Apr. 26, 2011

During Spring Break at Shawnee State University, Dr. Isabel Graziani, associate professor of Art History, and a group of 14 art students traveled to Berlin, Dresden and the Prague for a nine-day visit as part of the ARTH 4511 Studying Art History Abroad Course.

To help finance the trip, students organized art auctions, a raffle of a painting by adjunct professor Nick Gamp, and a letter drive campaign.

"This was an exciting opportunity for art students to visit Germany and the Czech Republic," Graziani said. "It actually allowed them to see famous artworks that they have been studying at the university while taking art history courses."

Throughout the trip students visited many museums and historically important architectural sites in Germany and the Czech Republic. They went on a walking tour in Berlin, Germany, and visited the Brandenburg Gate, Reichtags and Potsdam.

"I was surprised that it was not uncommon to find someone who spoke English," said Art History student Andrea Ferrell.

The group visited nine museums in Berlin including the famous Pergamom Museum and Architecture, Alte National Gallery, Neues Museum, Brucke Museum and the Kathe Killwitz Museum.

Students walked or used public transportation most of the time. From Berlin, they traveled to Dresden, Germany, and then went to Prague in the Czech Republic.

"They had the opportunity to appreciate cultural diversity, establish new friendships and acquire important skills they will be able to apply to their studies and work," Graziani said.

Students also had the opportunity to see artworks that they had been studying at several of the museums.