducted the Symphonica Toscanini in Anton Bruckner's 8th symphony. The concert was organized by Venice Foundation president, Franca Coin to raise money for the restructuring of the Cupola of Creation inside the Basilica di San Marco. The patriarchal curia to the Basilica, Mons. Antonio Meneguolo, describes the emotions he felt " I was struck by the intensity and the strength with which Maestro Maazel conducted. He lost the baton three times and he conducted the whole symphony by heart, without a musical score. He transported the orchestra with his engaging way. The symphony he chose, he performs with such intensive greatness in the recurrent motifs that go from vivace to intenso to profondo."

www.basilicasanmarco.it www.venicefoundation.org www.maestromaazel.com

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VENEZIA

Basilica di San Marco. It was appropriate that writer John Berendt should be present at the concert directed by Lorin Maazel, in the Basilica, the proceeds of which will go towards the restructuring of the Cupola of Creation. The cupola, is also know as the "Cupola of Angels", because in each of the seven segments winged figures are depicted. And like in John's book about Venice, The City of Falling Angels (The Penguin Press) the angels in the cupola also need restoring. John was in Venice for the book party, in a special cordoned off section of the Piazza San Marco, to mark the end of his world tour book launch. He told me that the concert ".... was a momentous occasion. Very exciting and I felt completely surrounded by the sound, more than ever I have in a symphony hall."

www.basilicasanmarco.it www.penguin.com www.venicefoundation.org www.maestromaazel.com

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VENEZIA

Palazzo Ducale. Besides all the Venetian and Milanese socialites present at the Lorin Maazel concert which will benefit the restoration of The Cupola of Creation inside the Basilica of San Marco. A few illustrious Americans were also present. Beautiful, talented writer and performer, Victoria Labalme was talking to Professor of American studies at Venice University, Rosella Mamoli Zorzi. Victoria's mother was the late Venetian historian, Patricia Labalme and a great friend of Rosella's. Victoria has been entertaining and inspiring audiences with her performance keynotes, coaching, and communications. Her unique theatrical keynotes are a dynamic and engaging blend of customized comedy, acting, movement, original witty film clips, and cutting edge commentary. I invite you to visit her website it is hilarious or "Visceral Fun" as the New York Daily News calls her. Unanimously, they both told me that the concert was a "Great event, wonderful symphony, sublime."

www.victorialabalme.comwww.basilicasanmarco.it www.venicefoundation.org www.maestromaazel.com www.univiu.org

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VENEZIA

Palazzo Ducale. After the magical Bruckner concert conducted by Lorin Maazel dinner was served in the Ducal Palace, the proceeds will finance the restoration of The Cupola of Creation, inside the Basilica di San Marco. In it's 10th anniversary, Venice Foundation president and concert organizer, Franca Coin, is being interview for the third time by yet another TV station. She said "The Basilica di San Marco is an extraordinary place; it represents not only Venice, but the whole world. Thanks to the generosity of the friends of Venice Foundation the restoration can now begin. Inspired by the Cotton Bible The Cupola of Creation is the work of Venetian artisans who learnt the art of mosaics from the Byzantines in the XIII Century. Legend has it, that Marco Polo used to go into San Marco and spend hours "reading" the stories told in the spectacular gold mosaics."

www.basilicasanmarco.it www.venicefoundation.org www.maestromaazel.com www.marcopoloeducation.org

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VENEZIA
Basilica di San Marco. Lorin Maazel is arriving at the Basilica di San Marco to conduct the neo Symphonica Toscanini, an offshoot of the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini of which he is also musical director. The concert was organized by Venice Foundation and the proceeds will finance the restoration of The cupola of Creation, inside the Basilica. Note, the score the Maestro is carrying, however, also note that he conducted the whole of Anton Bruckner's 8th Symphony without it. Since the age of five when he started studying the violin and the piano he has had an exceptional photographic memory. Another amusing tidbit is that the Maestro never wears tails, he wears his white tie with an impeccably cut dinner jacket.

www.basilicasanmarco.it www.venicefoundation.org www.maestromaazel.com

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CAPRI

Time to go home. I'm very sad on the aliscafo going from Capri to Naples to catch my plane. In the background is Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. It is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years, although it is not currently erupting. Vesuvius is notorious for its destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. It has erupted many times since and is today regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world because of the population of 3,000,000 people now living close to it and its tendency towards explosive eruptions. It is however a magnificent sight. I'm certainly going to go back to Capri next year to explore all the other places I didn't get to this year, so I can tell you all about them.

www.capritourism.com www.napoli.com

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CAPRI

The intellectuals have houses in Anacapri, which can be reached by car and is situated on the highest part of the island. While you are there, the monumental church of San Michele is certainly worth a visit just to admire the exquisite majolica tiled floor, which dates from 1761 and was the work of Leonardo Chiaiese. In the centre is an angel, his sword in flames, who is driving Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. On high is the devil, in the form of a serpent wrapped around the trunk of a beautiful tree. Various exotic animals are imaginatively depicted and near the entrance the floor is painted with remarkable figures of domestic animals. You must absolutely not miss this unique example of Neapolitan 18th-century architecture.

www.capritourism.com

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photograph by Susanne Thun

CAPRI

Local products # 3 - lemons. Agapanthus and lemon trees line the Thun's private "bowling alley". Lemons are the symbol of Capri, they grow everywhere and are used not only in cooking but as inspiration for and on everything. You can find lemons painted on jugs, soap dishes, tea towels, plates and tiles. Or you can buy scented lemon chocolate, soap and perfume, the best is from Carthusia, I Profumi di Capri. Or try the delicious limoncello liqueur which comes in a variety of bottles in all shapes and sizes including the boot shape representing Italy. Or taste the cakes, biscuits, granite, sorbets and spaghetti al limone, just to mention a few dishes made with lemons.

www.matteothun.com www.carthusia.com www.capritourism.com

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CAPRI

The paparazzi. There are four paparazzi agencies on Island. The photographers roam the Piazzetta, the restaurants and the discos chasing celebrities. They work hard from seven pm to four am every day of the week. One of the main fun pastimes today is to go and look at the contact sheets and have your photo printed. Gaetano Cafaggi, of Foto Rosso started working with a German, 35mm, Voigtlander camera, way back when the Vesuvio volcano was still smoking. After being thrown a whisky and soda in the face by the legendary American filmmaker, John Schlesinger, he later became his personal photographer and rose to Capri paparazzi fame. Gaetano has stories to tell about all the stars, and believe me he has seen them all, but his favorite was Brigit Bardot, because she was so fresh and fabulous, he also loved la Loren, but wasn't too fond of la Lollo.

Foto Rosso - Via Camerelle 31 - Capri - tel +39 081 8377477 www.johnschlesinger.org www.sophialoren.com www.ginalollobrigida.com

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CAPRI

A charming hotel. Since the mid 1800's the Esposito family have owned and have been running the Hotel Gatto Bianco or white cat, in the center of Capri. It is strategically placed, near the Piazzetta and in the heart of shopping-land. Whilst, other hotels have lost their identity this little charming hotel, though modern and comfortable, has maintained the Capri style of interior decoration. Beautiful majolica tiles characterize the interior and the patio garden of the hotel, as do the pastel colors used throughout and the paintings all dedicated to Capri. This is where the intellectuals, journalist and writers, as well as, the America's Cup team stay. When Jackie O used to come to Capri, she was met just as she was getting off the yacht Christina and brought up to the Gatto Bianco for lunch. Jackie's favorite dish was Gnocchi alla Valentina, gnocchi made with spinach and a pale pink sauce of tomatoes and cream.

www.gattobianco-capri.com www.capritourism.com www.americascup.com

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