2008 Study Abroad Projects On Display

Students in the 2008 Study Abroad program traveled to two destinations between the spring and summer quarters.  General Education faculty member Patrick Coué accompanied fifteen students to Paris, France and Fashion Marketing faculty member Gene DiPilla accompanied fifteen students to Madrid, Spain. 

A reception to celebrate the students' culminating projects will be held in the 1610 Chestnut Street gallery on Wednesday, September 17th at 4:30 pm.

These projects will not only reflect the professional and artistic skills of the students, but also will become a compendium of their respective findings, experiences and inspirations while living and studying abroad. The projects will remain on display through December 2008.

France
The highlights of the Paris trip included a moving visit to the WWII D-Day beaches in Normandy, strolling through Monet's impressionist gardens at Giverny, staying in a XVII century château in the Loire Valley (apparently haunted by a fun ghost according to some students) and dancing on the streets of Paris during the Music Festival celebrating the summer solstice on June 21. 

In addition, site visits included the famous Ritz Palace where Coco Chanel had a permanent room, upscale restaurant kitchens, department stores and walking tours of historical neighborhoods.  The students had the opportunity to explore and fully understand the various aspects of French culture.

Spain
In Madrid, the students studied culture, architecture, fine and decorative arts. They visited museums such as the Prado, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofia and toured the Palacia Real. 

Their first excursion out of Madrid took them to the northeastern coastal city of Barcelona where the students studied architecture, sculpture and pubic space designs of Antoni Gaudi.  Next, the students traveled to the south of Spain to the cities of Granada, Sevilla and Cordoba where they observed various architectural styles such as Visigoth, Romanesque, Gothic, Islamic, Jewish and Mudejar structures.  The group visited the Mediterranean coastal city of Valencia where they enjoyed a day at the beach, toured the Catedral and ate paella!  Finally, the students took several day trips which included the walled medieval city of Toledo, the palace of El Escorial, the city of Salamanca the Roman aqueducts and Gothic cathedrals of Segovia.