To UC and Beyond!

Upcoming Travel Opportunities to Look Forward to During Finals

BYEMILY SLOAN Staff Writer

It is nearing that season again! This school year is ending, itineraries are being made, and vacations are being booked. And as this school year comes to a close, there are students on this campus getting ready to pack themselves, not for a vacation per se, but for the opportunity to travel abroad with UC!

For University of the Cumberlands art students—and others interested in this opportunity—Dr. Weedman, art professor and department chair, has helped formulate a trip through the beautiful country of Italy. During this trip, his students will be studying Renaissance art and architecture. In his class this bi-term, his students got the opportunity of a lifetime to recreate the step-by-step fresco painting process. This process is very detailed and time-consuming as students both create the surface and the medium in which they paint with.

Dr. Weedman explains that “Fresco is an ancient painting technique that involves painting into wet plaster with handmade pigments. This technique was utilized by innumerable Italian artists from the late Middle Ages through the Baroque period. Its use during the Renaissance was especially prominent.”

Because most of the works that his students will be studying overseas were created utilizing the fresco technique, he reasoned that recreating the process will allow a deeper understanding of the artwork and the mindset of the artist as a whole.

“Since we will be seeing many of the most important works,” states Dr. Weedman, “I thought it would be a good project for our class. I also had an art student with a great interest in fresco. Learning about the materials and techniques that artists have used can enhance our understanding of how artworks are made.”

This is a very interesting opportunity that UC art students get to share with the history of the artwork itself, but this is not the only opportunity that students get to experience. The UC study abroad program also offers a variety of other trips for on-campus residents. This year’s course travels also include a trip to London/Paris for COMM 333 and a service trip to the Dominican Republic. UC Greece for MSMN 332 and UC London/Paris for World Music will be offered in the Spring 2024 semester. These travel courses are planned to be offered on an every-other-year rotation. For those interested in these opportunities, it is important to note that you do not have to be a major to join a class and experience beautifully diverse countries and cultures. This opportunity is regularly offered to anyone on campus who is interested and who qualify to travel with UC.

Julie Deyrup, Director of UC Study Abroad, shares that the UC study abroad program benefits students because these “opportunities allow our Patriots to learn vital professional and life leadership skills. In any other country, their experiences abroad enable them to practice navigating real-world culture and problem-solving moments. These skills are certainly valuable in today’s global job market, and we want our Patriots ready for the world!”

If studying abroad with UC seems of interest to you, contact Mrs. Julie Deyrup to plan your next adventure! See you on the other side of the world!