09 Nov

Venice is a city built on water. More technically, a city built on pilings that act as the city’s foundation which is surrounded by water. This very unique situation greatly changes the way the city operates compared to an inland city. One major aspect of Venice different than anywhere else is its means of transportation. Rather than paved freeways and tunnels that transport people and products in, out and around, Venice relies on its canals. Of the many types of boats in Venice, one in particular [the gondola] helps to defy the city. The once very common boat for transportation in Venice unfortunately continues to slowly diminish as motor-propelled boats become more and more convenient.

Saverio Pastor is one of only four craftsmen in Venice aiding to preserve the diminishing tradition of the gondola. Mr. Pastor is a craftsman still handcrafting forcole, the instrument that allows a gondolier to operate a gondola. It takes a very particular person to craft forcole as the oddly formed instrument’s series of curves all aid a gondolier to perform a multitude of maneuvers. The production of a forcola requires an abundance of knowledge, years of experience and a pair of well trained hands which result in a wooden masterpiece of richly, organic curves derived completely for performative values.