Building Bridges Exhibit by Lorenzo Quinn

Venice is so beautiful, it’s a fantastic place to showcase artwork. There were a ton of art exhibits throughout the city when I was there. In fact, there were so many, I couldn’t begin to see them all. Lorenzo Quinns’ Building Bridges Art exhibit, however, was my favorite. I loved it, firstly for it’s uniqueness, but also for it’s visual impact and message. 

The exhibit opened in May, 2019 and was on display for 6 months.

Building Bridges Exhibit

The Exhibit and It’s Message

The work features 6 sets of giant, human hands. They reach up towards the sky, almost 50′ high. Each set of hands join in different gestures to symbolize one of 6 universal values of humanity. Lorenzo uses the following as these 6 values:

• Friendship
• Faith
• Help
• Hope
• Love 
• Wisdom

The intent behind the exhibit is to remind people that they can use these simple, universal values to overcome differences and build a better world together. 

By using the name Building Bridges for the exhibit, he adds in the element of how everyday people can use these values to build bridges to improve humanity.  Furthermore, using hands to convey the message, he shows how simple it can be for anyone to reach out and make a difference. 

Lorenzo felt Venice was the perfect place for,

“…spreading a message of unity connecting societies, nations, communities, and individuals through building bridges, not walls.”

I Love this! Especially since I arrived here directly after the heartbreaking experience of seeing the Wall in the West Bank and how it divides and diminishes the people in Israel and Palestine.

Other Works by Lorenzo Quinn

Additionally, there was an exhibit showcasing more of Lorenzo’s sculptures nearby. Not only is there a mini version of the larger Building Bridges exhibit, but there are several other exhibits using hands, or the human body. Clearly, the use of hands is a very common theme in his work. It works well, as you have an immediate emotional reaction to them.

For more information about the artist or the exhibit, visit https://www.lorenzoquinn.com/

Other Things To See And Do In Italy

Rome is a must visit in Italy. The Colosseum, ancient archeological sites, rich history, impressive architecture, and food are top notch, making this one of the world’s top travel destinations. About 3 hours north of Rome is Florence, home of Michelangelo’s David, the Iconic Duomo, and a multitude of Renaissance art. Another must-visit place in Italy.

Heading south of Rome, the ruins of Pompeii and Hurculaneum, are less than a 3 hour drive. One of the world’s top archeological sites, it’s fascinating to wander the streets and homes frozen in time almost 2,000 years ago. This is one of my all time favorite places!

South of Pompeii, highlights include the idyllic beauty of the famed Amalfi coast. And, from there, the jaw-dropping beauty of Capri, is just a ferry ride away. Sicily, off the tip of Italy’s boot, is full of fascinating cities and sites. While the lovely Aeolian islands are scattered north of it. They’re fun to ferry between and explore one-by-one. I explored a few and hiked up the volcanic island of Stromboli to see it spit fire at its at sunset.

In Italy’s northwest, Cinque Terre is the perfect option. You can visit, and hike, between the 5 charming villages. The vistas from each are truly spectacular. Sometimes dubbed the ”sixth” village of Cinque Terre, Portovenere, is a perfect add-on.

Further north is the port town of Genoa. This melting pot city was the birthplace of both Christopher Columbus and Pesto Pasta, which I thought I didn’t like until I tried the REAL version.

To see all the highlights of Italy, as well as understand how to get around, safety, scams, logistics, and more, to help you plan your trip, see my Italy Travel Guide.