Rome 2012
May 23rd – June 9th, 2012
ART 315: Illustration
On-Site Art & Cultural Experiences: Rome
Professor Geo Sipp – sipp@missouriwestern.edu
Grading System:
Attendance: 20%
Presentation: 30%
Journal:
50%
Prep classes will begin in mid-March and run until departure. These classes are essential
to the trip and are mandatory. The prep classes are run in conjunction with Art 315,
Illustration.
ART 315: Illustration
The goal of this course is to provide students with the opportunities to acutely observe and understand the
cities, landmarks and art that we encounter in Italy. Through drawing and sketching, students glean more
information than from casual observation or photography; therefore, students understand the formality
and function of architecture and art by articulating on paper what they see.
This course is about learning how to see through direct observation. The way we see things is determined
by what we know or believe. For example, the sight of the ocean has a much different connotation to
someone who lives on the water as opposed to someone who lives in the desert. We only see what we
look at. To look is an act of choice, yet we never look at just one thing. We look at the relationships
between objects and ourselves. We participate in continually active viewing, determining the relationship
between things and our sphere of observation. When we look at a photograph, we are aware of the
photographer’s selection of that sight from myriad possible sights. When we draw, we discern
specifically. We are aware of how an object is constructed and we understand more thoroughly the
connections between the object and ourselves. John Berger, in his book Ways of Seeing, states that: “…
when an image is presented as a work of art, the way people look at it is affected by a whole series of
learnt assumptions about art. Assumptions concerning: beauty, truth, genius, civilization, form, status,
taste, etc…. History always constitutes the relation between a present and its past.”
Draw what you see, and create a sense of your relationship to the object and its history. Herein lies a
wonderful mystery.
Students in the Illustration program will be assigned specific sites to explore visually. The expectation is
that students will become visually conversant with the formal relationships of architecture and the space
it inhabits. They will share their observations at general critiques held in the early evening.
Materials:
All students will be responsible for making their own
journals. Journal assignments will consist of daily
observational exercises that can later be translated as
finished, fully conceptualized work.
Grading and Attendance:
This course is intended to be fun and challenging, hopefully
optimizing your experience in Italy. By drawing, you will
remember more of your trip and more fully participate in it.
Everyone who makes an effort will do very well.
Coursework will be assigned throughout the spring semester prior to the trip. Making sketchbooks will
be a studio workshop held over several weekends. Students will make a minimum of three books that
they will be take to Italy.
There will be mandatory drawing and painting sessions each day. While visiting sites, time will be
allotted to visually record the environment. By intently focusing your attention on an environment by
painting and drawing, you will develop a keen awareness of the visual properties that make up what you
see. A minimum two hours of direct observational drawing and painting will be required of students each
day. Each student will also be assigned a specific destination within the city to research visually. It is
incumbent on the student to be visually literate on his/her destination. Critiques will be held daily.
Attendance at all critiques and Art History discussions is mandatory. Active participation in critiques is
required. Students are expected to produce a body of research over the three-week course. Upon return to
Missouri Western, students will be required to apply their research in a specific studio discipline. In late
fall 2008, there will be a juried exhibition in Gallery 206 of art produced from the trip.
Grading System:
Attendance:
Sketchbooks:
Critiques:
Exhibition:
20%
30%
20%
30%
All students are required to produce a minimum of three pieces to be juried for exhibition. While
this is a Drawing course and sketchbook work is the foundation, diverse media is acceptable for the
exhibition.
A final class session will be held upon return to Missouri to discuss outcomes and fill out final
paperwork for administrative purposes.
Safety Statement: Rome is a large city with a diverse population. Every effort is made to stay in groups
during class time. Students going out to sketch at various locations or going out at night are encouraged
to stay with each other.
View from the Hotel Lancelot, Rome, Italy
Any student that has a disability that prevents him/her the fullest expression of abilities should contact
me to discuss the requirements for this class.
Tentative Itinerary for Summer Program in Rome
Destinations:
Wednesday May 23
Depart Missouri
Thursday May 24
Arrive Rome
Chiesa Santa Maria della Vittoria
Santa Maria Maggori
Friday May 25
Coliseum
Roman Forum
Saturday May 26
San Giovanni in Laterno
Basilica San Clemente
Trevi Fountain
Sunday May 27
Drawing at the Pantheon
Monday May 28
Drawing at Piazza Barbarini
Tuesday May 29
Church of Quo Vadis
Wednesday May 30
Galleria Borgese
& Gardens
Thursday June 7
Pitti Palace &
Boboli gardens
Thursday May 31
Tivoli & Villa D’Este
Friday June 8
Friday June 1
Drawing at the Coliseum
Saturday June 2
Drawing at St. Peter’s
Vatican Museum Tour
Sunday June 3
Tempietto &
Giancolo Gardens
Monday June 4
Santa Sabina
Piazza Barbarini
Tuesday June 5
Bus to Florence
Wednesday June 6
And Via Appia Antica
Saturday June 9
There are no free days; each day is scheduled for museum or gallery visits. Drawing days are planned for students
to generate imagery through drawing, painting, photography and/or video. These research days are opportunities
to conceptualize work for possible inclusion in the fall 2008 exhibition in Gallery 206.
This is a tentative timetable. There will be a day blocked in that may be scheduled for an excursion to Tarquinia, or
another destination. Also, dates of the trip are subject to change, based on accommodation availability and best
airfare quotes.
Rome 2012 Studio Contact Hours – Addendum
On-Site Art & Cultural Experiences: Rome is an Illustration course that may count for ART 315,
375 or 475. It involves an intensive exploration of museums, galleries, studios and architectural sites. The
on – site courses have been offered since 2002, with trips to Italy, New York (bi-annually), Amsterdam,
Saint Petersburg, Brussels and Paris. Over 200 students have participated in our programs since its
inception.
There will be a minimum of four preliminary lectures that will begin in the spring 2008 semester;
they generally meet at 4:00 in the afternoon and last two to three hours. Contact hours with students are 8
– 12 hours. Topics include general familiarization with Rome and Florence and collections of the various
museums and galleries. Additional lectures will focus individually on the work of Bernini, Michaelangelo
and Caravaggio. The spring mandatory lectures are preceded by a series of meetings at which
biographical films of artists are shown. These meetings are meant to generate interest in the trip.
On site, students’ workdays begin at 8:00 a.m. A working breakfast is followed by student
presentations and discussions. Following presentations, we go on – site to museums, sketch and generate
research for the fall exhibition. Daily contact with students is approximately 14 hours.
Post Trip Requirements: There will be several meetings in studio following the trip to assess students’
documentation and art generation. Students will be required to share sketches and photographs in general
critiques that assess the potential of their ideas for further artistic output. Students will prepare art for
exhibition the following academic year.