The departure date is arriving quickly, and there is much to do. I am a newcomer when it comes to foreign travel and this is my first abroad experience. I feel like a child looking at a present. My eyes gaze upon it with wonder waiting to rip it open and discover its contents. My senses await a new experience, they are somnolent with the quiet hum of Defiance, and they are ready to be ignited by a foreign culture. I want to experience history, and be connected with my ancestors, I want to savor cuisine and find taste buds that I did not know existed, I want every sense to be evoked, and I want to unwrap all that Italy has to offer.
I want to share my experiences with you through the eyes of someone who is traveling abroad for the first time. The senses can become over whelmed with all the new stimuli, because of this my columns will focus on artistic expression. Italy has a vast amount of culture, and art to offer. Something as simple as the art of crafting bread takes skilled expertise, and I intend to analyze the details through the lens of the medium that the art is crafted, and how the artist creates unity within a piece. The artist creates unity by taking the elements and principals of art, and combines these to give the viewer a sense of harmony. For example, if you walk around a cathedral one will find multiple mediums such as marble, glass, stone, wood, oil paint, and gold. I intend to look at the individual mediums and then relate it to how the artist used the elements and principles within this one medium, and how these multiple mediums come together to create unity within the structure as a whole.
We will be traveling to many well-known Italian cities. The first stop is Milan, where I will see Italy’s largest gothic cathedral, the Duomo di Milano. The Duomo is constructed from brick and a pink marble known as Candoglia. The construction on this massive cathedral started in the 14th century and was not completed until the 19th century. Next on the itinerary is Venice, which is known for its glass and gold.
We will then travel to Pisa and Florence.Pisa is home to one of the most recognized architectural sites, the leaning tower Torre Pendente di Pisa. The tower is constructed of many columns and arches. Unfortunately when it was built the architects did not take into account the clay soil that rested under its foundation which caused it to lean. In Florence, there is the 'Statue of David' magnificently crafted by Michelangelo from marble. Brunelleschi’s dome is also in Florence. Filippo Brunelleschi was not an architect: in fact he was a goldsmith, which makes his dome even more impressive. On the last days of our trip I will be in Rome. There I am excited to see Trevi Fountain and the Roman Coliseum. The fountain combines water along with statues, such as the roman god Poseidon and his chariot. The Coliseum, was built over 2000 years ago, from travertine stone. It is in Rome where the journey unfortunately comes to an end.
I hope you read my columns and find your senses immersed in the artistic expression of Italy, and temporarily transported to a foreign place for a few short minutes. I want you to be able to appreciate the culture through my descriptions of the various mediums, combined with the elements and principles create unity in these great artworks. I think you will find yourself eager to read the next piece, as a child is eager to unwrap the present that promises a surprise.
Note: Brittany Pease is a sophomore at Defiance College, she is studying to be an athletic training major. She currently is involved with the Carolyn M. Small Honors Program which offered the opportunity to travel to Italy and abroad. Pease also participates in the Defiance Cares Free Clinic, the Compass Program, Student Government, Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and is also a varsity swimmer. This is her first abroad trip, and she looks forward to the striking cultural experiences this trip will offer.
-Brittany Pease
Art
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