What is the effect of the environment, the presentation, the “surround,” and the resulting mood these create in the experience of a work of art? In my view, it can make it or break it.

It’s almost impossible not to empathize with Vercingetorix. Standing in front of this huge painting, you gaze up at him with that wild hair and his noble savage bearing and you just ache for him.

If you come to this blog, you are undoubtedly intellectually curious and most likely enjoy the learning of a new word. Now maybe this is old news for you, but this word was new to me. The word of the day is HAPTIC.

There is, however, one problem and I fear there is no solution to this one. The problem is TIME.

Sometimes you go to a really great dinner party where you meet really smart and charming new people. The conversation is thrilling and is somehow more satisfying than even the best food. You leave feeling smarter and genuinely nourished.

One of the best parts of living here in Venice is where we actually live. If you draw a tight circle around St. Mark’s square and then concentric circles around that first one, the number of tourists (can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em) diminishes by half the further out you get.