Judi Harvest

  Under construction in Murano

  Gallery installation

  June 10th: The Battlefield

  The Buddha barge

  Buddha on the crane with glass

  Buddha looking for a home

  Il Gazzettino June 17

  Parked in front of the Coast Guard at San Marco

  Buddha's location at the vaparetto stop in front of Harry's Bar

  July 3, 8:30 PM

Wednesday, May 28

Arrive in Venice from NYC at 10:00AM. 11:00AM, boat to Murano to see Buddha sculpture status. Nothing is ready. I am pleased with the work but disappointed in delay.

Thursday, May 29

Wake up at 6:00AM. Go to Murano. Vaporetto from Zattere to Piazzale Roma, change to Direct Murano boat, 1 hour later arrive in Murano. This would be my journey for the next 35 days.

Friday, May 30

Hot as hell. 100 degrees at 9:00AM. At the Post Office, 1 hour wait in line. Catalog is not ready, but no one thinks I need to see it. I worry, but bigger problems with Buddha not completed.

Saturday, May 31 Catalog Disaster

I see the finished catalog. The printer printed PLACE PHOTO HERE, instead of scanning slides I attached to sample catalog mock up. I freak out, I call him on his cell phone. He is off duty and will be back Tuesday since Monday is an Italian holiday. Missing 5 photos completely and he printed Xeroxes instead of actual photos everywhere else.

Sunday, June 1

My official opening day, gallery all set up, but no big Buddha.

Monday, June 2

After much drama, printer agrees to reprint
catalog.

Saturday, June 7

Another opening of my show without Buddha, but nice review in Il Gazzettino.

Tuesday, June 10 The Battlefield

Campiello della Feltrina, where Fragmented Peace was to be exhibited, has a shopkeeper who is extremely eccentric. As my two ton Buddha is being delivered to his designated spot, she brought a chair out of her shop and sat exactly where Buddha was to go. Now a 2 ton Buddha on a crane is nothing to sneeze at so she starts screaming and calls the Police. The men of the transport boat and all of her neighbors, including the gallerist, try to calm her down, but it was impossible. I decided it was in everyone’s best interest if I found another space for him. Easier said than done. Back on the crane and the boat and back to Murano. I went with Buddha and thought of skipping my opening, but everyone called me, they sent a boat to pick me up and I went back, sweating and dirty. Barbara Rose and Fred took me to dinner. Very hard day.

Wednesday, June 11

At the Commune di Venezia I was told it was impossible to exhibit something in a piazza until September. Not giving up, since Buddha had a job to do and so did I.

Thursday, June 12 The Big Idea

I called the transport company which moved Buddha the day before by boat and crane and negotiated the price of a daily rental to go up and down the Grand Canal from 4:00PM until 10:00PM. That Saturday made Venetian history and every newspaper.

Saturday June 14 Buddha Barge

At 4:00PM in Murano, Buddha was once again lifted by crane onto a boat, this time full of glass and weighing 2 tons. He was smiling and ready to charm all of Venice. We sailed to the Grand Canal, rocking with the waves as only a 2 ton Buddha can do. His glass interior jingled occasionally and it seemed to all of us that he was speaking. As we went past San Marco, under the Accademia Bridge and the Rialto Bridge, people cheered. They flashed Peace signs, smiled, photographed and even sang, “Give Peace a Chance.” I was very moved, but still worried that we would be riding around on a boat forever. It was the opening weekend of the Biennale and the entire art world was there. People clapped and cheered, but no one phoned to adopt him. It was getting dark — we hooked up his battery and his inner glow appeared.

Sunday, June 15 Saved by the Admiral

Transport boats cannot ride on the Grand Canal on Sunday, so we went on the Giudecca canal and the Arsenale area. Towards the end of the day, we went to where the Coast Guard docks their boats near San Marco, behind Harry’s Bar. A friend happened to know the Admiral Gabriele Calcagno and his wife Silvana. We called them and they fell in love with Buddha and offered the Coast Guard’s permission to let him spend a few days parked with right where he was. It is the most prestigious, best location in all of Venice. After three days of Buddha rocking and rolling on the boat, we found a way to put him on the dock. Signor Vanni, President of ACTV, the vaporetto company, offered electricity to illuminate Buddha. This required another crane and boat trip to Murano for electrical work.

Monday, June 16

It rained heavily that evening. Thunder and lightning surrounded the illuminated Buddha as waves strongly rocked the boat from side to side. Out of the rain, an elegant gentleman had appeared and was observing Fragmented Peace on the boat. It was Pierre Cardin. I introduced myself and offered him a catalog. We traded compliments. It was a nice encounter in the rain. It may have been the lightning or the heavy rocking of the boat which broke one of the lights inside the Buddha. The next day was difficult as I removed glass and cut the inner wire to change the light bulb, scratching my arms, but got it done. No one thought of this part!

Tuesday, June 17

Buddha and I make the newspapers! Huge photo on the Grand Canal.

Thursday, June 19

Buddha is moved again to Murano. I remove each piece of glass from the interior, which takes all day under the hot sun.

Friday, June 20

The electricians show up late, but finish by dusk. Alone, I begin to refill the Buddha with glass. When illuminated, it was if I was painting with the glass as I placed each piece inside by shape and color. Fragmented Peace was beginning to look as I had imagined it. At midnight I head back to Venice by vaporetto.

Saturday, June 21

In Murano everyone helps me to finish filling Buddha. Back at San Marco/Vallaresso the crane lifts Buddha by the central steel tube inside his head, onto the dock. Everyone applauds. He is OK, I nearly faint each time he is lifted into the air, as any mother would do. Claudio, the barman at Harry’s Bar comes out with a large silver tray of cold pink Bellinis for all of us. The Admiral and his wife, the transport men and I all toast Buddha. Everyone is thrilled he found a home. Even the Gondoliers were happy to see he was finally well situated. As they gracefully glided by, one yells out, “Signora, trovata posta?” It translates, “Lady, you found a place?”

Thursday, June 27

I notice small vases disappearing from the Big Buddha sculpture. I knew it was a risk to put Buddha so close to the public transportation boat stop, but I felt it was his job to be with all of the people. I protect him by putting thin wires closing up the areas of highest risk. I ask everyone to keep an eye on him, but he is right by the busiest boat stop and anyone can touch him.

Thursday, July 3

In the end, Buddha found the best place in all of Venice. I made great new friends. I am hopeful that this work will help spark awareness.

Friday, July 4 Independence Day

10:00AM, I walk to Calle Vallaresso, say goodbye to Buddha and rub his belly. The plane leaves Venice 2 hours late and my connection through Paris to NYC is less than 20 minutes, which I make but my luggage does not. I arrive at JFK and catch all of the Fourth of July fireworks on the ride in to NYC. What a welcome home!

Monday, July 7 Back in My New York Studio

Buddha is in the heart of Venice, where all visitors pass, directly in line with the Punta della Dogana (Customs Point), the entry into Europe for the riches of the Orient, rescued by the last of the Venetian Navy. Fragmented Peace, a symbol of enlightenment, has begun his mission.

Judi Harvest