Comma getcha palma treea…

Gross cultural generalizations aside, it’s easy to forget that everything but everything in venice comes in and leaves via boat.  Food, drinks, concrete, bricks, lumber, supplies, trash… everything.  Even palm trees…  (edit: Turns out this was an art-piece… go figure…)

palm

I even saw a barge the other day with not one, not two, but six concrete mixers on it, all pumping out wet concrete to a crane on a second barge, making a new pier.  Talk about stressful.  I suppose if there’s a problem with it hardening, they ARE surrounded by water, and could either dilute or dump just about anywhere.

I met a letterpress printer here. He is a bit pompous, self righteous, and clearly makes his money printing envelopes and bookplates for tourists.  Regardless, he had a neat shop with 3 jobbers, a proof press, and a guillotine. He also had a litho press, a bunch of type, a million cuts, and sundry other bits and pieces from the world of Italian letterpress.

As I mentioned yesterday, we also visited the Arsenalle Novissimo, the “New Areinalle”, on a visit with one of the participating artists, Alfredo Jaar.  Pretty cool really, because they were still setting up for Friday’s opening.  Only Press were allowed through, really, and it was a really nice behind-the-scenes kinda thing.

arsenalle1

arsenalle2
arsenalle3

I don’t know any of the artists’ names, so please don’t ask.  Also, sorry for the less-than-stellar photos. My camera battery was running on fumes all day long, and in an attempt to stretch out the use, I wasn’t re-shooting properly-metered shots… Photoshop only works so far.

Last night, too, I decided that relaxation was really what I needed.  I wasn’t quite the same as chilling out at home but I did sit down, relax, and have a beer (with complimentary peanuts and chips)… watching the pigeons peck through table scraps every time someone got up or even just turned their head.

beer

The waiters are a little cranky, but I suspect if my Italian was better, they would be more friendly.  Maybe next time.

And with that, I’m off for some coffee, a sandwich, and maybe running into Shepard Fairey if I’m lucky.

Unlikely, but hey…