American Students Clean Carlo Scarpa Facade in Venice

Carlo Scarpa Entrance to Faculty of Literature & Philosophy of IUAV Venice (before)
Photo: Masegni & Nizioleti Associazione ONLUS

(Venice, Italy) One of the masterpieces designed by the renowned 20th century Venetian architect, Carlo Scarpa (1906-1978), can be found in Campo San Sebastiano. Next door to the 15th century church decorated with treasures by Renaissance artist Paolo Veronese, Scarpa transformed the former convent of San Sebastiano into the contemporary home of the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy of Ca' Foscari University.

The distinct Istrian stone entrance portal reflects Scarpa's genius, connecting the university to the adjacent Church of San Sebastiano. Scarpa unites the architecture of different centuries, and inserts the Renaissance statue of Saint Sebastian inside his trademark 20th century circle. The entrance was completed by Guido Pietropoli after Scarpa's untimely death in 1978 when he fell down a flight of concrete stairs in Sendai, Japan. 

 

Zachary Scalzo, Italian language instructor at FAU,
sprays water on the offending posters as students scrub

 

The Masterpiece as a Billboard

 

Ironically, different "progressive" organizations in Venice think the Istrian stone facade of Scarpa's work of art makes a good billboard and plastered posters advertising various meet-ups across the facade, defacing the masterpiece.

Alberto Alberti - Photo: Cat Bauer

Alberto Alberti, head of Masegni & Nizioleti Associazione ONLUS, a local group of volunteers who keep an eye on Venice's distinct street signs and stones -- and have been cleaning up graffiti since 2012 -- notified me that some American students from Florida Atlantic University would be helping the Venetians tackle the facade clean-up this past Friday. The students had been out to Brion Cemetery near Treviso, another Carlo Scarpa masterpiece, and where he is buried, and wanted to give back to the city that had hosted them for six weeks.

I was curious. How did these American students get here? And how did they hook up with our local Venetian group? 

 

Dr. Ilaria Serra, Professor of Italian and Comparative Studies &
coordinator of the FAU Italian Program

 

Study abroad in Venice with genuine Venetian professors D.O.C.

 

Enter Dr. Ilaria Serra, Professor of Italian and Comparative Studies, and the vibrant coordinator of the FAU Italian Program, which includes the opportunity to study abroad in Venice for six weeks. Ilaria and her husband, Emanuele Pettener, are both Venetians who got married in Venice and moved to the United States 20 years ago. They both teach at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, while staying closely connected to Venice and their Venetian families and friends.

I love that real Venetians are actually over in the States teaching Americans about the culture and language of Venice and Italy with an innate wisdom that no foreigner can replicate. Check out the FAU Italian Program:

Italian Studies Program

Ilaria is also a friend of Alberto Alberti, so together they organized the Friday Cleaning Day. And that was how the FAU students spent their last morning in Venice -- giving back to the city. Bravi! 

The crew from FAU - Photo: Cat Bauer

And here is the Carlo Scarpa entrance to the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy of the Ca' Foscari University of Venice in Campo San Sebastiano adjacent to the Church of San Sebastiano, after being freshly cleaned:

Entrance to the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy of Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Entrance to the Church of San Sebastiano
Photo: Masegni & Nizioleti Associazione ONLUS

Ciao from Venezia,
Cat Bauer

Venetian Cat - The Venice Blog