The Art-Full Dodger: Italian adventure Part I: The Venice diaries

In my first post I briefly mentioned what I was going to be doing in Venice to start with. But for the past two weeks I've actually been doing it!! Working for the British Council, in the Gran Bretagne pavilion as part of this years Architecture biennale.
The pavilion plays host to 5 stewards each month during the Biennale, and I was part of the second group working for 5 weeks as an 'ambassador' for the exhibition.

'Within the walls of the pavilion is a multilayered exhibition which deals with the theme of observation. Throughout the space the notion of 'close looking' has been interpreted differently by the collaboration between the British Council, muf architecture, artists, scientists and visitors. Relationships were formed in the development stages of the exhibition, as well as the physical construction and installation. This developed a form of 'two way traffic' in the exchanging of ideas and expertise between Venice and the UK,thereby responding to this year's Venice Biennale brief; 'People Meet In Architecture'. More information can be found on the pavilion's website by clicking here.'
(Stewards at Villa Frankenstein, for more info click here)

Villa Frankenstein playing host to a group of students from Syracuse
College, USA. Involved in a workshop run by Mark and
Cristina from muf Architecture

Matt giving the Syracuse students an explanation of the theme behind
the pavilion

Close Observation in the Stadium, by Blanca

After visiting Venice last year I began a long affair with Gelato, Cichetti (traditional Venetian hor d'ouvres) and Spritz (a great drink made from Aperol, prosecco, soda with an olive) and Venetian hot chocolate, aka Ciaccolato (so thick you have to eat it with a spoon!).
So I decided that seeing as I'm going to be back in this wonderful city for 5 weeks I may as well make it part of my personal challenge to try as much of these three super indulgent treats!!

Mousse Caramel Gelato from Gelaterie Squero

Venetian cichetti from Vini il Bottegon
Clockwise from left to right: Crema Zuchinni (riccota with pumpkin puree),
Baccala (whipped cod pate), Crema Tartufo (Boiled egg with sliced truffles)
and Crema de fleur (home made mayonnaise with dried edible flowers)

I make it Spritz o'clock!

Ciaccolato Caldo (Hot Chocolate)

Along side Matt and Laura (my other 2 stewarding pals), the first few days were spent sight seeing and eating (A LOT of eating is going to happen!)
We saw many of the sights, including The Ducal Palace - otherwise known as the Doge's Palace, the Peggy Guggenheim collection, Stanley Kubrick photography exhibition at Instituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arte, as well as soaking up the general beauty and atmosphere of La Serenissima,Venice herself.