My trip this summer to Florence was enriched with culture, and valuable experiences. I created strong and meaningful relationships with my peers and teachers, and by the end of my stay was able to navigate my way through the majestic city.
Every day we had the opportunity to take classes in the morning and then three days of the week also in the afternoon. The classes were taught by excellent teachers that made the experience enjoyable and enriching. For my major I took painting, and for my minor I took drawing. I have to say there was no better city to study art than Florence. The city is filled with masterpieces, and I had the opportunity to sketch everywhere I went. In the mornings we would have a lesson of the day and the difficulty and complexity of our drawings heightened as the days went on. By the end of the program my drawing skills and understanding of the form, and well as other techniques had immensely improved, and I had an entirely new perspective on art. In the mornings we would often sketch at various sites around the city, such as Piazza della Signoria, Piazza di San Lorenzo, the Duomo, the Boboli gardens at the Palazzo Pitti and Orsanmichele. We would also visit museums such as the Academia where Michelangelo’s David resides, and the Uffizi. Also with a small group I went to an exhibit on Americans in Florence where the focus was on impressionism, and a contemporary exhibit called American Dream at the Palazzo Strozzi. I had the opportunity to sketch in many of these galleries and landmarks, and take in the beauty of the scenery.
The curriculum of the minor mirrored that of the major, which allowed me to fully dive into a project and have the opportunity to finish more projects than a student who was only doing it as their major. For example I was able to draw the David at the Academia for six hours rather than three, which allowed me to fully assess it and appreciate the form and the craftsmanship. I am very pleased that I filled both my major and minor with art, because this allowed me to grow as an artist.
In the Afternoons on Tuesdays and Thursdays we had the option to participate in various activities, and every night we also had a choice I strived to try everything I could. These activities included a trip to the leather workshop Scuola del Cuoio, climbing the Duomo, climbing the bell tower, night drawing classes, night photography classes, a class at a ceramic studio, a Roberto Benigni reading of Dante’s the Divine Comedy at the famous Sante Croce, a gelato tasting, a trip to the Boboli gardens, dance classes, a public ballet performance, visits to various galleries, and a movie at the beautiful Odeon theater. We also had the opportunity for free time where we could explore the city and find our own favorite places and neighborhood spots. I enjoyed every activity I did, and wouldn’t change a thing.
On the weekends as a group we took trips to neighboring towns and cities. It was nice to get away from Florence for a day and experience something new. We visited Lucca, Pisa, Sienna, Cinque Terre, and other small towns. We had the opportunity to go to the beach, see the leaning tower of Pisa, eat new foods, watch the beauty of the Italian countryside, go on a bike trip, hike through the villages of Cinque Terre, and experience what Italy has to offer.
My trip this summer was one I will remember and cherish forever and was an amazing learning experience, and summer of growth. I won’t forget the friendships I’ve made and the many lessons I’ve learned.
