LECTURES The following are slide lecture presentations. They are usually one and a half hours in length. The Art of Italian Needle Lace The ancient art of needle made lace began in Venice in the Fifteenth Century. This lecture covers the history and techniques of needle lace that I have personally researched for years in Venice and Burano, the lace making island. I have photographed the lacemakers working, their surroundings and examples of traditional and contemporary works of art in lace. There will be a display of antique pieces for the audience to view firsthand. A Needlework Tour of Italy For over twenty-five years, I have been taking small groups of needleworkers to Italy. This lecture tries to capture some of the wonderful people, places and masterpieces that we see during the tour. There is much to enjoy: lacemaking, embroidery, weaving, costumes, needlework schools and masters. A display of antique needlework pieces will be available for the audience to study and enjoy firsthand. The Palio of Siena Twice a year in the medieval hilltop city of Siena, there is a world-famous horse race known as the Palio. The horse race which lasts only a few minutes is preceded by hours of magnificent pageantry dating back to the Renaissance. Hundreds of specially selected men, young and old,are dressed in luxurious Renaissance costumes. Corteo Storico Once a year a special procession of Renaissance costumes is held in the hilltop city of Orvieto. The old medieval palaces and narrow winding streets provide the background for this display of color and design. The needlework designs on each costume are outstanding and the antique fabrics and passamenterie are exceptional. Each costume will inspire! Carnival in Venice The most elegant carnival celebration takes place every year in Venice. This lecture features the very best of the costumes to be found in Venice during carnival season. The streets are filled with costumed people dressed in the most extravagant and fanciful costumes to be found anywhere in the world. This lecture will inspire fantasy with fabric, lace, embroidery, feather and beads. A Master Lacemaker of Venice Until you are able to fly to Venice, let Vima introduce you to Lucia Costantini, Italy’s living master lacemaker, through her slide presentation. See where Lucia lives and how she works. Lucia is the first of the Venetian lacemakers to break from traditional design in such a successful manner. Her designs combine vivid color and many rarely used antique stitches. This is an opportunity to view in detail Lucia’s masterpieces which have been purchased by collectors from around the world.

LECTURES

The following are slide lecture presentations. They are usually one and a half hours in length.

The Art of Italian Needle Lace

The ancient art of needle made lace began in Venice in the Fifteenth Century. This lecture covers the history and techniques of needle lace that I have personally researched for years in Venice and Burano, the lace making island. I have photographed the lacemakers working, their surroundings and examples of traditional and contemporary works of art in lace. There will be a display of antique pieces for the audience to view firsthand.

A Needlework Tour of Italy

For over twenty-five years, I have been taking small groups of needleworkers to Italy. This lecture tries to capture some of the wonderful people, places and masterpieces that we see during the tour. There is much to enjoy: lacemaking, embroidery, weaving, costumes, needlework schools and masters. A display of antique needlework pieces will be available for the audience to study and enjoy firsthand.

The Palio of Siena

Twice a year in the medieval hilltop city of Siena, there is a world-famous horse race known as the Palio. The horse race which lasts only a few minutes is preceded by hours of magnificent pageantry dating back to the Renaissance. Hundreds of specially selected men, young and old,are dressed in luxurious Renaissance costumes.

Corteo Storico

Once a year a special procession of Renaissance costumes is held in the hilltop city of Orvieto. The old medieval palaces and narrow winding streets provide the background for this display of color and design. The needlework designs on each costume are outstanding and the antique fabrics and passamenterie are exceptional. Each costume will inspire!

Carnival in Venice

The most elegant carnival celebration takes place every year in Venice. This lecture features the very best of the costumes to be found in Venice during carnival season. The streets are filled with costumed people dressed in the most extravagant and fanciful costumes to be found anywhere in the world. This lecture will inspire fantasy with fabric, lace, embroidery, feather and beads.

A Master Lacemaker of Venice

Until you are able to fly to Venice, let Vima introduce you to Lucia Costantini, Italy’s living master lacemaker, through her slide presentation. See where Lucia lives and how she works. Lucia is the first of the Venetian lacemakers to break from traditional design in such a successful manner. Her designs combine vivid color and many rarely used antique stitches. This is an opportunity to view in detail Lucia’s masterpieces which have been purchased by collectors from around the world.