Robert Rauschenberg in front of his silkscreen painting Express at the XXXII International Art Biennale in Venice, 1964. Photo: Ugo Mulas. Courtesy of Ugo Mulas Heirs
On Friday, August 23, the North Fork Arts Center (211 Front St., Greenport) will host a special screening and discussion of the documentary film “Taking Venice”.
Directed by Amei Wallach, the film traces the story of an infamous scandal that occurred during the 1964 Venice Biennale, one of the largest international art exhibitions in the world, and shows how the American government decided to use “culture” as a tactic during the Cold War.
“It’s something of an urban legend in the art world,” says Wallach about the events that took place during the Biennale.
Legend has it that then-unknown, now-legendary artist Robert Rauschenberg was chosen by Washington insider Alice Denney (who appears in the documentary) and art dealer Leo Castelli to compete for the Biennale’s top prize in the juried competition. Rumors of manipulation and fraud persisted, especially as Rauschenberg’s works achieved great success and the unique multimedia artworks he brought to the exhibition were dubbed “junk art” by many in the international art community. Unfolding with the swiftness of a prank, Taking Venice examines how true some of these allegations were, as well as the lasting influence Rauschenberg had on the art world.
“We deliberately designed it as a prank,” says Wallach. “It’s for people who are interested in art, history, politics, the Cold War, the Kennedys – anything.”
According to Wallach, an award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker, the film is an examination of how the U.S. government in the 1960s believed that art had such power over hearts and minds that winning the grand prize could change the course of the Cold War. By showcasing Rauschenberg and his work, the United States turned the Biennale into a spectacle the likes of which the art world had never seen before.
“I think what people like about this film is that they’re not being ‘told’ anything, they’re not being ‘taught’ anything,” she says. “They’re just along for the ride.”
Taking Venice was in development for seven years before it was completed and screened at festivals. Wallach discovered many interesting twists to the story, including images by famed international photographer Ugo Mulas showing paintings being loaded onto boats, a famous moment that is a central point in the film.
“We kept coming across little gems,” says Wallach. “We kept finding surprising footage.”
One of the film’s central protagonists, New York writer and art critic Calvin Tomkins, attended the Venice Biennale in 1964 and provided insight into the feelings of Rauschenberg, a gay Jewish artist, when he was chosen by the government as a symbol of American nationalism. Taking Venice also includes interviews with Rauschenberg’s partner, American artist Jasper Johns, which offer insight into Rauschenberg’s private life.
Gelding, who lives in North Fork, found a lot of support in the East End during the filming of “Taking Venice.”
“This film took a village to make,” says Wallach. “I started shooting in 2016 and did some interviews, then we started editing the film and got stuck. One of the things we needed was color, so I went to Venice to shoot reenactments (in 2019).”
Shooting in Venice exceeded the film’s budget, but Wallach’s friend and fellow North Fork native Andy Tarshis helped hire editor Rob Tinworth, who gave the film its gangster vibe. After a rough cut was completed, Wallach and Tarshis screened the film in the living rooms of Tarshis, Joyce Beckinstein, Scott McIntire and Lori Hollander, Beth and John Wittenberg, and many others in North Fork.
When the film is shown at the North Fork Arts Center in Greenport, Wallach feels like “a dream come true. It’s like a homecoming. (NFAC director) Tony Spiridakis came to one of the first screenings, and we both had our films at the Boulder Film Festival. We needed the (arts center) on the North Fork.”
“Taking Venice” will premiere at the North Fork Arts Center on Friday, August 23, followed by a Q&A with Wallach moderated by arts journalist and fellow North Fork native Lindsay Pollock. Tickets for the screening can be purchased here. Watch the trailer below.
