2009 Explorers Meet at Sisko Gallery

Our first “field trip” with our 2009 program participants was to Sisko Gallery in Seattle. Gallery owner and artist, John Sisko, hosted us for an evening of light refreshments, good conversations, and a discussion on the bronze-casting process. Sisko, who recently returned from a sojourn to Italy several months earlier, provided insights on techniques, processes and figurative art in general.

Who are the Directors?

Curt Labitzke, Associate Professor in the Studio Art Division of the School of Art, is a seasoned traveler in Italy.  He has directed three quarter-long School of Art programs in Rome and has traveled extensively through Italy with these groups.  As an artist and as an instructor, he has worked with a wide variety of media as well as a diverse student population, from those just beginning to develop their skills as artists to advanced graduate students.  Curt’s work is highly influenced by his travels throughout Italy and is characterized by large scale figures whose relationships evoke both the magnitude of the mythological as well as the  nuances of personal intimacy.

Cynthia Caci, who has co-directed seminars in Sicily, Tunisia and Tuscany, has a graduate degree in Art History with a focus in the art of the early Italian Renaissance.  She brings not only language proficiency in conversational Italian but also teaching experience that will provide an historical context to the seminar in Tuscany. Her entire career at the Univeristy of Washington has been involved in undergraduate education and in helping students align their personal, educational and professional goals with opportunities at the UW and beyond. Cynthia is currently the Assistant Director of Academic Services in the Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media.

No previous art experience needed? Really?

A demonstration on paper and book-making.

Making sketchbooks.

More book-making projects.

Many of the participants may be like you, very excited about spending a month in Tuscany, looking forward to seeing some amazing art and learning more about the history of the works and the region. They are also excited about the opportunity to spend some time making their own art in response to their experiences, learning a few new processes, and having fun with their peers. Many of the group members may not be art students. Some have past experience but most are just eager to learn and looking forward to trying new things. The demonstrations will be designed for folks with little to no experience so please do not feel intimidated about your technical skill level. Everyone will quickly develop a working method that suits their individual needs and abilities and will hopefully make a few things that they will look back on some day as a document of the beautiful summer they spent in Italy.

This is a 5 credit class. Of course, like any class there will be assignments you’ll need to complete, no different than here at the U. And your participation with the group is also a factor in the evaluation process. We believe everyone going with us will be there because they want to, will work hard, learn a few new things and do extremely well. Everyone’s work will be unique to them, quite exciting to see develop.

Remember you can only learn what you already don’t know.

What types of assignments will we be doing?

 A variety of media and techniques will be demonstrated and discussed and can include drawing, photography, watercolor, collage and bookarts.  Assignments will be designed and coordinated with site locations and the works of selected artists who lived in or traveled to Italy and whose own practice was influenced by their experiences.  In many instances, you will be asked to use demonstrated techniques on location to record your impressions and express your ideas.  For example, an assignment might ask you to work in watercolor in the Boboli Gardens (in the method of John Singer Sargent as seen in the image above) or to sketch ancient ruins in the style of Piranesi. You will develop a working knowledge of these processes through hands on experience, small group discussion and large format critiques.

Examples of Student Work

These are just a few examples of the work that was produced during our time in Tuscany — you can see the variety of media (watercolor, charcoal, graphite, etc.) Each student was provided with a packet of art materials and directed studio time, with demonstrations, allowed everyone the opportunity to try something new and further develop their skills.

Santo Spirito Neighborhood – Our home for the summer

The Carmine complex in which the hostel is situated is between Piazza Santo Spirito and Borgo San Frediano.  The hostel is at the center of a historical and popular neighborhood, ten minutes on foot from the Ponte Vecchio and the train station.

The Santo Spirito neighborhood of Oltrarno is the area on the other side of the Arno river. It features a lively mix of high art and culture (there are several important Renaissance sites) and streetscapes, including markets, cafes and restaurants, piazzas where people meet and live together, artisan workshops, and the flow of contemporary Florentine life. It is very much a place for the traveler looking to scratch a little more beneath the surface of the city.

Where will we be staying?

The best experiences for travelers occur when they can embed themselves in the heart of a community, not in an isolated “tourist bubble.” Learning the name of the baker at the local pasticceria, finding your favorite spot for a capucchino and greeting the barista on a daily basis,  and seeing familiar faces on the street as you become a temporary neighbor are all priceless experiences and enhance your appreciation for the place you will be calling “home.”

In that spirit, this seminar will be prmarily based in the city of Florence and we are in bringing the program back to a travelers hostel located in the Santa Spirito neighborhood in the area known as the Oltrarno (south of the Arno river).  Because the trip is occuring at peak travel season, it is our goal to find the best value accommodations in order to maximize our opportunities to plan more activities.

The hostel is the site of a former Carmelite convent built in the 13th century.  A fire destroyed most of the original building in the late 18th century. In 2000, the year of then Pope John Paul’s jubilee, the building was restored and became the nexus of a new type of tourism.  From April through November, the hostel provides accommodations for groups and individudal travelers to Florence.  Through the cold winter months,  the proceeds raised through tourism are used to house the homeless.

Participants in this seminar can rest assured that their “tourist dollars” are being directed toward a valuable social service and, in at least one small way, they are leaving their host city  a better place for the less fortunate who call Florence their home.

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Speaking of money, what is the real deal?

As you know, the program fee for any Exploration Seminar does not include a number of expenses. How do you calculate the real costs?

Here is a general budget:

Program fee: $2,995
IPE Administrative fee: $250
Airfare: $900+
Insurance: $200
Personal Books/Course Materials/Art Supplies (each participant will be provided with basic materials): Variable
Food (most meals are not covered by the program): $600 – $800
Personal Spending Money: variable (independent travel, entrance fees not included within the program, gifts, etc.)
Communication (internet/cell phone): $50+

Why Florence?

Florence (Firenze):

is a compact, metropolitan city of 500,000 people

is the birthplace of the Renaissance

is one of the most walkable cities in Italy (most important sites are within 1/2-hour walking distance of the Duomo)

draws visitors from all over the world

has a history rich with intrigue, adventure, and centuries of incredible patronage of the arts (can we say “Medici”?)

has an equally rich “present,” — with cafes, clubs, shops and cinemas

 is centrally located for day trips to other Tuscan hill towns and city centers

is home to Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Leonardo’s Adoration of the Magi as well as works by Caravaggio, Giotto, Rembrandt and Raphael

has a cuisine characterized by simple preparations of abundant produce, mellow cheeses, grilled meats and a fascination for beans

What our students have to say…

What were the most important things you learned during your Exploration Seminar experience (academic and/or personal)?

I learned a larger deal about the world than I would ever have expected. Going abroad puts you out of your place at home and shows you the world from a different perspective. You have to be open to all of the things you can learn out there or you will never have the ‘full’ experience. Interacting with the locals and learning how they see life and the world made me realize that, even with all of the differences, we really are all the same.

I learned how important it was to see new things, learn new things, and try new things.

Language, friendship, relationships, art (all of it).

Just being able to get out of my comfort zone at home.

I learned more ways to use art. I was also able to see people from different academic backgrounds connect in art, even if it wasn’t their forte. In the more cultural sense, I learned more of the differences between different parts – even towns – of Italy.

Cultural awareness and sensitivity, connecting with others.

Learning the Italian culture and bonding with the students I went with.

What was your favorite part of the Exploration Seminar experience?

Connecting with the everyone; the people from the group, the locals, and other tourists.

The people; directors and fellow students.

Meeting students from school that I am now best friends with.

My classmates and professors.

Meeting other people and making connections with the people in my group. It was great being able to share experiences with each other.

Traveling with a group of peers was amazing.

I liked the balance of organized program time and personal free time.

The Italian culture.

My favorite part of the Exploration Seminar was getting to work with our group and meet new people.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your Exploration Seminar experience?

Amazing.

Wonderful and unforgettable!

I would do it again.

it was amazing and one of my favorite experiences in my UW career.

It was amazing! A truly great experience that I am so happy I had the opportunity to do.