Greece — Art of the Aegean

Known as the cradle of Western civilization, Greece is a fascinating blend of European and Middle Eastern cultures. Diverse influences of the Romans, Arabs, Venetians, Turks, and the Byzantine Empire have shaped the culture of this ancient land over the centuries. Greece is without doubt, one of the most beautiful countries in the Mediterranean. With over a hundred islands and some of the most pristine beaches in the world, Greece offers the visitor months of travel and exploration. Ancient ruins, Byzantine churches, art, architecture, and warm, friendly people make Greece a traveler's paradise.

Our visit to this fabled land includes Athens, one of the world's most venerable cities. Explore museums that house an unrivaled collection of artwork and artifacts spanning more than 4,000 years and visit the Acropolis with its majestic ruins of the Parthenon, considered to be one of the most architecturally perfect structures produced by Western culture.

The highlight of your journey takes place when we set sail to the lush island of Samos, situated just off the coast of Turkey. On Samos you feel the local culture more keenly as you visit the medieval towns and whitewashed villages that cling to the mountain sides overlooking the azure waters of the Aegean. Explore Samos' breathtaking beaches, visit small fishing villages, and meet the warm, friendly island people.

Course Description

This program is offered during the summer session and originates in Athens. Earn 6 undergraduate academic credits on this program in one of the most beautiful countries in the Mediterranean — Greece. Observe, explore, and study the art history of ancient Greece at some of the most famous archeological sites in and around Athens — the Acropolis, the Temple of Poseidon, the Temple of Delphi, and the National Archeological Museum. Continue your study of art history on the verdant island of Samos, home to an excellent archeological museum and site of the Heraion — a massive shrine to the mother goddess. Create site-specific sculpture on the pristine beaches of the Aegean Sea on the island of Samos. Here you learn the basic concepts for creating large scale site-specific sculptures and develop ideas for individualized, site-specific projects from concept to actualization. Learn to integrate the environment and the indigenous culture into your art.

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Course Objectives

• To study the historical development of the architecture, sculpture and painting of ancient Greece.
• To study the artifacts of ancient Greece as they relate to the context of the history, religion and culture of the period.
• To observe the most famous examples in situ at sites including the Acropolis, Temple of Delhi, the Temple of Poseidon, the Heraion, and the Archeological Museum in Athens.
• To learn the basic concepts for creating large scale site specific sculptures.
• To be resourceful, adaptive and ecology minded when creating site-specific sculpture by using elements from the environment and recycling materials upon completion of the project.