October 23, 2005
Thirteen students from the School of Architecture and Design (SA&D) spent more than three weeks in Tuscany and Umbria building their drawing skills through exposure to local art and architecture as part of a three-credit-hour course entitled "Seeing Vernacular Italy."
Conducted by Associate Professor of Foundations Brian Dougan, the course gave the students an invaluable educational and cultural experience.
"Every day of the Italy trip entailed a visit to either a museum or a significant place in terms of art or architecture, and the agenda was completely about drawing," said Professor Dougan. "We drew every day, and by the time our 23 days were finished, all the students had developed directness in their perception that resulted from seeing through drawing. In addition to drawing on individual A4 sheets of Italian paper, the students maintained a sketchbook that contained drawings, found objects and notes. The sketchbook documented daily events and experiences and became a neat and concise record of the whole trip."
Major sites visited include Orvieto, Assisi, Florence, Siena, Chiusi, San Gimignano, Arezzo and Perugia. For most of the trip, the students stayed at the Santa Chiara Study Center in Castiglion Fiorentino, which also hosted students from the College Station and Qatar locations of Texas A&M University; Kansas State University; and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
"Taking this course in Italy was a special experience. It strengthened our ability to 'see' and appreciate the basic things in life. We cherish the interactions we made with the people in Italy and feel proud that we were given this chance to really 'see' in all its meaning another important part of the globe...We did not learn how to draw, we found a way to express our innate ability as humans to realize things on a higher level and communicate it to others," said student Saba Jaberolansar.
Student Alia Mobayed described the trip as an "unforgettable experience. Living in such an authentic environment was absolutely overwhelming. Art and architecture has never been this great," she added.
The cultural exchange was twofold, as the students made an impression on the residents of their host town. The AUS group was invited to visit the mayor of Castiglion Fiorentino, who presented the group with a Castiglion Fiorentino pin as well as an open invitation to visit anytime. Professor Dougan was also interviewed by the local media; he briefed them on the educational dimensions of the course as well as on the history of AUS.
"The students were productive in an academic sense and impressed everyone we met along the way because they were so respectful. They did a great job representing the Middle East, the UAE and AUS," Professor Dougan said.
The students will present work and photographs from their trip on November 19 at 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium of AD1.
-Ends-
© Press Release 2005
