A Record for Pellestrina by Lisa Castellani, Enrica Cavarzan, Maria Zanchi, Gloria Safont-Tria and the inhabitants of the Island of Pellestrina & Love Difference is the product of the work of many hands, united to create a common artifact, the world’s longest piece of lace, symbol of the cultural, identity and landscape of the island.

The project was born in the summer of 2005 at the workshop on participated design organized by Love Difference at the 51st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, and concluded with an event on the island of Pellestrina on the 16th of June 2007.

An intense relationship with the island led to the concept for the project, the final result of which is the symbol of an important process of transgenerational dialogue.
Starting out from the collection of the pillow lace and working with the inhabitants of Pellestrina, the four artists involved the entire island in a shared process of revaluating this local crafting tradition.

This process involved some of the more expert lace makers, as well as the island’s men, women and children, for whom various workshops were organized in the local schools.

The lace used up 368,400 meters of yarn, the work of 386 people, 270 working days and the involvement of ten different cities.

A record for Pellestrina gave the chance to initiate working relationships in the territory, capable of continuing independently thanks to the strength of an experience that allowed each individual to take direct part in the construction of a collective image of the island.

The lace can now be found in the rooms of the Associazione A.C.S. Murazzo, seat of Pellestrina’s ancient school of lace making, awaiting the evolution of the project, which intends to develop an equally dynamic collaboration capable of creating a structure suitable both for its conservation and for exhibiting it in many other cities.