Art and Photography in Europe

Design and Photography in Europe participants will gain an insight into contemporary art, design and architecture through the study of the culture and history of each program city. Participants will learn about design and culture through visits to contemporary design studios and major museums and other historical sites in each city. Visits to important architectural sites in each city will be included.

Amsterdam, Netherlands (4 days)

Amsterdam has a rich history full of superior commercial and cultural creations. The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam rose as an important port city during the Dutch Golden Age, a period that produced many significant artists, such as Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer. Visits will include the world-famous Rijksmuseum, the recently designed Van Gogh museum, FOAM, a photo museum, as well as Philips Design.

Berlin, Germany (6 days)

The events of the past have left their mark on the cityscape of Berlin. Students will have the opportunity to experience both old and new Berlin, with visits to Potsdamer Platz, Tiergarten-Kulturforum, and the Hackesche Höfe area. Visits are planned to the designers’ studios of Meta-Haus (corporate and type design) and Pentagram (design and architecture). Cultural activities will include visits to the Jewish Museum (Daniel Libeskind), New National Gallery (Mies van der Rohe), the Holocaust Memorial (Peter Eisenman), and the Pergamon Museum. We will also have tours of the dome of the Reichstag (designed by Sir Norman Foster), the Bauhaus-Archives (Walter Gropius) and the Nordic Embassies.

Milan, Italy (5 days)

Milan is world famous for its style and design. Students will visit important individual architects’ and designers’ studios as well as influential designer showrooms such as Kartell, Cassina, Alessi and DaDriade. Cultural activities in Milan include visits to the cathedral and to the Castello Sforza, originally a Visconti fortress remodeled in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza and Leonardo da Vinci, and that is now a museum where the last sculpture completed by Michelangelo is exhibited. Other planned visits include the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Triennale Design & Architecture Museum, and Leonardo da Vinci’s fresco of the Last Supper located at the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. A day trip to Como is planned to study the history of silk manufacturing and to visit a shop specializing in contemporary designers’ work in silk.

Venice, Italy (5 days)

We will spend parts of each day visiting sites and venues featuring contemporary art work from artists from around the world at the Venice Biennale as well as the contemporary art collections at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum and the Pinault collection at the Punta della Dogana, which has been newly renovated by the Japanese architect, Tadao Ando. Visits in Venice will include the Piazza, Basilica and museum of San Marco, the Palladio-designed San Giorgio Maggiore, site of the last painting by Tintoretto, and the Baroque church of Santa Maria delle Salute. From Venice, the group will travel to the islands of Murano and Burano. On Murano, the glass museum and the ‘fornace’ glass-blowing studios are world-renowned. On Burano, known for traditional lace-making and brightly painted houses, the group will experience a traditional fishing village.

Program Faculty

Lois Greene, Professor of Design at the University of Kansas, began the Italy Design summer study abroad program in 1995 and directed it for eight years. She has remained actively involved through travels to Italy learning more about the diverse design processes, cultural interests and artifacts, foods and everyday life. Professor Greene’s research is in visual communications including the branding and identity systems.

Luke Jordan, a Lecturer in the PhotoMedia area at the University of Kansas, has taught for over twenty years. His work and teaching ranges from pinhole photography to video, and his interests include 19th century photography, contemporary art, soccer, and music. He is also the staff photographer for KU University Theatre and a Visiting Lecturer in the Spencer Museum of Art Printroom; this will be Jordan’s fourth summer with the Art and Design Study Abroad Program.

Academic Program

Students may chose three to six credit hours for this program. Required before the trip will be several one-hour orientations and lectures along with appropriate research projects designed to enhance students’ understandings of sites visited. During the trip, attendance at all lectures and design visits will be required. Failure to attend may result in failing the course.

A total of 6 credit hours will be offered on the program:

ADS 560 Special Topics: Design Study in Germany and Italy — 3 credit hours. May be used as a design studio elective in some majors or as a general elective. Check with your academic advisor. Mandatory attendance at all scheduled visits during the trip and documentation through writing and images (photo, drawings and materials, etc.) will be required.

ADS 560 Special Topics: Photography — 3 credit hours (can serve as a substitute for PHMD 202 Introduction to Digital Photography or studio elective). Students will meet with Professor Luke Jordan prior to the trip for an overview of the course expectations and assigned projects. Outcomes will include a body of photographic work that will be presented for a grade. Mandatory attendance at all scheduled visits during the trip will be required.

Accommodations

Participants will stay in centrally located hotels in Amsterdam, Berlin, Milan and Venice. Hotel rooms are double or triple occupancy. Breakfast is included daily.

Dates

Depart US: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Arrive Amsterdam: Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Depart Venice: Tuesday, June 7, 2010

Eligibility

Open to undergraduate or graduate art, design and architecture students. Minimum 2.5 GPA required (exceptions considered after submission of a petition).

Cost: TBD (Summer 2009 costs listed below).

Program Fee: Approximately $4,050 ($4,250 for non-KU students)
The program fee includes accommodations, air transportation from Amsterdam to Berlin and Berlin
to Milan, ground transportation, cultural activities, some group meals, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services, KU orientation, and administrative costs.

Tuition and Fees: Estimated tuition and Fine Art course fees for 3 credit hours (based on standard tuition rate): $675
*Actual expenses for KU students will vary by the student’s individual tuition compact or graduate student rates. Non-KU students will pay the standard tuition rate listed above.

*Actual expenses for KU students will vary by the student’s individual tuition compact. Non-KU students will pay the standard tuition rate listed above.

Additional costs: Airfare, most meals, passport fees, books, and personal expenses.

Note

All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change as necessary due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.

Financial Aid

KU students who qualify for summer financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program.

Scholarships are available for some Design majors for this program. Check with your design advisor for details.

Limited supplemental scholarships are available to KU undergraduates. Applications are available at the Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the scholarship application. The scholarship application deadline is March 1.

Non-KU students should check into the financial resources available to them at their home institutions.

Application Procedures

Priority Application Deadline: February 15, 2010. Final Application Deadline: March 1, 2010. Early application is strongly encouraged.

Applications are available in the KU Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the application.

(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to download an application. If your computer does not have Acrobat Reader you can download it for FREE.)

Useful Websites

Germany: www.germany-tourism.de/
Italy: www.italiantourism.com
Venice: www.turismovenezia.it
Italian art, artists, museums, galleries: www.italiamia.com/art.html

For more information contact:

Professor Lois Greene, Program Director
The University of Kansas Department of Design
356 Art and Design Building
email: greene@ku.edu

Professor Luke Jordan
The University of Kansas Department of Design
email: lukej@ku.edu

The University of Kansas
Office of Study Abroad
Lippincott Hall
1410 Jayhawk Blvd. Room 108
Lawrence, KS 66045-7515
phone: 785-864-3742
fax: 785-864-5040
e-mail: osa@ku.edu