Letters From Abroad

This week have a special post--Laura Brentrup, OS16 alum and Sculpture Studio Teaching Assistant to OS28, reports from her new home base--Italy. Great to hear from you, Laura!

Bergamo 'old city' (citta alta)

Ciao da Milano! 

I arrived here June 15th and it has been a non-stop adventure ever since! My main purpose of being here is taking classes at NABA (Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti-- New Academy of Beautiful Art), a design and art institution located in the Navigli (canal) district of Milan. I am enrolled in two sessions of design courses taught by architect and designer, Francesco Librizzi, who just so happens to be part of the design team of the Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, a major international art exhibition occurring this year. I am the only American in my class and have gotten to meet people from literally all over the world: Portugal, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Belgium, Russia, Mongolia.... it has been fascinating learning  about all these different cultures. The class is taught in English, so as the only native English speaker in the room, you can imagine the chaos that often ensues... Being here, engaging in these modeling workshops (our first course involved designing a planet for one person--beginning with the 'core' and each additional day constructing another layer, building outward; the second course designing a villa to house both humans and animals, with the goal being connecting each students' model together at the end...There are a lot of sticks, cardboard, Styrofoam, measuring and glue involved!) is experience much different then I expected--it has taught me 'design' and 'art' are on two vastly different ends of the spectrum; 'artists' and 'designers' are two completely different breeds of people, and do not make the mistake of mixing up the two! It is a distinction that is often overlooked and incorrectly interchanged. And alas, I am an 'artist' at heart and this experience has most definitely influenced the direction my life will take next...

Lago di Maggiore

Outside the classroom, life in Milan, 'design capital of the world', is a strange contrast between old and new. But the Italian culture permeates, the "bella vita" prevails, and this experience has been richly supplemented with once-in-a-lifetime happenings such as Richard Wagner's "Der Ring" an epic 19hour German opera, performed over the span of 4 days at the famous "Teatro Alla Scala," a private viewing of Leonardo's "Last Supper (Cenacolo)," visits to the art-rich Pinoteca di Brera, Museo Cinquecento, excursions to fortress towns (Bergamo), Torino (home of the 2006 Winter Olympics) and the countless hours of entertainment provided by simply standing by and observing a culture in love with life's simple pleasures: food, wine, and good company.

  

Climbing the Duomo (Cathedral), Milano

As my time here in Milano comes to a close, I am off, returning to the family I au paired for last year and will take a 'vacation from my vacation' at the seaside followed by a month in the Alps!

I wish OS28 all the best and hope that wherever life takes you next, you get out there and explore! The world is big, exciting place and Oxbow was just the start...! Keep in touch! 

Buon viaggio!

LAURA, OS16