Art Articles & Reviews

} Canadians at the Biennale Internazionale dell'Arte Contemporanea Quatra Edizione, 2003, Part I of III. By Mary-Lou Ashton Type in the word "biennale" into the Google search engine, the results are 492,000 in 0.11 seconds; narrow the search to "biennale contemporary art", the results are 81,500 in 0.19 seconds. Since 1990, when the number of bi-annual exhibitions was approximately ten, there has been a four fold increase . The Florence Biennale is just one amongst this proliferation of biennales for art, poetry, stamps, engraving, architecture, film, music, etc. The word biennale is becoming common with happenings occurring in places like Beijing, Bunsan, Chengdu, Dakar, Gwangju, Johannesburg, Ljubljana, Montreal, and Savona amongst others. Logo of the biennale from the cover of the exhibition catalogue published by Arte Studio, www.artestudio.net Well established bi-annuals for contemporary art like the Venice Biennale are organised by one or more curators. The Biennale Internazionale dell'Arte Contemporanea (a.k.a. Florence Biennale) differs by its non-curatorial attitude. Artists are recommended by a country's cultural department or by the Biennale's "International Scientific Committee" which views artists websites . This procedure is a form of jurying. This committee for the 2003 exhibition consisted of 45 members from 14 countries . Its Canadian member is Bruce Alistair Barber who is an example of the highly qualified people on this selection committee. Bruce Barber has a MFA in sculpture and art history, University of Auckland, and a MFA in Media Arts & Theory and Criticism from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and now teaches art at University of Kings College. Amongst his many other artistic accomplishments, he has exhibited internationally since 1972, curated exhibitions, and sat on the jury of the Canada Council for the Arts. Opening night December 6, 2003 Courtesy of Mary-Lou Ashton www.artistsincanada.com/mashton On a non-theme basis, artists for the Florence Biennale are selected in the categories of painting, sculpture, graphic arts, mixed media, installations, photography and digital art. Selection is in no way dependent on style, school or artistic movement; the artists are not selected with an eye to national representation but rather solely on the basis of criteria that privilege the quality of their creative work and the cultural and ethnic values they represent. Current bi-annuals have differing mandates. The Biennale of Sydney is an international festival of contemporary art, the events of which are at the discretion of the curator. For the 2004 event, the curator is Isabel Carlos. The Prague Biennale 1, 2003, is similar to the Florence Biennale since it used 30 curators to select 200 participants but it provided a forum for young and emerging artists. The first Florence Biennale was organised in 1997 by the brothers, Professor Pasquale Celona and Professor Piero Celona, within the Arte Studio organisation in order to promote dialogue and diversity . The biennale takes place in modern exhibition halls built within the walls of La Fortessa da Basso, the historic Medici bastillion, constructed in 1534 at the request of Duke Alessandro de'Medici. Since the first exhibition in 1997, the number of artists participating in this event has grown dramatically from 259 from 18 countries to 891 from 72 countries in 2003. The mandate is to provide a venue for professional artists, whether established or emerging, to exhibit their current art, and engage in discussion and in cultural exchange. With each of the exhibitions, secondary events with historical, artistic, or cultural significance were also displayed along with the art work of the participating artists. In addition, visitors and artists were invited to attend daily musical performances and a series of lectures. In the recent event, David Hockney was the invited distinguished speaker. Past events have included such renown individuals as Carla Fracci, Gina Lollobrigida, and Prince Charles. At the closing of the biennale, the Premio Lorenzo Il Magnifico Awards were presented to Ferrari, for its creativity and technical genius, and to the Vatican Restorative Laboratory for its work in art conservation. Homage was paid to the Mexican artist: Alfredo Zalce. Prizes of a medal, showing an effigy of Lorenzo Il Magnifico created by sculptor Mario Pachioli, were given to the artists selected by an international jury of nine curators and historians. These prizes were presented, one each, for 1st 2nd and 3rd position, and a varying number, for 4th and 5th position in the various artistic categories. Other awards were given under the categories of "Career Recognition", "City of Florence", "Committee", and "President". This year’s special "President award", the Lorenzo Il Magnifico Award, was presented for career recognition to Canadian, Antoine Gaber. Other Canadians receiving prizes were Wally Ballach, 3rd in drawing and graphics, Gordon Becker, 4th in sculpture, Stephanie Bush, 4th in drawing and graphics, Jackie Cytrynbaum, 5th in photo, Lilian Broca, 4th in new media, and Carol Taylor, 5th in new media. Wally Ballach beside his prize winning conte drawings http://www.ccca.ca/artists Courtesy of Wally Ballach Thirty seven Canadians participated in the 4th Biennale Internazionale dell'Arte Contemporanea, December 6 to 14, 2003. Invitations to participate were received by email: Dear Artist We are glad to inform you that we are selecting the artists.........The internal jury saw your work in your website and approves your participation in this Biennale. Many were hesitant initially to accept. Fortunately, website investigations, contacts with people 'in the know'or participants from previous exhibitions, or "what will I miss if I don't go" convinced them to take the chance. Others like David Griffin: "recognised the nature of the Biennial exhibition, specifically how it has changed since there were only 2 or 3 of them, rather than the 2 dozen or so that now take place internationally. They are commercial enterprises in competition with others". If nothing else, it became a legitimate excuse to visit one of the most significant cities in the art world, Florence. Carole Taylor holding medallion prize, Courtesy of Carole Taylor] www.caroltaylor.thedrawlyn.com The 4th edition is past and organisation of the 5th, scheduled for December 2005, has begun. Part II of this essay will present the Canadian artists' impressions about this past Florence Biennale. Addendum Half of the 37 Canadians participating at the 4th Florence Biennale of Contemporary Art are members of or have links with the Artists in Canada website. Canadians who participated are Mary-Lou Ashton, Wally Ballach, Gordon Becker, Eric Beldowski, Sandra Bray, Lilian Broca, Stephanie Bush, David Butt, Ken Curley, Jackie Cytrynbaum, Didy, Shirley Erskine, Douglas Edwards, Antoine Gaber, David Griffin, Bill Hoopes, Frank Jalsovsky, Rosi Jory, Nel Kwiatkowska, Sinae Lee, Helen Lucas, J. Mac, Barbara McGivern, Barbara Elizabeth Mercer, Trevor Mercer, Yvette Miller, Jgor Mojzes, Danuszia Mordasiewicz, Jim Pescott, Alan Rutherford (withdrew), Jane Saborio, Ranjan Sen, Kent Senecal, Shahnaz, Susan Strachan-Johnson, Ernestine Tahedl, and Carol Taylor. Over half the above along with a British artist responded to my request for their impressions and experiences at the Biennale. (My apologies are extended to any of the Canadian artists whom I may have missed). ___________________________________________ Copyright © 2004 Mary-Lou Ashton View Mary-Lou's artwork on her website: www.artistsincanada.com/mashton.