The morning was gorgeously sunny and crisp as we took a brisk half hour walk to Giardini for part two of the Biennale.  In this area there are specific country pavillions which include most of Europe, the USA, Canada, Korea, Russia, Japan, and others.

We started with the super entertaining Belgium.  Moving maniquens each had a funny written story which Donna kindly read to us as we watched.  

From there we went to the central Binnale building.

  We could have stayed there all day.  Museum like rooms are set with all kinds of contemporary works.  I have a theory that some of what you see early on becomes a favorite because there is “space” for it in your art-mind.  One favorite of mine and Ken’s was the work of Njideka Akunyili Crosby, a Nigerian woman who lives and works in Los Angeles. 

Another big favorite was the robot by Sun Yuan & Peng Yu.  Titled “I Can’t help Myself” the robot is programed to keep the blood-like liquid in a certain space.  Besides just sweeping it up, it can move and dance in other, life like ways, sometimes looking like a dinosaur or a dancing snake.  It was just so entertaining! If you google the artists, there is a utube of it.

Ken and I went to several of the other country pavillions.  I enjoyed the dance videos in Switzerland and Brazil even thought they we very different from each other.  We both loved the Canadian videos about the indiginous people and their politicial issues and the building of structures with blocks of ice they harvested.

The USA was all work by the sculptor Martin Puryear

The Biannale is just too much for one visit.  You could easily spend a whole week there in order to take in the show.  

We finally left and after walking about 3 blocks stopped at a very cool sculpture garden, which included the “Big Foot Family” and this bathing beauty by Carole Feureman who Andrew took a shine to.

On via Garibaldi we stopped into a funky bar and all had a spritz and chips before we walked back home.

For dinner we went to the nearby Trattoria Storica which was the only reservation I could get on this crowded weekend.  Dinner was fine and I really enjoyed my pork scallopine with mushrooms even though it was far from perfect. 

We all went to bed early.  The Biennale can be exhausting. Even the bar is an assault on the senses: