Red Regatta

Red Regatta was an independent public art project created by artist Melissa McGill that activated Venice’s lagoon and canals with four large-scale regattas of traditional vela al terzo sailboats hoisted with hand-painted red sails in 2019. Presented in collaboration with Associazione Vela al Terzo, curated by Chiara Spangaro, with project manager Marcella Ferrari, the project was co-organized by Magazzino Italian Art, with support from Mazzoleni.

From May through October 2019, artist Melissa McGill choreographed a series of large-scale regattas across Venice’s lagoon and canals in a major public art project that celebrates the city’s maritime history and calls attention to the forces of climate change and mass tourism that threaten its future. Unfolding in multiple parts, Red Regatta filled Venice’s waterways with 52 traditional vela al terzo sailboats, hoisted with hand-painted red sails. Bringing together over 250 local partners, Red Regatta was presented in collaboration with Associazione Vela al Terzo Venezia, co-organized by Magazzino Italian Art Foundation, and curated by Chiara Spangaro and project manager Marcella Ferrari.

Red Regatta commenced on May 8, 2019 with an artist talk and community open house at Ocean Space and a preview performative regatta on May 11 on the northern lagoon at Fondamente Nove. Additional regattas sailed at various points throughout the duration of Venice’s Biennale until October, including during the annual Regata Storica on September 1, 2019 in the Bacino di San Marco and the Regata di Burano on September 15, 2019. Each of the four Red Regatta performances was visible in a different area of the lagoon across the city and ideal viewing locations were listed in an interactive map below.

In conjunction with the regattas, artist-led workshops and public programs developed in collaboration with partners, such as Ocean Space and The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, explored the project’s themes in relation to the traditions that have shaped Venetian life for a millennium. Red Regatta is the first artwork to be registered as a Clean Regatta, a program of Sailors for the Sea/Oceana that mobilizes sailors to protect the ocean through education and activism.

Venice’s vela al terzo were designed with a flat bottom and removable mast to navigate the city’s waterways and have been sailed for more than a thousand years. As the boats glided though the lagoon in unison against the sky, sea, and cityscape, the reds reference forces of life and passion, alarm and urgency, and Venice itself—from its bricks and terra cotta rooftops, to its flag and history of trade in red pigment, to paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, and other Venetian masters.

McGill is a New York-based artist who previously lived in Venice and continues to be engaged with the city. Red Regatta emerges from the artist’s history of social practice projects and previous work in Venice, such as her 2017 project The Campi, also curated by Chiara Spangaro. Additional project partners include Golden Artist Colors, Classic Boats Venice, Vento di Venezia, Spazio Thetis, Inc., Sailors for The Sea/Oceana, and Fractured Atlas.

For US and International press inquiries, please email melissa@melissamcgillartist.com

The following pages are excerpts from the Red Regatta book published by Marsilio. These photographic portraits of collaborating sailors, all members of Associazione Vela al Terzo Venezia, and students from Università IUAV were taken during the sail painting workshop in March 2019 at Spazio Thetis in the historic Venetian Arsenale.

EVENTS

Red Regatta Artist Talk and Open House

May 8, 2019, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Ocean Space, Chiesa di San Lorenzo (Castello 5069, 30122 Venezia)

The first official program of Red Regatta invites local Venetians and visitors alike to an Open House, organized with mission-aligned Ocean Space, that includes an artist talk, community reception, and opportunity to see several participating sailboats up-close, moored in the canal in front of Campo di San Lorenzo.

Artist Melissa McGill, president of the Associazione Vela al Terzo Venezia Giorgio Righetti, and the director of TBA21–Academy Markus Reymann present a short program that will spur conversations on Red Regatta and the project’s core themes: the environment and maritime traditions that have shaped life in Venice for a millennium.

The Open House is presented in collaboration with Ocean Space, a new platform for oceanic research and artistic innovation in the recently revitalized Church of San Lorenzo. Additional Red Regatta programming developed with Ocean Space will be announced this summer.

Red Regatta Preview

May 11, 2019, 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Route: Bacini – Fondamente Nove

Viewing locations: Fondamente Nove, from Fondamente Nove vaporetto stop to Ospedale vaporetto stop; Calle Giazzo, from Celestia vaporetto stop to Associazione Vela al Terzo headquarters

On May 11, the first public day of the Biennale, a preview performance of Red Regatta including more than 50 traditional vela al terzo sailboats, embarks on Venice’s northern lagoon between Fondamente Nove and Isola di San Michele. Audiences are encouraged to join the artist and sailors at a reception following the event at the Associazione Vela al Terzo headquarters.

Red Regatta

June 30, 2019, 12:00 – 2:00 pm

Route: San Servolo – Poveglia

Viewing locations: Riva dei Sette Martiri; Viale Giardini Pubblici; San Servolo Island; Lido’s Lagoon waterfront

Navigating the waters between the islands of San Servolo and Poveglia, Red Regatta will weave through the historic landscape and activate the architecture with the choreographed flotilla. Starting between San Servolo and Venice, Red Regatta will move towards Poveglia, in parallel to the Lagoon coast of Lido.

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata Storica

September 1, 2019, 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Route: Canale della Giudecca – Bacino San Marco – Canal Grande near Punta della Dogana

Viewing locations: Fondamenta Zattere; Punta della Dogana; Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore; Piazza San Marco and Riva degli Schiavoni; Fondamenta della Giudecca, side of Canale della Giudecca Canal Grande near Punta della Dogana

Joining the annual Regata Storica, a celebration of Venetian maritime culture dating back to the 13^thcentury, Red Regatta will stage an evanescent performance on the Canale della Giudecca and Bacino San Marco. Starting between Sacca Fisola and San Basilio, navigating the Canale della Giudecca, the performance will reach the Bacino San Marco between Punta della Dogana, Piazza San Marco and San Giorgio Maggiore Island.

Red Regatta at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection

August 31, 2019, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm,

Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Dorsoduro, 701-704, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy

A small grouping of vela al terzo hoisted with red sails raised will be moored in front of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, giving visitors and passersby the opportunity to preview these historic wooden boats on the Grand Canale.

Family Event

September 1, 2019, 3:00 – 4:30 pm

Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Dorsoduro, 701-704, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy

On Sunday, September 1st, on the occasion of Red Regatta, children aged 4 to 10 will have the opportunity to discover the artist Alexander Calder and his incredible sculptures. Starting with bedhead, which imitates and brings together a submarine world and garden, the young visitors will then come to see his monumental “The Cow”, 1971, which recalls the enormous red sails that originally inspired Red Regatta. During the visit and the educational workshop, the participants, joined by fish, dragonflies, plants, and animals, will come to discover an artist for whom nature was a continuous source of both inspiration and imitation.

In 2018 the Peggy Guggenheim Collection joined ASviS, the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development that promotes the 17 Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. This workshop belongs to this important awareness process as it addresses, in particular, Goal 13, to fight against climate change, and Goal 14, focused on the Sea Life.

Open House: Past to Present / Local to Global

The Vela al Terzo sailing tradition, with the Associazione Vela al Terzo and Red Regatta

September 14, 2019, 3:00 – 7:00 pm

Ocean Space, Chiesa di San Lorenzo (Castello 5069, 30122 Venezia)

Marking their second collaboration, Red Regatta and Ocean Space will present a free interactive public program addressing the local and global perspectives of conservation in Venice’s lagoon, including panel discussions exploring the history of Venice and the city’s current environmental state and educational and hands-on workshops for audiences of all ages. Hosted at Ocean Space, a new transdisciplinary platform for oceanic research and innovation in the revitalized Chiesa di San Lorenzo, Red Regatta and Ocean Space leadership, participating sailors, and project collaborators will celebrate the project ahead of the final performative regatta on September 15.

Artist Melissa McGill will moderate a two-part panel conversation exploring the culture and history of the vela al terzo sailing tradition with president of the Associazione Vela al Terzo Giorgio Righetti and the author of Tradizioni e regate della vela al terzo, Silvio Testa, and then delve into the current and future environmental threats to the Venetian lagoon and bodies of water around the world with experts. Audiences are then invited to join Red Regatta sailors in hands-on workshops to learn knot tying, sail-making, and boat-building techniques, in addition to a Red Regatta sail painting activity led by student volunteers from Università Iuav di Venezia. Attendees will be invited to a community aperitivo and have the opportunity to preview several of the participating traditional boats with red sails raised, moored in the canal in front of Campo di San Lorenzo.

Red Regatta

September 15th, 2019, 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Route: Burano – Torcello

Viewing locations: Waterfront along Canale di Burano and Fondamenta dei Squeri, Vaporetto stop at Torcello, Fondamenta di Mazzorbo

Concurrently with the historic Regata di Burano, which features the centuries old tradition of the voga alla veneta, Red Regatta will move through the Northern lagoon between Burano and Torcello. Engaging with the landscape of this unique section of Venice with its ancient Roman ruins and distinctive architecture, the vela al terzo fleet will weave through the islands and call attention to the location’s history and traditions.

Explore Map

Punta della Dogana

Punta della Dogana, Dorsoduro, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata Storica

September 1, 2019, 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Route: Canale della Giudecca – Bacino San Marco – Canal Grande near Punta della Dogana

Viewing locations: Fondamenta Zattere; Punta della Dogana; Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore; Piazza San Marco and Riva degli Schiavoni; Fondamenta della Giudecca, side of Canale della Giudecca Canal Grande

Joining the annual Regata Storica, a celebration of Venetian maritime culture dating back to the 13^thcentury, Red Regatta will stage an evanescent performance on the Canale della Giudecca and Bacino San Marco. Starting between Sacca Fisola and San Basilio, navigating the Canale della Giudecca, the performance will reach the Bacino San Marco between Punta della Dogana, Piazza San Marco and San Giorgio Maggiore Island.

Photo by Yuko Gherardi

Piazza San Marco

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata Storica

September 1, 2019, 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Route: Canale della Giudecca – Bacino San Marco – Canal Grande near Punta della Dogana

Photo by Yuko Gherardi

Isola San Giorgio Maggiore

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata Storica

September 1, 2019, 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Route: Canale della Giudecca – Bacino San Marco – Canal Grande near Punta della Dogana

Photo by Yuko Gherardi

Riva degli Schiavoni

Riva degli Schiavoni, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata Storica

September 1, 2019, 12:00 – 2:00 pm

Route: Canale della Giudecca – Bacino San Marco – Canal Grande near Punta della Dogana

Photo by Yuko Gherardi

Fondamenta Zattere

Zattere, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata Storica

September 1, 2019, 12:00 – :00 pm

Route: Canale della Giudecca – Bacino San Marco – Canal Grande near Punta della Dogana

Photo by Yuko Gherardi

Fondamenta Zattere al Ponte Longo

Fondamenta Zattere Al Ponte Lungo, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata Storica

September 1, 2019, 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Route: Canale della Giudecca – Bacino San Marco – Canal Grande near Punta della Dogana

Photo by Nisha Sondhe

Fondamenta della Giudecca

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata Storica

September 1, 2019, 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Route: Canale della Giudecca – Bacino San Marco – Canal Grande near Punta della Dogana

Photo by Yuko Gherardi

Fondamenta della Giudecca

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata Storica

September 1, 2019, 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Route: Canale della Giudecca – Bacino San Marco – Canal Grande near Punta della Dogana

Photo by Yuko Gherardi

Sacca Fisola

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata Storica

September 1, 2019, 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Route: Starting at Sacca San Biagio at 12pm.

Canale della Giudecca – Bacino San Marco – Canal Grande near Punta della Dogana

Photo by Nisha Sondhe

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Dorsoduro, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

Red Regatta at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection

On August 31, 2019 from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m., a small grouping of vela al terzo hoisted with red sails will be moored in front of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection giving visitors and passersby the opportunity to preview the historic wooden boats in the Grand Canale.

Family Event

September 1, 2019, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Dorsoduro, 701-704, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy

On Sunday, September 1^st, on the occasion of Red Regatta, children aged 4 to 10 will have the opportunity to discover the artist Alexander Calder and his incredible sculptures. Starting with Bedhead, which imitates and brings together a submarine world and garden, the young visitors will then come to see his monumental The Cow, 1971, which recalls the enormous red sails that originally inspired Red Regatta. During the visit and the educational workshop, the participants, joined by fish, dragonflies, plants, and animals, will come to discover an artist for whom nature was a continuous source of both inspiration and imitation.

In 2018 the Peggy Guggenheim Collection joined ASviS, the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development that promotes the 17 Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. This workshop belongs to this important awareness process as it addresses, in particular, Goal 13, to fight against climate change, and Goal 14, focused on the Sea Life.

Ocean Space at San Lorenzo

Ocean Space, Campo San Lorenzo, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

Open House: Past to Present / Local to Global

The Vela al Terzo sailing tradition, with the Associazione Vela al Terzo and Red Regatta

September 14, 2019, 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Ocean Space, Chiesa di San Lorenzo (Castello 5069, 30122 Venezia)

Marking their second collaboration, Red Regatta and Ocean Space will present a free interactive public program addressing the local and global perspectives of conservation in Venice’s lagoon, including panel discussions exploring the history of Venice and the city’s current environmental state and educational and hands-on workshops for audiences of all ages. Hosted at Ocean Space, a new transdisciplinary platform for oceanic research and innovation in the revitalized Chiesa di San Lorenzo, Red Regatta and Ocean Space leadership, participating sailors, and project collaborators will celebrate the project ahead of the final performative regatta on September 15.

Artist Melissa McGill will moderate a two-part panel conversation exploring the culture and history of the vela al terzo sailing tradition with president of the Associazione Vela al Terzo Giorgio Righetti and the author of Tradizioni e regate della vela al terzo, Silvio Testa, and then delve into the current and future environmental threats to the Venetian lagoon and bodies of water around the world with experts. Audiences are then invited to join Red Regatta sailors in hands-on workshops to learn knot tying, sail-making, and boat-building techniques, in addition to a Red Regatta sail painting activity led by student volunteers from Università Iuav di Venezia. Attendees will be invited to a community aperitivo and have the opportunity to preview several of the participating traditional boats with red sails raised, moored in the canal in front of Campo di San Lorenzo.

Burano Waterfront, Fondamenta dei Squeri

Fondamenta dei Squeri, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata di Burano

September 15th, 2019, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Route: Burano – Torcello

Viewing locations: Waterfront along Canale di Burano and Fondamenta dei Squeri, Vaporetto stop at Torcello, Fondamenta di Mazzorbo

Concurrently with the historic Regata di Burano, which features the centuries old tradition of the voga alla veneta amongst other Venetian maritime traditions, Red Regatta will move through the Northern lagoon between Burano and Torcello. Engaging with the landscape of this unique section of Venice with its ancient Roman ruins and distinctive architecture, the vela al terzo fleet will weave through the islands and call attention to the location’s history and traditions.

Torcello Vaporetto stop

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata di Burano

September 15th, 2019, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Route: Burano – Torcello

Viewing locations: Waterfront along Canale di Burano and Fondamenta dei Squeri, Vaporetto stop at Torcello, Fondamenta di Mazzorbo

Fondamenta di Mazzorbo

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata di Burano

September 15th, 2019, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Route: Burano – Torcello

Viewing locations: Waterfront along Canale di Burano and Fondamenta dei Squeri, Vaporetto stop at Torcello, Fondamenta di Mazzorbo

Photo by Yuko Gherardi

Red Regatta

EVENTS

Punta della Dogana

Piazza San Marco

Isola San Giorgio Maggiore

Riva degli Schiavoni

Fondamenta Zattere

Fondamenta Zattere al Ponte Longo

Fondamenta della Giudecca

Fondamenta della Giudecca

Sacca Fisola

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Ocean Space at San Lorenzo

Burano Waterfront, Fondamenta dei Squeri

Torcello Vaporetto stop

Fondamenta di Mazzorbo

Punta della Dogana

Piazza San Marco

Isola San Giorgio Maggiore

Riva degli Schiavoni

Fondamenta Zattere

Fondamenta Zattere al Ponte Longo

Fondamenta della Giudecca

Fondamenta della Giudecca

Sacca Fisola

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Ocean Space at San Lorenzo

Burano Waterfront, Fondamenta dei Squeri

Torcello Vaporetto stop

Fondamenta di Mazzorbo

Red Regatta on September 1, 2019, 12-5pm

Punta della Dogana

Piazza San Marco

Isola San Giorgio Maggiore

Riva degli Schiavoni

Fondamenta Zattere

Fondamenta Zattere al Ponte Longo

Fondamenta della Giudecca

Fondamenta della Giudecca

Sacca Fisola

Red Regatta at The Peggy Guggenheim Collection on August 31 and September 1

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Open House: Past to Present / Local to Global: The Vela al Terzo sailing tradition, with the Associazione Vela al Terzo and Red Regatta, September 14, 3-7pm

Ocean Space at San Lorenzo

Red Regatta, coinciding with Venice’s Regata di Burano, September 15, 2-4pm

Burano Waterfront, Fondamenta dei Squeri

Torcello Vaporetto stop

Fondamenta di Mazzorbo

About the artist

About the team

Collaborations