During the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Spring break in March, Fine Arts students had the opportunity to see some of Italy’s most famous artwork while showcasing their own creations as well.
The trip, developed and led by assistant professor of Fine Arts, Mehves Lelic, spanned eight days during the campus’s spring break and featured stops in Rome, Milan, and Venice. In all, 30 UMES students participated in the trip and was the largest trip in UMES’ history.
“We were fortunate to have students from a variety of majors to join us for this experience,” said Lelic, who is also the director of the Mosely Gallery. “It was a great way for students to get a crash course on Italian culture.”
The first leg of the tour began in Rome with visits to see the works of Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo, Donatello, and Bernini, and excursions to see famed landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain.
A three-day stop in Milan offered the opportunity for students to not only see contemporary art at the Fondazione Prada Museum but also display their work as part of an exhibition at the Cascina Cuccagna Cultural Center, one of the city’s art hubs.
The trip concluded in Venice with highlights including St. Mark’s Cathedral, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection Museum, and glassblowing demonstrations in Murano.
“The opportunity for many of our art students to see what they’ve studied in class is a great experience they will remember for a long time,” Lelic said.
The Fine Arts trip to Italy is the latest in study abroad trips offered through the University’s Center for International Education.
Philip Broussard, the center’s interim director, said the increase in participation in these trips shows there’s a growing interest in the opportunity to travel overseas.
“I think the students are becoming more aware of these trips to the point we’ve had students take part in multiple trips,” Broussard said. “I think we’re seeing the golden age of global learning at UMES, and whether it’s eight days or 30 days these students are having a transformational experience.”
