On May 15, Herron students will lift off from Indianapolis for a three-and-half-week study abroad experience in the land of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Donatello. Led by three faculty members from the Herron School of Art + Design, 18 students will delve into European culture through the art and architecture of Italy on location in museums, churches, monuments, and archaeological sites.
Students enrolled in “Exploring Art in Italy” will fulfill three credits of Art History while studying some of the finest examples of western art from the founding of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE to today’s contemporary art. The class will make stops in Rome, Florence, Siena, Assisi, San Gimignano, and Venice.
While in Venice, students will attend the prestigious 57 International Art Exhibition organized by La Biennale di Venezia. Particularly noteworthy for this year’s trip, the students will participate in the “Biennale Sessions,” a place where universities, fine arts academies, and educational institutions gather in an educational setting to design and build useful, creative experiences for students and faculty. This is the third time Herron students have attended the Biennale and participated in the sessions, and Herron is the only school in Indiana involved in the initiative among a handful of U.S. universities participating.
“Our Italian study abroad trip allows students to explore the vast history of Classical, Byzantine, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern Art,” said Jennifer Lee, associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor of art history.
The study abroad trip includes three major components: preparation, experience, and reflection. To help understand and contextualize the art they will view, advance research is essential. While on the trip, students will observe and listen attentively while in the presence of the works. The reflection stage involves thinking, processing, and conducting follow-up research to incorporate the experience in their larger studies, future careers, and daily living.
Accompanying this year’s students are Associate Professor of Art History Jennifer Lee, Senior Lecturer of Fine Arts Anita Giddings and Associate Professor of Ceramics Lesley Baker. Follow along with our study abroad adventures through Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #HerronAbroad.
