From studying modernism in Paris to examining local design spaces in the District, there are courses for almost every interest this summer through the Summer Arts @ GW initiative. Registration for special summer arts programs has been ongoing, and registration for all regular summer sessions classes begins today at http://summer.gwu.edu/arts.html.
George Washington will offer classes, special programs, exhibitions and events that take advantage of the university’s collaborative partnerships with the area’s museums, galleries, archives and performing arts venues.
“The summer arts initiative integrates GW’s top-tier art events and academic programs with the vibrant cultural communities of the nation’s capital,” said Peg Barratt, dean of GW’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. “This renewed focus demonstrates the university’s commitment to the importance of the arts and the humanities in advancing our society.”
This summer, students, alumni and members of the community can choose from a greater variety of art-focused offerings. These include Design D.C., an onsite lecture and discussion seminar that takes place at the National Gallery of Art’s East Wing, Embassy of Italy, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Pentagon Memorial, and the American Indian Art Therapy Institute, which features a 16-day field immersion experience at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
New short-term abroad programs include inside access to London’s museums and art galleries to analyze and write about the city’s masterpieces, as well as trips to France, Italy and India.
The Howard Hodgkin’s exhibit at GW’s Luther W. Brady Art Gallery featuring work from the world-renowned British artist and performing arts events at GW’s Lisner Auditorium are also on tap.
Also among the new additions for 2012 is a Summer Piano Institute featuring world-renowned guest artists and a Summer Studio focusing on art and politics for high school students.
For rising high school juniors and seniors interested in the arts, Summer Studio: Arts and Politics is a competitive program that will expand and deepen their skills in drawing, painting, photography and sculpture, as well as examine issues related to the intersection of art and politics.
Taught by five GW faculty members, the program will include lectures by internationally recognized visiting artists, studio sessions and field trips to local galleries, collections and museums, including the Phillips Collection, National Gallery of Art and the Hirshhorn Museum.
“We are confident that each student will have a wonderful and engaging learning experience during this intensive three-week program,” said Dean Kessmann, chair of the Department of Fine Arts and Art History. “There is not a better place to explore the intersection of art and politics.”
The Summer Piano Institute, available to pre-college and college students, features coaching, ensemble work sessions, performances and master classes taught by critically acclaimed pianist Simone Dinnerstein and other artists of international caliber. Additional pre-college offerings include the non-credit courses Photojournalism: Media in Focus and Architecture in the Nation’s Capital.
“Columbian College has amazing faculty in arts-related fields, and summer is a great time to draw on both their expertise and their connections in the D.C. arts community,” said Director of Columbian College Summer Sessions Megan Siczek. “In addition to regular summer session coursework, our faculty has designed some really dynamic special courses and programs that combine coursework and studio time with real opportunities to engage with the D.C. arts world.”
For more information about Summer Arts @ GW, visit http://summer.gwu.edu/arts.html.