BOOK ARTS IN VENICE – IT’S OUR TURN!

 August 26, 2023

Lorrie, our Administrative Director, was able to go on the Book Arts in Venice trip this summer and this is her first-hand account of the trip.

Each year Jeff takes eleven Western Michigan University students to Italy to study the book arts. For quite some time many adults, including me, have been envious of this experience for these lucky 20-somethings. So, this summer after the students left for home, ten adults joined in the fun for a similar learning adventure. Jeff has lived and worked in Venice, speaks Italian, and knows all the best gelato spots. Thus, armed with a combination of studio time, touring time, free time, and a great guide, we enjoyed an enhanced northern Italian experience.

VENICE

The ways in which Venice is different from every other city on earth is readily apparent: canals as roads, bridges at every intersection, beautiful buildings, art wherever you look, and no car noise. Once my mouth, which had dropped open in awe, closed, it was time to get busy. Our studio days at the Scuola Internzionale di Grafica Venezia were spent creating dry point etchings of our impressions of the city. Our group touring time was spent at St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge, the Doge Palace, the Biennale, and the Accademia. Our free time provided discoveries on every turn. The glassblowing island of Murano and the colorful palazzos of Burano were favorite side trips, as were evenings spent wandering the streets, hopping on and off the boats, people watching, and enjoying the cuisine of Italy.

With lovely apartments, each for two or three people, spread across the city everyone explored their neighborhood, got lost in the winding alleys then emerged having enjoyed the detour, rode the vaporetto’s (boat buses), enjoyed a Spritz or two at beautiful canal-side cafés, and made some strong personal bonds that travel often fosters.

You might think that the city of canals and bridges can’t be as wonderful as you’ve heard. Well, you’d be wrong. Venice is truly magical, especially at night, and after six days there we had only touched the surface of possibilities.

CORNUDA

About an hour north of Venice is the hillside town of Cornuda, home to Tipoteca Italiana Fondazione, a print museum and working studio. People come from all over the world to this tiny hamlet to learn, work and explore. We learned how to set 12-point metal type (upside down and backwards!), then printed and bound the pages of the book that we titled “Positivo/Negativo.” In addition to the memories made from the trip, we each have a copy of this book that features the artwork and reflections of each artist.

Many of the best meals on the trip were devoured at the incredibly wonderful (and reasonably priced) Le Corderie Ristorante across the street from Tipoteca. Then, at the end of each day and having walked up a long hill to get to our respite, we relaxed at the 16th century Villa Bolzonello that has been lovingly restored by Barbara and Luigi who have become friends of Jeff over the years. This villa is now a bed and breakfast, a prosecco winery, and a family home. Let’s just say we were well treated!

The trip was not without its mishaps with plane connections missed, hot weather, and some health concerns, but as the title of our book indicates we tried to make the best of the negativos and were thrilled with the positivos. This is a physical trip with trains, boats, busses, and your feet doing most of the work. But you see more when you walk, and Venice is certainly a place to savor.

We’re already making plans for June 2023 to offer this Book Arts in Venice program for adults. If you’d like to join in the fun, please let us know so you’ll be among the first to get the details. It truly is an unforgettable experience.

Lorrie

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