Back in 1965, when John Hall launched the course, Peggy Guggenheim was alive and had just moved into her strange half-finished 'palazzo' on the Grand Canal. She would invite students to parties and to tour her collection, which was hung in her home. I recall finding her house guests asleep in rooms hung with Magritte, Jackson Pollock and Yves Tanguy!
Now the collection is the second most visited destination in Venice, so as part of the course we arrange a private visit to it. Last year, Peggy's grand daughter, Karole Vail was installed as director, and it was a massive privilege to have Karole welcome our group to the building whilst no-one else was allowed in...so fantastic for us all!
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