Foundation 20 21, in celebration of Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945-1980, an unprecedented collaboration of more than sixty cultural institutions across Southern California coming together to tell the story of the birth of the L.A. art scene, presents Venice in Venice, an ambitious exhibition during the upcoming La Biennale di Venezia.
Ed Ruscha, V.
Curated by Tim Nye and Jacqueline Miro, Venice in Venice, has been selected by the Venice Biennale as one of its Collateral Events where it will transport a group of revolutionary artists from the 1960s in Venice, California to the city of Venice, Italy for the 54th international Venice Biennale. Artists include Peter Alexander, John Altoon, Charles Arnoldi, Don Bachardy, Billy Al Bengston, Larry Bell, Tony Berlant, Wallace Berman, Vija Celmins, Bruce Conner, Ron Cooper, Mary Corse, Laddie John Dill, Jim Ganzer, Joe Goode, Robert Graham, George Herms, Robert Irwin, Craig Kauffman, John McCracken, Ed Moses, Kenneth Price, Ed Ruscha, and James Turrell.
These artists have travelled significant metaphoric waters from their roots squatting in an abandoned amusement park —which housed many of their studios in the mid 1960s—to the opulent Palazzo Contarini Dagli Scrigni on the Grand Canal.
As the Academia Bridge unites the two banks of the Canal Grande, a fleet of psychedelic gondolas designed by Billy Al Bengston will unite Venice in Venice to Palazzo Grassi, creating a space time continuum between Venetian tradition with 1960s surf culture.
Another aspect of this cultural exchange will include the installation of two quarter pipes in Campo San Polo, which will be used to create a piece of unique contemporary art by two of Venice, California’s most beloved skate-culture Gods; Steve and Alex Olson.
Swell Magazine, a new magazine published by the producers of Venice in Venice containing oral Histories by Tibby Rothman, essays by C.R. Stecyk, and all original art work by Jim Evans, will be distributed.
The Venice in Venice web site and twitter feed will generate a continuous stream of imagery, interviews, music, and ephemera, edited by David Brendel, conjuring the era and world from which this gang of artists emerged.
Venice In Venice
Palazzo Contarini Dagli Scrigni on the Grand Canal
La Biennale di Venezia, 2011