Saint Mark's Basilica

The two main attractions on St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) are St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. One is not supposed to take photos inside the Basilica (though many cell-phoners were undeterred), but the exterior is spectacular enough.

Late Afternoon Glow

The "Golden Hours" of late afternoon appear beautifully in Venice on the promenade fronting on Saint Mark's Basin.

Venice Canals

We've recently returned from Italy, a Bar Mitzvah present to our grandson: ten days in Venice, Milan, and Florence. Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting some of the photos from this trip. The Studio Sessions portraits of Twin Cities artists will resume eventually.

I mainly took black and white photos on this trip, but the Venice canals cried out to be depicted in color. How could I resist?

Studio Sessions: Jerry Ott

Jerry Ott was a graduate student in the Studio Arts Department of the University of Minnesota. While the faculty in the department were largely adherents of abstract expressionism, Ott insisted on painting in a photo-realistic style. Consequently, he was more successful in selling his work than many of his mentors.

Studio Sessions: Eugene Larkin

Eugene Larkin was a print-maker in the College of Design of the University of Minnesota. By being located on the Saint Paul campus, he was able to avoid a lot of the faculty politics that abounded in the Studio Arts department in Minneapolis.

Studio Sessions: Katherine Nash

Katherine Nash was a pioneer in metal sculpture, using arc welding and related techniques. She was on the faculty of the Studio Arts Department at the University of Minnesota from 1961–1976. A gallery in the Arts District at the UM is named in her honor.

Studio Sessions: Birney Quick

Birney Quick was another old-timer. He had a spectacular studio in a deconsecrated church in southwest Minneapolis — now the location of the Museum of Russian Art.