Textures: Venezia by Gina Galileo

TEXTURES

VENEZIA

GINA GALILEO

••••• Introduzione 3 Mercato 5 Passaggi 11 Segnaletica 17 •••••

TEXTURES:INTRODUZIONE

What are the textures of Venice? Walking through Venice, it is difficult to not get distracted by all the different textures in the environment. From the local farmer’s market to the ripples in the Grand Canal, take a closer look at Venice; the stylistic storefronts, the red brick Venetian buildings, and the hand-painted signs, the nizioeti. What you see will intrigue you and may guide you through different directions and new discoveries. Stop to look at a sign representing direction or the sign of a nice eatery, notice the old bricks beginning to crumble supported by its modern cemented neighbor, or be captured by the canal passages as you cross a bridge. Venice provides insight and inspiration. The Venetian red brick and red cemented buildings, the large and small cemented or wood bridges take you through a romantic setting and into a new discovery of environment. Take a gondola ride and listen to the gondolier share some historic facts of Venice. The gondola will give you a new perspective of the Grand Canal’s waterways. There is so much to see and experience in Venice, don’t try to plan when you arrive. Relax, find Venetian colors, different passageways, several bridges, and enjoy the nizioeti. Create a rhythm as you stroll, and get lost listening to the interaction and movement around you. Find che bella, che bellissima Venezia. ••••••••

MERCATO

T E X T U R E S : M E R C A T O

•••••••• The produce and fish market fill with different people old and young, who sell colorful ripened fruits and great fresh fish. When strolling down the walkway among the produce vendor stands, different fruits and vegetables express their passion in color and shape. The tomatoes look as plum as ever marveling with royal reds, yellows and touches of greens. The squash flowers, which make a delicate Italian antipasti, reach out as if to hold your hand and take you home. The produce gleams with joy as you pass, and gladly fills your taste buds with delight for your next snack. Grocery shopping here is more of an experience than an errand. Besides, instead of walking down aisles in a grocery store, isn’t strolling down walkways in an open air market much more appealing? Enjoy the market and be sure to walk leisurely to absorb every detail. This will become an experience exposing you to tune in the senses more than you have before. Take a closer look at items you may not regularly see in an outdoor market. Buy fruit and take the flavors with you as your exploration continues.

Right: Artichoke flowers are extraordinary with their purple coloring. Below: The tomatoes in Italy are special in their ripeness, because the ripest and reddest tomatoes make the most flavorful sauces. The squash blossoms glow with colors of yellow and orange branching out of their green stems.

T E X T U R E S : M E R C A T O

When you have finished enjoying the produce, continue on to the seafood section of the market, the frutti di mare. Here you will encounter textures that may make you squirm or intrigue you to touch. You will find some familiar fish and others unique to Venice. Find the salmone, latti di seppia, lace sante, polpi, scampi, and many more. Watch the vendors set up the fish, and notice the many stands with the fresh catch of the day. Look closely at some stations, and you may see some pesce that are lively! Besides the textures of the pesce, don’t forget to observe the vendors and the local Italianos. Together the silkiness of the fish and the loud voices of the Italians make a great contrast in textures for your sensations. You must find yourself later on in the day at a restaurant that serves some of these delightful dishes of Venetian pesce, especially the latti di seppia, squid ink, and polenta; two wonderful textures served together. ••••••••

Left: The silky squid ready to be cooked for dinner. Below: The salmon, sea snails, and scallops all look appetizing, depending on your taste.

PASSAGGI

T E X T U R E S : P A S S A G G I

•••••••• Venice is the city where you should not use your map, and instead follow the pathways, mysterious alleys, and canal bridges. When you try to begin with a map, you may find yourself more confused than expected and it is best to get lost naturally. In Venice, the exploration is about walking and finding new passaggi and feeling the environment as you pass by. On the passaggi, you will find interesting textures; love notes written on walls, cracked cement between the classic Venetian brick, clothes hanging above, and colorful flower pots dangling below

Left: Find the bridges that offer the best canal views, and watch the ripples of the water as the locals start their boats. Below: Notice the beauty of the different textures of old and restored buildings sharing the same walls.

windowsills. Allow yourself to get lost and be comfortable getting lost, let go of your inhibitions. Look above, peer around, and follow different corners and walkways. Relax, walk slowly, look down the road, and choose the most appealing pass to travel, and you will find Venezia. Surprisingly you will find yourself not getting lost at all and rather more and more familiar with the city. Find the routes you like best and continue on being adventurous in the city’s labyrinth.

T E X T U R E S : P A S S A G G I

Enjoy the streets and casual walks of Venezia. Observe as you walk by crumbling brick buildings. There are different textures of cement and brick that contrast each other side by side with the shiny polished doors and door bells to distract your attention from the rough surfaces. Begin to see different buildings, old and new, modern and restored. Discover how Venice is built with combinations of wood, cement, and brick. ••••••••

Below: Follow stairs, narrow walkways, and turn corners to explore more. Right: You will encounter many brick tunnels that glow with red light and give you a nice warm home feeling.

SEGNALETICA

TEXTURES:SEGNALETICA

•••••••• The segnaletica of Venice is the artist’s texture that emphasizes personality and creativity for the visiting artist and designer. You will find mosaics, carvings, hand-painted and stenciled letterforms that bring each space to life. All the segnaletica speak the age and typographic history of Venezia. The shopkeepers create the environment to express the artistry and craft of Venice. Walking in Venice is really about noticing and feeling the humanistic quality of the city. Venezia, is a unique city to all other cities in Italia due to its nizioeti, therefore enjoy and study the signage for its quality.

Right: The nicely textured wall of red brick and cracking cement contrasts well with the restaurant’s sans serif sign. Below: A combination of found lettering; carved, painted, and cut from stone.

TEXTURES:SEGNALETICA

Historically, the typefaces Venice produced were among the first and finest roman typefaces. Today, you will still find press studios and lettermakers living the history and buidling the present with their typefaces. Most of Italian signage used for design base their lettering styles on the beautiful signage found on Venetian streets. Therefore on your texture tour, experience the historical and influencial humanist texture of the Venetian segnaletica. •••••••• Opposite Page: Nicely colored hand-painted lettering harmonizes the restaurant environment. Left: A very significant Gelateria segnaletica, painted with the illusion of the third-dimension. Below: A storefront, numerical address, and street sign; all beautifully hand painted.