The California Biennale orchestrated by the Orange County Museum of Art last year was inspired by the art fair of all art fairs, the Venice Biennale. Founded in 1895, this international event takes place very two years in the historic city of Venice on the Adriatic Sea. With ninety countries present, it is by far the largest international event in the art world.
The 2011 Biennale opened to the public this weekend and welcomed exhibition newcomers Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe. Thirty countries, including the United States, have permanent pavilions to showcase artists considered trendsetters in their own countries.
Southern California is not featured in the U.S. A. art exhibition, but has earned a presence thanks to a project of the Orange County Museum of Art. Called “54” this is a participatory art project designed to produce a documentary film. The subject will be the 2010 California Biennale, the 2011 Venice Biennale, and an art fair next year.
The local artists’ co-operative “Finishing School” is in Venice right now filming footage for this project. Local participants can follow their viewings on twitter at Twitter.com/finishing school. The project will explore the myriad decisions that construct an international art exhibition on this scale, from which countries and artists participate to what decisions participating artists make.
Read more about the 2011 Venice Biennale at this link:
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