Dear Friends of Pratt in Venice,

As the 35th Anniversary of the program, 2019 was a very special year.

We have celebrated in many ways and are continuing the celebrations into 2020, when Pratt’s President Bronet will visit us in Venice.

Immediately upon arrival of the 2019 group in Venice in June, we had a reception at the exhibition Infinite Jest, featuring the paintings of Pratt in Venice alumnae Monique Rollins and Hahn Hyewon together with paintings by Professor Michael Brennan. The location was the cloister of Sant’Elena, a wonderful space managed by the Dante Alighieri Society. The reception was attended by our Venetian collaborators and visiting speakers in Venice as well as alumni, Pratt’s chair of Fine Arts, Jane South, and the 2019 group! We also held a colloquium during Art Night Venezia a week later in June with the curator of the show, the faculty and the artists.

Our summer activities included our traditional visits to Torcello, Ravenna, Padua with Antonio Stevan, the Palladio villas, and Bassano, as well as our busy coursework in Venice. Another event was a show of PiV alumna Hahn Hyewon’s work at the American Embassy in Rome, where Pratt in Venice faculty and alumna Monique Rollins travelled to celebrate this honor for with American officials at another reception! Our guest lectures included Prof. Tracy Cooper on Palladio, Prof. Sarah McHam on sculptural programs of the Doge’s Palace, Aruna d’Souza, contemporary critic, for the Biennale visit, and at the Orsoni mosaic factory, Luca Chiesura showed us the making of gold leaf tesserae. Alumnus Andrew Kurczak again led a discussion at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and alumna Marietta Burdick delivered an impressive lecture on Tintoretto’s great canvases in Madonna dell’Orto.

We enjoyed a visit to Venice by three key people from Pratt: Maria Soares, Director of Study Abroad; Dennis Manzone, Director of Public Safety; Esmilda Abreu, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs. They met our collaborators at Università Internazionale dell’Arte and Scuola Grafica, and admired the spaces we enjoy at both locations.

On campus this fall, the annual Pratt in Venice show was expanded to welcome the work of many alumni and faculty who have taught in the program. The opening reception on October 20 was packed! It was attended by Pratt’s president, vice presidents, provost, associate provosts, trustees, Study Abroad director, and all the many helpful officers of the Institute, as well as faculty, alumni, and friends. Some of the work that was lent was offered for sale to support the Pratt in Venice Scholarship Fund, in addition to the auction of work donated by 2019 participants.

While sharing this news with you, I need to appeal for end of the year contributions to the Scholarship Fund. We set a goal of $50,000 for this year in order to begin to build an endowed Fund in order to ensure that Pratt in Venice continues. I hope this occasion of our 35th will inspire significant contributions. These, of course, are fully tax deductible. Checks can be made out to Pratt in Venice Scholarship Fund and sent in my care. Additionally, scheduled monthly contributions can be made as well as one-time gifts.

It has been a great and very special pleasure to celebrate and visit with so many alumni/ae who have participated in these ongoing events. Please do stay in touch!

A presto,

Diana Gisolfi
Director, Pratt in Venice