The evening is dedicated to New York City, symbol of freedom, which celebrates art through innovative forms and unusual materials.

Special guest at the VIP party, “NYC: A Night of Salt,” organized with the Countess Marta Marzotto in conjunction with the 62nd Venice International Film Festival, is the Salt Queen, Bettina Werner (www.bettina-werner.com). The artist, who was born in Milan in 1965, but has chosen the U.S. as her adopted country, is the founder of The Salt Queen Foundation, whose works, created entirely with salt crystals, are well-known throughout the world and can be found in some of the most prestigious art collections in the United States and Europe.

"The Salt Queen Foundation" (www.thesaltqueenfoundation.org) is a non-profit organization, established in 2002 in New York with the goal of promoting the fascinating culture of salt and its importance throughout human history, in all its aspects, including art and literature. Equally important, the foundation aims to celebrate freedom of imagination, which can express itself in original ways using new techniques and unusually media. The Salt Queen Foundation will hold The Salt Backgammon Tournament from 7:00 to 10:00.

The final round of the “A Night of Salt” backgammon tournament will be played on a gigantic backgammon sculpture with two enormous dice. First prize is a backgammon-sculpture board made of salt by the artist Bettina Werner, worth $5,000, a work of art that is not for sale and can only by acquired by winning one of the four backgammon tournaments that the Salt Queen Foundation organizes throughout the year in some of the trendiest places around the world and at some of the most exclusive international events. Second prize will be awarded by Stuart Weitzman (www.stuartweitzman.it): a very special pair of sandals with matching purse, created by hand by Stuart Weitzman. They are in fact the first copy of the priceless sandals inspired by the divine Marilyn Monroe, created by the designer in honor of Oscar night 2005 and worn by Regina King, the talented actress in the film Ray. The opalescent crystal earrings enclosed in the silk bow are copies of the earrings worn by the diva. This prize is valued at about 4,000 euros. For over 30 years, the New York designer has been creating shoes that are not only loved by international stars like Angelina Jolie and Sharon Stone, but are also known all over the world. Weitzman‘s creations show that a shoe can be both spectacle and sculpture at the same time, a sometimes unexpected mixture of materials and constructions that go beyond the limits of traditional design. Stuart Weitzman‘s name has always been associated with various charities (www.stuartweitzman.it/komen). For this important event he has decided to offer one of his creations as second prize.

The Salt Queen Foundation has organized this benefit in conjunction with the 62nd Venice International Film Festival. It therefore represents a connection, a continuity with the Venice Biennale for art and the Venice Biennale for cinema, but also an international bridge between Italy and New York, and an invitation to the interaction between art and life through play. This highly original event provides an unusual experience brimming with the freshness of unbridled creativity. As Nietzche said: "The earth is a divine tablet, trembling for new words birthed by a cosmic roll of the dice". The Salt Backgammon Tournament will be followed by a gourmet dinner, after which there will be a dance party open to the public (with a guest list and a limited selection at the door) starting at 12:30.

The evening‘s schedule:
7:00-10:00 The Salt Backgammon Tournament
9:30 A Night of Salt – Cocktail and Dinner
12:30 A Night of Salt – Party

The Salt Queen Foundation will host Blunotte with “Cafè de Mar,” a festival that is held every 5 years in conjunction with the Venice International Film Festival, recreating the feeling of Ibiza on the beaches of the Venetian Lido and organizing evenings with themes such as Morocco, Africa, the China of Gong Li, Brazil of the 1970s, and the Indian atmosphere of “Bollywood.” This year the theme is NYC, or rather New York City and its art, inspired by life. “NYC” continues the tradition of this event at Cafè de Mar.

For further information or to obtain pictures, contact
The Salt Queen Foundation Archive: T.212-759-6561 archive@bettina-werner.com

Stuart Weitzman: Maria Cristina Cuccoli – Communications Director - Tel 0276317846 mariacristina.cuccoli@stuartweitzman.it Press Office: Munari Comunicazione, Ilaria Comandulli 02-89180626 ilaria@munaripr.com

Blunotte: Micaela Scapin Press Office www.blunotte.it

How to get to Lido di Venezia
- By train: from the Venezia S. Lucia train station, take the waterbus (vaporetto) towards the Lido (public boat line 51/52 ACTV, Lido/S. Maria Elisabetta stop). By car: exit the autostrado at Venezia, follow signs for Venezia-Lido, and take the ACTV ferry boat. By waterbus: from Piazzale Roma and Ferrovia, take the 1/82/61 or the 51/52 ACTV waterbus. 
FERRY BOAT Tronchetto > Lido: 7:10 p.m., 7:55 p.m., 8:40 p.m., 9:25 p.m., 10:10 p.m., 10.25 p.m., 11:40 p.m., 12:25 a.m. Lido > Tronchetto: 1:10 a.m., 2:55 a.m., 4:05 a.m., 5:00 a.m., 5:50 a.m., 6:40 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:20 a.m.
(For more information on bus and waterbus schedules, go to www.actv.it)

www.thesaltqueenfoundation.org
www.bettina-werner.com
www.stuartweitzman.it
www.stuartweitzman.com