Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Pupparin Construction at the GSVVM - Fresh Photos

photos by Nereo Zane

Once again my favorite gondola photographer, Nereo Zane has given us some more images, taken just days ago in the shop at the GSVVM. Maestro Luigino Marcuzzi continues his diligent work towards another gleaming, launchworthy boat.

A close-up view of the stern quarter reveals evidence of a clever Venetian wood-bending technique. The dark marks on the thick trasto piece may eventually be concealed by paint or sanded away before varnish is applied, but for now they tell a story - one that includes water, fire, applied weight and a master's careful touch to achieve just the right curve.


Many people today don't comprehend the work that goes into building a wooden vessel.
With so many boats being mass produced, we see a wood boat go by and it doesn't register that someone, somewhere, spent countless hours to bring that remarkable thing into existence.

Ask Sr. Marcuzzi and he'll tell you that it's a painstaking process.
Part interpretation,
part following directions,
part problem-solving.
A process requiring creativity, dedication, and above all - tenacity.

In addition to the pupparin project, someone has been gluing and clamping to repair a set of remi. With so many remi in the GSVVM "arsenal", I'd imagine this is a common sight in the shop.

Maestro Marcuzzi continues his work, and we are fortunate to catch periodic glimpses into this process.

I will be in Venice this June for Vogalonga, and if there's one boat I'd like to row on, if only for a few strokes, it's this one.
Something tells me I won't be the only one in line for the privilege.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU Greg, Nereo, and of course Sr. Marcuzzi!

We might see a little more bending with fire when it comes time for the planking. Not much though. The lines of this boat are long enough and graceful enough to minimize the sharp bends seen in shorter boats.

Keep the pictures coming, We can take it. :)