The Preservation of Venetian Public Art

1
The Preservation of Venetian Public Art

• Non-public Wellheads
• and Fountains
• Aaron Kelley
• Greg Ratner
• Matthew Schmaelzle
• Orest Thomollari

2
What is Public Art?

• Definition
• Art visible from a public place
• Purpose in Society
• Defines history and heritage
• Enhances the background of
• daily life

3
Types of Public Art in Venice

• Erratic Sculpture (2930)
• Coats of Arms (1064)
• Confraternity Symbols (196)
• Crosses (74)
• Inscriptions (28)
• Patere (471)
• Reliefs (386)
• Statues (173)
• Street Altars (108)

4
Types of Public Art in Venice

• Erratic Sculpture (2930)
• Wellheads (217)
• Portali (552)
• Lunette (71)
• Decorative Keystones (307)
• Monuments (70)
• Flagstaffs (55)
• Fountains (110)

5
The Issues Facing Public Art

• Decay
• Biological
• Weather
• Pollution
• Maintenance Problems
• Undefined Ownership
• No Central Jurisdiction
• Improper Treatment
• Negligence
• Vandalism
• Theft (29 pieces)

Copy-Cat Vandals Attack Rome Bernini Fountain
6
Example of Damage
2004
2000
1975
Campo Dei Mori CN 125
7
Non-public Wellhead Condition
CN6691Century XV
1975
2004
SP3005Century XVIII
SP2769Century XV
2004
1975
1975
17th Century
2004
8
Contributors to the Preservation of Public Art

• Many studies conducted by professionals related
  to public art
• Alberto Rizzi
• Ferd. Ongania
• Giuseppe Tassini
• Angelica Tonizzo
• Maria Rosa Sunseri
• Fiorenzo S. Cuman
• Pietro Fabbian
• WPI conducted many projects on public art through
  the Venice Project Center

9
The WPI Public Art Catalogs

• 5 Public Art Catalogs
• Erratic Sculpture
• Wellheads
• Flagstaffs
• Lunette
• Monuments
• Web based

10
Contents of Art Catalogs

• Catalog integrates
• MS Access Database
• GIS Maps
• Photographs

11
Mission

• Add to interactive multimedia catalog of public
  art
• Create a catalog of non-public wellheads
• Create a catalog of fountains
• Aid in the creation of a private committee for
  the preservation of Venetian public art

12
Methodology
13
Background on Wellheads

• Could not build traditional wells
• Devised a system of cisterns for filtering and
  collecting water
• Became a social center

14
Evolution of Water Dispensing Methods
Wells Serve as Early Fountains Post-Aqueduct
(after 1882)
Wells Primary Water Source Pre-Aqueduct (before
1882)
Wells Decommissioned, Fountains Primary Water
Source
15
Background on Fountains

• Installed fountains after aqueduct creation
• Several styles created

16
Locating Wellheads/Fountains

• Foot search for pieces of art
• Tracing route on map and marking locations

17
(No Transcript)
18
Cataloging Fountains

• Collect data on site
• Dimensions
• Faucet length
• Physical damage
• Algae
• Graffiti
• Original Paint

19
(No Transcript)
20
Cataloging Wellheads

• Determined accessibility and marked it with a
  special color code

• Take photos of each wellhead

21
Percentage of Fountain Types
22
Flow Rate Levels
Total Amount of Water Dispensed by All the
Fountains in a Year
156,366,000 Liters
or 41,307,527 Gallons
23
Fountain Ownership
24
Fountain Damage
Condition Rating
(Rust .15)
(Algae .10)
(Graffiti .15)
(Grime.20)
(Surface Damage .25)
(Missing Pieces.15)
25
Wellhead Accessibility
26
Wellhead Condition by Borough
27
Wellhead Age
28
Resulting Products

• Fountain and Non-public Wellhead Databases
• Website with a integrated WebGIS System for
  Public Art
• Quaderni for promoting the Private Committee for
  Public Art Preservation

29
Preservation Organization

• Most complete database of Venetian art
• New way to plan restorations
• More thorough condition ratings
• Groups public art by location for
  restoration
• Saves money through efficiency

30
Recommendations and Conclusions

• Public Art Multimedia Catalogs
• Catalogs used to complete public art catalog
• Complete catalog used in organization
• Organization for Preservation
• Utilize developed promo material
• Find leader
• Utilize detailed plans for running association
• Start restoration processes immediately

31
Acknowledgements

• We would like to thank the following
• Prof. Fabio Carrera
• Prof. H.J. Manzari
• Philippe Puypaert
• Paolo Gardin
• VESTA
• UNESCO

32
Questions?