Artist Melissa McGill will speak about her most recent public artwork, Red Regatta, an unprecedented series of large-scale choreographed regattas of traditional vela al terzo sailboats, hoisted with hand-painted red sails, that activated Venice’s lagoon and waterways last May through October 2019. This independent public artwork united Venetians and visitors to celebrate the cultural and maritime history of the city and call attention to the forces of climate change and mass tourism that threaten its future. Bringing together over 300 local partners, Red Regatta was presented in collaboration with Associazione Vela al Terzo Venezia, co-organized by Magazzino Italian Art Foundation, curated by Chiara Spangaro and project manager Marcella Ferrari, with support from Mazzoleni. Red Regatta is the first artwork to be registered as a Clean Regatta, a program of Sailors for the Sea.

*This lecture is free and open to the public but space is limited. Save Venice supporters with an active 2019–2020 Membership receive priority.

Photo © Jonathan Hoare