"Ah, the Venice Biennale, what an extraordinary way to experience art!", to quote our guide, Gerri Aurre. "Venice, a city of the Renaissance, offers itself up to the most contemporary expressions in the world of art in the 21st century. The experience is nothing less than a feast, in every way possible.

The Biennale is staged in two main locations: The Arsenale and the Giardini. This is the area of the city where all the great explorations began. Marco Polo left Venice from the Arsenale (boatyard)...an apt setting. And that is only the beginning. Art venues are tucked into palazzos and churches all around the city. It becomes a treasure hunt around Venice that takes days.

This was the 55th Biennale and eighty eight countries were represented. Many countries exhibited work by one artist. Sarah Sze represented the United States and she did an extraordinary job of transforming the US Pavillion into an Installation space. She was onsite for months creating her world. Ai Wei Wei's work was exhibited in a church and the impact was immense. This was also my first encounter with Phyllida Barlow. Her work filled the space in a monumental way. I was thrilled to see her at the Norton just a few months later. If you have not been to the Venice Biennale, I hope that I can provide you with just a glimpse of the renaissance we are experiencing right now."

Gerri Aurre has been a lifelong traveler, and has savored looking at Art in great museums and exhibits everywhere. After earning an MFA in Art History, and teaching art to children for many years, she moved to Florida, where she has her studio and gallery at The Village Art Studios in Tequesta. She mainly paints in acrylic and creates in paper mache.

Gerri says: "I look forward to sharing my experiences in fabulous Venice. I have always been passionate about travel and art and feel that we are living through an amazing Renaissance in Art and Culture."