From the 22nd until the 29th of May, between the Appartamento Lago and the Arts and Design Faculty of the Iuav University in Venice, A Special Day took place: a workshop on queer memories organised by Francesco Urbano Ragazzi which included for the occasion the artists Antonio Bigini, Tomaso De Luca, Sabina Grasso, Andrea Romano and Annatina Caprez. During a one-week residency program, the group had the chance to confront such topics as the queer memories and cultures, experiencing the city as a laboratory for exchanging experiences and transmitting stories.

The mornings have been marked by the “heterosexual” film screening Cinema alla Luce del Giorno (Cinema with the Day Light) which took place in the Arts and Design Faculty of the Iuav University in Venice. These are the movies that have been showcased: Tropical Malady by Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Goodbye, Dragon Inn by Tsai Ming-Liang, Flaming Creatures by Jack Smith, The Killing of Sister George by Robert Aldrich, Paris is Burning by Jennie Livingston. In the afternoons, the curators Pier Luigi Tazzi, Filipa Ramos, the artist Chiara Fumai, the activist Camilla Seibezzi and the sociologist Luca Trappolin pooled their insight in order to widen, deepen and re-discuss the visions spectrum.

The intense week resulted in the preparation of a “special day” in the company of the real protagonists of the workshop: a group of people from the LGBT Venetian community, born between the 1930s and the 40s. Delicate, personal tales, reality and fantasies of yesterday and today found intimate resonance during three private meetings.
The project ended in March 2012 with the exhibition Io, Tu, Lui, Lei in the rooms of Palazzetto Tito, home of the Bevilaqua La Masa Foundation.
 

A special day is funded by UNAR – National anti racism discrimination office, part of the Equal Opportunities department. Promoted by City of Venice – Venice City Hall Young Politics department – Osservatorio Queer. Curated by Francesco Urbano Ragazzi. In collaboration with March Foundation, Ottava Traversa, Arts and Design Faculty of the Iuav University. Supported by: Appartamento Lago – Venezia (Lago Spa), Coop Adriatica.