Click here to visit this project's page on Prof. Carrera's website.
See the PowerPoint (right-click and Save As...).
This project, as one of the later ones involving Venetian public art, builds upon past work conducted in the area. It specializes in the cataloging of fountains and non-public wellheads, both types of objects having been identified by the IQP team as being particularly at risk. Additionally, it combined collected data with previous databases, producing “the most extensive source” for information about Venice’s public art.
The project report provides good background information on types of public art found in Venice, useful to future students working in this area. It also summarizes factors that cause damage to public art. Specifically to its subject of data-collection (wellheads and fountains), it provides useful criteria for evaluating the condition of public art pieces. This project also created a proposal and compiled some background information for the creation of a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Venetian public art. Work has also already been done in terms of researching possible outlets for published work and in designing a website for the proposed non-profit organization.
Aaron Kelley: ME ’06; whereabouts unknown
Greg Ratner: CS ’06; Wellington, FL
Matthew Schmaelzle: CS ’06, Marlborough, MA
Orest Thomollari: CE ’05; Cudahy, WI
Founded by Professor Fabio Carrera in 1988, the Venice Project Center @ WPI is an academic initiative designed to allow undergraduate engineering students to study abroad, to apply skills and knowledge to solve real-world problems, to further develop these skills, and to provide valuable assistance to a city endangered by environmental, socio-economic and man-made factors.