The Venice Biennale promises to be one of the premiere art shows this year with a smattering of pieces, installations and the like from artists the globe over. The special exhibition showcases work from representatives from many nations and is one of the oldest artistic celebrations in the world, dating back to the 19th century. Representing the United States this year is an all time first, two artists based out of Puerto Rico, the first time our nation has been represented by a commonwealth as opposed to a state. Also pushing the boundary of exception this year is the pointed emphasis on the U.S. contributing groundbreaking work, instead of playing it safe with conventionally mastered modern art. This year at the U.S. pavilion there was a play on 1960s happenings and performance art, including a piece juxtaposing a treadmill atop an overturned tank, aptly titled “Track and Field”, for fifteen minutes of every hour the tanks treads turn as a runner uses the treadmill, the piece was done by Guillermo Calzadilla, one of the American contributors. Other artists include Swiss Pipilotti Rist who contributed a video installation of Venice, British Mike Nelson’s photographic wanderings, and Czech/Slovak sculptor Dominik Lang’s ode to his father, also a sculptor.