Friday, January 12, 2007
Culture in Canada, Top Five Cultural Communities
The top 5 cultural communities in Canada are
1 - Edmonton, Alberta – in the more than 125 000 population category
Edmonton, Capital city of the province of Alberta is known for its thriving arts and cultural communities including a downtown arts district where several major centers are located.
2 - Comox Valley, British Columbia – in the 50 000 to 125 000 population category
Comox Valley is a thriving arts and culture community with painters, potters, theatre and dance troupes perform in parks and a myriad of venues including renovated heritage churches, warehouses, sports arenas, resorts and restaurants.
3 - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan – in the less than 50 000 population category
Moose Jaw is famous for its Murals on buildings all over the city. Scenes depicting Moose Jaw's early history can be found on the sides and fronts of buildings throughout the downtown core.
4 - Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec – in the less than 50 000 population category
One of Quebec oldest municipalities, the birthplace of Cirque du Soleil, a favorite of Canada’s Group of Seven painters, and a heritage town with over 85 century-old homes, this city still draws artists to this day.
5 - Wendake, Quebec – in the less than 50 000 population category
Located 10 kilometers north of the city of Quebec, the Carrefour des Nations is a festival of contemporary Aboriginal arts and culture, showcasing the First Nations artists and their unique culture. Theatrical productions, exhibitions, literary readings, musical performances, and a traditional pow-wow are testimony to Wendake's commitment to the arts and culture. These five communities were unanimously recommended by an independent advisory committee. The Cultural Capitals of Canada program celebrates the unique character of Canadian municipalities and recognizes the important role they play in highlighting the richness and diversity of our culture."
The Cultural Capitals of Canada Program highlights the achievements of communities that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the arts and culture. These prizes are awarded for merit, for the quality of proposed projects, and for past achievements of the communities. The 5 communities receive anywhere from $ 500,000 up to $ 2,000,000 to finance projects that celebrate arts and culture in those communities.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Major Attractions in Venice Italy
The voluptuous “bride of the sea”—Venice is city of northeast Italy. The gorgeous “Queen of the Adriatic” —Venice stretches across 118 islets within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice, an arm of the Adriatic Sea.
Locally dubbed as ‘the Most Serene One’—Venice is a pleasing placid place bountifully blessed with rare beauties of nature.
Venice has long been the city of numerous romantic charms. The city was an important commercial and cultural hub in the Renaissance era. The sixteenth century was the age of flourishing art. The city became one of the most important musical centers of Europe, and the era witnessed the birth of the Venetian school of music. The composers such as Adrian Willaert, Ottaviano Petrucci, Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli flourished during the century. Shakespeare beautifully portrayed the beautiful city of gondolas in ‘the merchant of Venice’ and ‘Othello’.
Today’s Venice is the city of never fading beauty. It is one of the most desired tourist destinations of the world offering highly vibrant nightlife. Home to numerous museums and art galleries, Venice is a dream destination of a connoisseur.
Venice is widely known for museums and art galleries that are precious gems of the city. Here are some fine glimpses of famous “Venetian Museums & Galleries.”
Accademia (the Gallerie dell'Accademia): The gallery offers wonderful collection of the Venetian painting from 1300 to 1700 including Paolo Veneziano's Coronation of Mary, Carpaccio's Crucifixion and Apotheosis, Giovanni Bellini's Madonna with Child between Saints Catherine and Mary Magdalen, Giorgione's Tempest, Lorenzo Lotto's Portrait of a Young Gentleman in His Studio, Paolo Veronese's Feast in the House of Levi, and Tintoretto's Theft of St Mark's Body and Crucifixion.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection: The rich American heiress, Peggy Guggenheim’s opulent collection in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni is one of the most notable collections of modern art in Italy. The collection features the artistic movements of Cubism, European Abstraction and Surrealism with notable works by Brancusi, Marino Marini, Kandinsky, Picasso, Magritte, Rothko, Max Ernst, Dali and Jackson Pollock.
Palazzo Grassi: An imposing white monumental marble mansion on the Grand Canal of Venice, Palazzo Grassi is a world famous art and history museum with a 600-seat garden theatre. The palatial museum is widely known of art exhibitions, and some of the recent past shows have featured artists Picasso, Modigliani, and Balthus, and historical subjects such as the Phoenicians and Etruscans.
Ca' d'Oro (Palazzo Santa Sofia): One of the most beautiful palazzos on the Grand Canal in Venice, Ca' d'Oro (golden house) is known for its gilt and polychrome external decorations. The elegant palazzo designed by Giovanni Bon and his son Bartolomeo Bon and built between 1425 and 1434 is now an exquisite art gallery that is open for public. The Ca' d'Oro houses the Galleria Franchetti, an impressive collection of bronzes, tapestries and paintings.
Ca' Rezzonico: A beautiful palazzo on the Grand Canal in Venice, Ca' Rezzonico is a public museum dedicated to 18th century Venice. The museum houses numerous paintings by such artists as Pietro Longhi, Francesco Guardi and Giandomenico Tiepolo, collections of antique furniture, a fine collection of Venetian glass, etc. etc.
Naval History Museum (Museo Storico Navale) & Arsenale: This museum is full of fantastic interesting maritime objects, including the banners that were flown by the Venetian fleet at Lepanto.
Museo della Fond. Scientifica Querini Stampalia: The beautiful residence of the Querini-Stampalia family became a museum after the death of Giovanni in 1868. The museum houses furniture, textiles and collector's items from the 16th century including a collection of paintings from the works of Bellini, Palma, Ricci, etc. etc.
Palazzo Cini: The former residence of Vittorio Cini, Palazzo Cini now houses his art collection, different Tuscan paintings, including works by Piero della Francesca, Botticelli, Filippo Lippi and Giunta Pisano. The museum also features numerous admirable objects, ornaments, chandeliers, furniture, porcelain, carpets, textiles, and the works from the Florentine workshop of Baldassare degli Embriachi, who made ivory objects.
Palazzo Labia - Salone del Tiepolo: The palace built from Istria stone in the 17th century features a fresco on the walls painted by Tiepolo.
Museo Dipinti Sacri Bizantini - Istituto Ellenico: This fine museum is located next to the San Giorgio dei Greci church. The museum houses a rich collection of Byzantine icons from Greece and Venice that date from the 14th to the 18th centuries. The museum also features a large variety of religious objects and artifacts from the life of Jesus and Saints, and a collection of documents and archives on the history of the Greek colonies in Venice.
Additionally, the city of Venice has numerous beautiful churches and little less famed museums and art galleries.
Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for bed and breakfasts, villas, hotels and Apartments in Venice
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