artists in giudecca

Several ancient and modern artists worked in Giudecca; to begin with, one name from the past is Andrea Palladio, and in the 20th century we mention the composer Luigi Nono (born January 29, 1924 in Venice; died May 8, 1990 in Venice), and painter Arbit Blatas (born November 9, 1908 in Kaunas, Lithuania to Russian parents; died April 27, 1999), who long worked in Fondamenta San Biagio depicting everyday life's scenes, landscapes, and the scenic Redentore feast.

Painter Arbit Blatas in his studio in Giudecca

Today, many artists have set their Venetian studio in the island of Giudecca. To mention some: Marcelle Ottier, Berico, Francesco Zavatta, Renato Lipari, Giovanni Rossini, Simona Bramati, Luciano Pasquini, Marcela Gulceag, Benny Katz, Jan Mizo. Their atelier is located in Fondamenta San Biagio, and their work is shown along with other artists' at art gallery in Venice, in the splendid 16th century Palazzo Foscari: the venue also displays the historical easels used by Arbit Blatas, and other mementos, hich were donated by the family of Maestro Blatas, who lived and worked next door - thus recognizing the work and importance of Giudecca 795 as a cultural center and meeting point, and its commercial activity in support of emerging artists. (We reommend to book your visit at the gallery in advance, as in some time of the year the venue is open by appointment only, and it is the location for meetings and courses).
Among its fond friends, Giudecca 795 counts also photographer Gianni Rizzo, who passed away at 83; historical photographer of Venice, he was the teacher and mentor of generations of local reporters. Some of his photos available there.
Until 2006, Giudecca 795 was the site of the Archivio musicale Luigi Nono, who revolutioned the 20th century classical contemporary music and give greatest impulse to electronic music. Luigi Nono studied composition at the Venice Conservatory where he became acquainted with serialism. He lived in la Giudecca with his wife Nuria, Schönberg's daughter. He became a leading composer of vocal, instrumental, and electronic music. His social and political committment brought him to join the Italian Communist Party in 1952. His avant-garde music was also a revolt against bourgeois culture. As such, he avoided most normal concert genres in favor of opera and electronic music, and sought to bring music to factories. To him, la Giudecca with its industrial plants must have been a fantastic laboratory of thoughts and projects. He made frequent recourse to political texts in his work. In many of his works the political essence is evident.

The musical archive which bring his name is located in Giudecca: it recently moved from its historical location in Giudecca 795 to Giudecca 619-621; it has been a reference site for artists passing in Venice. It is now a Foundation and the complete name is Fondazione Archivio Luigi Nono. See also our web page about the Luigi Nono Archives.

Giudeca vien de qua...

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