Discovering Your Artistic Vision in Hidden Venice:
A CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOp
©Sarah Hadley
This workshop will guide you to access your deeper voice and inspire you to make evocative work in the enchanting city of Venice, Italy
April 7-11, 2025
in Venice, Italy
Email us for more information. GalleryAltaVista@gmail.com
Sarah Hadley
&
Alexandra DeFurio
with
©Sarah Hadley
THE WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE
Embark on a creative journey through the magnificent city of Venice, Italy allowing your unique photographic expression to evolve, surrounded by the mystical beauty and layered history of this floating city, which has played muse to writers, artists and musicians for centuries.
Led by artists Sarah Hadley and Alexandra DeFurio, this immersive five-day photography workshop guides you to access your deeper artistic voice, focusing on the creative process, how to make meaningful and evocative work, and listen to your inner voice, while exploring this unique floating city with your camera.
Each day we will meet in a private home for inspiration, creative exercises, writing and discussion. There will be time to share your work, receive daily guidance, encouragement and feedback. As a group we will spend time together discovering hidden Venice, while also giving you generous time to follow your own curiosities. The workshop will be a mix of on-location shoots, including creating images with a model, sharing work, group conversations, short talks, and one-on-one sessions with Alexandra and Sarah.
Let yourself be led by the spirit of this distinctive workshop, from the first morning light reflecting on the canals to the setting sun, the ethereal essence of Venice will transform you and how you see through the lens.
Click BELOW to Register
If you register by January 1st, you will receive $200 off the registration price.
©Alexandra DeFurio
OVERVIEW OF WORKSHOP
We will gather each day at a private residence where there will be a review of images, engaging class critiques and discussions to refine your craft. You will be guided through writing exercises to ignite your imagination, setting the stage for capturing the essence of our incredible surroundings.
Guided by your instructor Sarah Hadley, author of Lost Venice, we will venture through the labyrinthian alleyways, and explore hidden parts of this extraordinary place with our cameras. Hadley lived and worked in Venice for many years and has an intimate knowledge of the city.
In the midst of these picturesque surroundings, discover how to carve out your unique voice and create art that goes beyond the surface. Through thought-provoking lectures, writing prompts and shooting assignments, we'll explore the synergy between your personal history and your photographs, giving you the opportunity to add to your portfolio or spark a new series which articulates your interior landscape.
Through a one-on-one session with Sarah and Alexandra, you will gain insight into the motivations driving your work, assisting you in understanding your artistic vision.
©Sarah Hadley
OCTOBER IN VENICE
Venice, with its dreamlike ambiance, romantic allure, and breathtaking scenery, is truly awe-inspiring. Nestled amidst the waters of the Adriatic Sea, this enchanting cluster of islands has no roads or cars, just canals, waterways and piazzas lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces and churches.
Walking around the city – exploring Venice on foot unveils its myriad wonders, from charming canals to captivating Venetian architecture. October’s idyllic weather sets the stage for an immersive experience, offering the perfect blend of comfort and adventure.
October is generally warm and sunny, with a few sprinkled showers. It is one of the best months to visit Venice as the days are warm and crisp. 2024 is also a year of the world famous Venice Biennale, so you may want to extend your visit to spend a few days enjoying contemporary art from around the world.
CREATIVE WORKSHOP TUITION:
$2500 total
$800 deposit due upon booking
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
Welcome reception at 4pm
Daily gatherings, group discussions, lectures, critiques and creative exercises
Guided expeditions through hidden Venice
1:1 session with instructors
Closing reception & slideshow
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare
Lodging accommodations
Transportation to and from airport
Travel insurance
REGISTRATION ON OUR WORKSHOPS ARE BINDING.
Please do not make travel plans until we have confirmed that we have the minimum number of participants booked. We will confirmation no later than a month before the workshop begins.
Please read our cancellation, rules, withdrawal and refund policies below in the blue boxes.
Limited to 10 participants
YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Our working relationship and friendship is fueled by daily discussions on the creative process, pushing artistic boundaries, our dedication to making new work, thinking bigger, and living an authentic and artistic life. Our connetion is a source of mutual support, inspiration, humor and honesty. We’re excited to be collaborating, sharing all we have cultivated as friends and artists, and we are thrilled to welcome you on this adventure with us. (see individual bios)
Alexandra DeFurio
Sarah Hadley
ABOUT SARAH HADLEY:
Sarah Hadley is a Los Angeles based artist whose narrative work focuses on memory, place and the subconscious.
Hadley has been an artist for over 30 years and has taught workshops through the Los Angeles Center of Photography and Filter Photo. Her work has been shown in solo exhibitions at the Griffin Museum of Photography, the Loyola Museum of Art, Richard Levy Gallery, Afterimage Gallery, and the dnj Gallery, as well as festivals and art fairs in Italy, France, Portugal, China, Argentina, India, and Australia.
Her photographs have been featured in publications and online blogs including, Le Monde, Elle Italia, Marie Claire, L’Oeil de la Photographie, ArtTribune, Lenscratch.com and B+W Magazine.
Hadley interned at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice in her twenties and later worked at the Venice Biennale. Her first monograph “Lost Venice” was published by Damiani Editore in 2020. View more of her work here.
ABOUT ALEXANDRA DeFURIO:
Alexandra DeFurio has been a commercial and fine art photographer for 18 years. Her personal narratives explore themes relating to the feminine journey, loss, and the perception of memories.
Her process includes self-portraiture and more recently, the historic photographic medium of cyanotype printing.
DeFurio’s fine art photographs have been exhibitied throughout the country and internationally, including in Milan and Paris; and her work been featured in numerous publications, Frames Magazine, L’Oeil de la Photographie, Shots Magazine, What Will You Remember?, Lenscratch and A Photo Editor; her work was exhibited at Milan Photo Fair (MIA), Photo Saint Germain (Paris), The Curated Fridge, Pop Art Photo Show, and stARTup Art Fair. Her art has been commissioned for private collections.
In addition to her photograph practice, DeFurio is a certified mentor and coach. She is the creator of Embodying The Feminine, a transformational experience using the camera as a healing modality, empowering women to fully embody their authentic expression. View more of her work here.
WHEN TO ARRIVE:
The workshop starts with a welcome gathering at 4pm at a private residence on April 7th. We suggest arriving a few days early to adjust to the time zone.
WHEN TO DEPART:
The workshop will conclude in the morning with a farewell reception.
WHERE TO STAY:
Participants are responsible for lodging. We recommend staying nearby to our gathering location.
Feel free to contact us with questions about lodging and locations.
Please see Where to Stay in Venice section on this site for links to hotels and airbnb.
WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR:
This workshop is designed to accommodate all camera formats (including an iPhone) and all skill levels.
You must have working knowledge of your camera and how to download images from your camera to your laptop, select images and edit.
No writing experience required.
WHAT TO BRING:
Camera, battery charger, camera strap, travel tripod (if you want to do long exposures), several memory cards and/or film
Laptop, charging cord, card reader,
EU plug adapterJournal/notebook for writing exercises
A digital portfolio of your work to share with the group (max 10 images).
ACTIVITY LEVEL:
Participants should be in good physical condition and able to walk several miles a day and up and down many bridges. You must be able to carry your own photographic equipment at all times.
WHERE TO STAY IN VENICE
To assist you in making your travel plans to Venice effortless, we’ve provided several options for lodging that are within a ten minute walk to where we will be meeting.
We will gather daily at a central location. The exact address will be sent to you upon registration. Everything is within 10-15 minutes of San Marco.
Book a Venezia apartment with Airbnb or vrbo and live like a local (we can help you find a roommate if you are interested).
Some ideas for hotels, though there are many beautiful ones
Hotel La Calcina
Dorsoduro 780 - Zattere
Pensione Segvso
Dorsoduro 779
The St. Regis Venice
San Marco 2159
Nani Mocenigo Palace
Fondamenta Nani 960
GETING IN THE MOOD FOR YOUR TRIP
Movies set in Venice:
Don’t Look Now (Donald Sutherland)
The Wings of the Dove (Helena Bonham Carter)
Brideshead Revisited (Jeremy Irons)
Merchant of Venice (Joseph Fiennes)
Dangerous Beauty
Summertime (Katherine Hepburn)
Only You (Marisa Tomei)
Casanova (Heath Ledger)
Bread and Tulips
Italian for Beginners
Novels set in Venice:
Out of this Century by Peggy Guggenheim
The Passion by Jeannette Winterson
The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt
The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato
A Venetian Affair by Andrea Di Robilant
Please feel free to email us HERE with any questions, or if you are interested in sharing accommodations with another workshop participant, or if you need assistance with travel plans.
DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT:
CREATIVE WORKSHOP TUITION
$2300 before January 1st, 2025
$2500 after January 1st, 2025
$800 deposit due upon booking
Register HERE
After registering, you will receive a welcome email with additional information, and confirmation of your payment.
WITHDRAW AND REFUND POLICY:
Our workshop has limited enrollment, and the registration is binding. We offer a 30 day grace period, if you have second thoughts about participating in the workshop within 30 days of your registration, we will refund your payment, minus a $100 processing fee. After July 30th, we only offer a 48 hour grace period, and after that you are committed to being a participant, and refunds are no longer given.
We are not responsible for cancellations due to medical emergencies (see below for purchasing trip insurance).
Workshop cancellation POLICY:
DO NOT BOOK YOUR TICKET OR LODGING UNTIL WE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE MINIMUM NUMBER OR PARTICIPANTS REQUIRED HAVE REGISTERED.
For workshops to run we need a minimum of five participants, if we do not fill the minimum number, the workshop will be cancelled and you will be given a full refund. We will inform you of the workshop status and give you a “green light” to book your travel no later than September 1st.
We are not responsible for reimbursement of airline, lodging, or any expenses associated with your trip.
TRAVEL / CANCELLATION INSURANCE:
We STRONGLY recommend that you purchase travel insurance for your trip and purchase a refundable ticket. This will protect you against financial loss due to unforeseen circumstances that may prevent your attendance or require an early departure. If you chose to forego purchasing travel insurance, you are personally responsible to cover all costs or penalties if you need to cancel outside of our policies. We are not responsible for cancellations due to medical emergencies, or any other circumstances.
CONTACT US
We are here to answer any questions, address concerns, or assist you with your travel plans.
Please email us HERE at galleryaltavista@gmail.com.