I went there to do an edition series of woodcuts l had cut in Bologna in the last 9 months. One work is 52 individual plates, and there was another 15 plates. So l spent a hot week printing like mad. After organizing to have a particular paper and ink ready for me there, l found out they had not arrived. I ended up getting good paper, but l had to scrounge around for various inks that were not exactly what l wanted. The first was rather dry and flat, and this actually worked quite well, though it dried very fast, too fast sometimes.
Finally after a few days my inks arrived and l was able to work in a happier moment. In the end l printed about 350 sheets, but found some small time to visit the exhibitions that were on during the biennale. The accommodation was rather rough, but it suited me fine, l slept in an apartment with 3 other artists ( l use the word loosely) two from Ireland, one taught art, but did not seem interested in doing it in the first few days, the other was a excellent viola player!, the third was an australian girl who had no desire to do art, but l think found a way to get cheap accommodation) Anyway they were all very nice and the apartment had a shared kitchen and two bathrooms, that one did not seem to have hot water, mind you you did not need it, and the other flooded when you had a shower, leaving the hand towel that was the bath mat soaked continuously.
Often l'd get back from the studio around 7-8pm and sit out the front of the apartment in the campo (square) and have a beer. One evening a bloke comes up to me wanting directions, he is Australian , so l try to pretend that l can speak english and give him directions, until falling apart and confessing, i'm australian, but l do have an idea where he wants to go.
The studio has a great gallery, and so l was able to hang the work of 52 pieces up and get a chance to see it in its fullness, as it goes to an exhibition in Wangaratta in October.
Using the studio when l did, Lorenzo told me was a disappointing time, as all the artists attending where really sunday artists, but early next year Jon Cattapan is working there, and he told me that more serious artists usually attend.
Either way , l will return again, as the studio works for me and it is a great opportunity to work and live in Venice for a week. You get to see another side when you can spend that amount of time. Jayne and the boys came up for a weekend, and we had some great walking trips into parts of Venice that don't get the tourists, it can be so quite and peaceful, which is the opposite to San Marco's square.
The art shop, with Georgia, Venice
bedroom in Venice
Lunchtime at Scuola Grafica, Venice
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