All That and A Cherry on Top

I was so taken with all of the art and art galleries in Venice that I thought I’d share some of the beautiful and unique pieces I saw simply walking through the city a few weeks ago. You don’t really even need to step into a museum to see the amazing creativity that lives within the city’s canals and alleyways. Some of these beautiful pieces we found just getting lost on the way to our hotel. Wandering off somewhere at it’s finest.

First find was at the Contini Galleria d’Arte.

Be Chairful Where You Sit

Carla Tolomeo, who created these fantastic chairs, was born in 1945 in Pinerola, Italy. She first studied painting in Rome with famous Italian artists and was successful in a number of artistic venues, but a turning point came with her creation of the exhibit “Sedie” (Chairs) in 1997.

In her first book dedicated to these chair sculptures, Tolomeo described the philosophy behind creating them as “a mutation, a transformation from any object to an object of art, starting from the most banal and domestic furnishing element: the Chair.”

Yes, chairs can be art. And lipsticks and cherries, too, apparently. Although not nearly as practical as a chair.

Across from Contini Galleria d’Arte was the Contemporary Art Gallery with equally captivating art pieces. We didn’t go inside, but the outside was quite interesting.

The Eyes Have It

I also found some wonderfully creative eyeglass frames for artsy people while I was walking around the San Marco area. Unique and edgy, they definitely make a statement and looked like small works of art themselves.  I’ve seen many Italians with rather bold and colorful eyewear and I like it.

Would you wear the frames below? And what pairs? I think quite a few of my friends might like them. I would wear a few of them, but I don’t know about that one pair that looks like a tree branch. I wouldn’t go that far out on a limb. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. 

Window Shopping

Cool Art Everywhere

You really have to have your eyes completely closed to not see the art around the city of  Venice. I highly recommend spending one day here just visiting art galleries and enjoying the unique and incredible craftsmanship and fascinating objects that can be found all around the city.

The artwork below by Annalù Boeretto is another one of the amazing artists whose work is being shown in the Ravagnan Gallery, along with the moving sculptures by artist Bruno Catalano seen in my previous post, The Travelers. Her pieces are defined by “metamorphosis, of transition, evolution conceived as a journey between different conditions, diverse realities,” according to the Ravagnan Gallery website.  

The one below is just an explosion of action or reality.  I’d love to just spend an hour over coffee talking about what this piece with those exploding books represents. It’s another very evocative work by Annalù Boeretto that is also located presently in the Ravagnan Gallery.

There is so much more all around the city, but I hope you will visit Italy yourself when travel is back to normal. But please don’t forget about Venice when you make your travel plans. Spend more than a night there, too. The city will need your help recovering economically when the storm that is Covid-19 has passed.  It’s a city worth saving and savoring for its history and art alone, as well as its creative inspiration for all those who visit.