The Venice Biennale, the sprawling international art show held every two years in the thirty national pavilions of the Giardini della Biennale and in the vast 16th-century shipbuilding and warehouse spaces known as the Arsenale, has been a leading international venue for contemporary art for over a century. It has also frequently been the occasion for artistic, political, and social debates. With more than three hundred artists from sixty countries participating, and over 100,000 square feet of exhibition space, the Biennale as it exists today offers a uniquely exciting and always controversial experience of cutting-edge art from around the world, including everything from paintings to high-tech installations. This year, California Pop artist Ed Ruscha, known for his witty word paintings, will represent the United States at the American Pavilion, while the large Italian Pavilion will feature an interactive environment based on the theme of the "Experience of Art." In addition to the extensive Biennale venues, numerous off-site exhibitions, sprinkled around the city, reward the adventurous and open-minded visitor.

This seminar will include a five-day trip to Venice , Italy , over the October mid-term break. We will prepare for the trip by studying the history of the Biennale and its place in contemporary art, as well as past debates and controversies. Following the trip, students will report on their experiences and will investigate topics and issues raised by the exhibit. While exploring the past and present of the Biennale, we will be sure to consider as well the rich historic context for this most contemporary of exhibitions: the unique city of Venice itself.