All photos courtesy of A. Colonna/S. Ferrando
Art in Venice, CA during the 1960s is receiving a revival over the next couple months thanks to foundation 2021 selecting pieces to be shown during the Venice Biennale in Venice, Italy. Entitled "Venice in Venice," the exhibition features works by Peter Alexander, John Altoon, Ron Cooper, and more and will be on display at the Palazzo Contarini Dagli Scrigni on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy until July 31.
Curated by Tim Nye (who started foundation 2021) and Jacqueline Miro, “Venice in Venice” is a collateral event of the biennale that transports revolutionary artists from 1960s Venice, California to present day Venice, Italy. The works of these artists were instrumental to the developments of the post-war Los Angeles art scene.
On June 2 a tour was given of “Venice in Venice” which showcases works that explore the reflective surface of the ocean, car and surfboard cultures, and the arrival of new technology that was introduced by the engineering and aerospace industries of LA during the 1960s. The opening event also featured a conversation with artists Peter Alexander, Billy Al Bengston, Laddie John Dill, and Ron Cooper, as well as a performance by Courtney Love.
Two quarter pipes were also created for the exhibition in the Campo San Polo, creating a unique contemporary art performance by two of Venice, California's most esteemed skaters: Steve and Alex Olson.
Visitors to the exhibition in Venice from June 1 - 4 also had the rare chance to taste Ron Cooper's Del Maguey, Single Village Mezcal. Cooper's sixteen-year project, which won him Distiller of the Year at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, is named after the village from which it's made, making it the mother of all mezcals & tequilas.
