No previous art experience needed? Really? Monday, Dec 29 2008 

Projects artsl 10:14 am

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? Sunday, Dec 28 2008 

Projects artsl 11:56 pm

 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 Sunday, Dec 28 2008 

Projects artsl 11:08 pm

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, allowing everyone the opportunity to try something new and further develop their skills.

 

Santo Spirito Neighborhood – Our home for the summer Saturday, Dec 27 2008 

Accommodations artsl 6:21 pm

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? Saturday, Dec 27 2008 

Accommodations artsl 6:20 pm

Ospitale delle Rifiorenze Hostel

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.


| View Show | Create Your Own

 

Speaking of money, what is the real deal? Thursday, Dec 25 2008 

Funding and Uncategorized artsl 11:08 pm

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? Wednesday, Dec 24 2008 

Itinerary and Sites/Museums artsl 10:54 pm

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