New York-based artist Judi Harvest's work constantly looks to the illuminated cosmos for inspiration. Her upcoming September installation at Venice's famed Caffé Florian, Venetian Satellite, will be similar in form and aesthetic functionality to her Venice installation Luna Piena, a sped-up lunar calendar of 2,070 blown glass spheres that's on view at the Valaresso vaporetto stop through November 2006. (Pictured left.) Like Luna Piena, Venetian Satellite is crafted from stainless steel and Murano glass, but here the high-tech chandelier refers to one of humankind’s great additions to the solar system, the world’s first communications satellite, Telstar. These pieces seem to marry the structural spirits of Nam June Paik, the Arts and Crafts movement, and the architecture IM Pei. Part of Caffé Florian's bi-annual exhibition that coincides with Venice's Architecture Biennale, ‘Venetian Satellite’ will be in orbit from 6 September-31 December 2006.

by Kristopher Irizarry