Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting: Venetian Artisanship and Climate Change Slideshow

1. Photos and Reporting: Robert Eric Shoemaker
The Delicacies and Intricacies of theVenetian Glass
Arts

2. Venetian Beadwork is a Dying Breed
Moulaye Niang, a rare example of an African-born glass bead artisan in the Venetian perle tradition, smokes on the job.

3. Moulaye’s uniquely gorgeous African-inspired beads proliferate in his Castello shop. Moulaye is one of a group of perle
artisans who make beads of glass with a small flame rather than a furnace.

4. An assortment of Murano glass perle splays in a traditional but defunct impiraressa’s box,
with needles that used to thread tiny beads onto strings for transportation.

5. The Glassmaster of Sacca Serenella
The famous “Full Moon” designed by Judi Harvest, formerly on the banks of the Grand Canal at Harry’s Bar,
now adorns the fondamenta outside the Giuman glass factory on Sacca Serenella.

6. The furnaces of the Giuman glass factory are always blazing and (mostly) always full.
Giorgio Giuman is one of few remaining glassmasters on Murano and is the only one who works in lost wax,
a technique for which he is well known and contracts himself to others for.

7. Giorgio’s factory is full of curiosities, including an all-glass temple and an unfinished Jesus sculpture.
It is a shame to think of all of the magnificent pieces unseen by the public- but that’s the charm of his space.

8. Judi Harvest has worked harmoniously with Giorgio and the Giumane for around thirty years, creating exquisite glass objects
as well as a beautiful garden for honeybees. She and Giorgio, together, are an example of what could be done for the
Muranese glass masters.

9. Giorgio’s factory is a family enterprise, and his two sons and daughter are experts in the craft. However, the family is
struggling to keep the factory open and need projects- like this reassembled Christ- to stay afloat.

10. Adriano Berengo’s Ironglass Machine
Jane Rushton of Berengo Industries explains the studio’s collaboration with a guest artist on this gorgeous tower of
glass bricks. Berengo specializes in high art pieces and has worked on projects with Ai Weiwei and other well-knowns.

11. Berengo’s factory is a clean and well-lit space that invites efficiency. The artist collaborators are given a tour of the space
before their work is crafted by the glass artisans employed by Berengo.

12. Many of the artists working with Berengo create enticing installations. Under their contract, the artist receives copies, some
copies are sold, and the studio keeps at least one. In this way, Berengo is bringing glass into this century.

13. Cryptic creations abound in Berengo’s museums on Murano, inspiring other artists to partner with the company. But, in
keeping the art form alive, Berengo bypasses traditional methods of craft.

14. Murano:
A Haven
for the
Few
A star sits beneath the campanile on Murano, beckoning new artists to join the distinguished but diminishing
ranks of the glass maestri of Murano.