UA Little Rock Students Study Art and Architecture in Berlin

A group of UA Little Rock students embarked on an unforgettable study abroad trip to Berlin, Germany, this summer, where they immersed themselves in the vibrant world of art and architecture.

The July 19-31 trip offered the students unique insights into Berlin’s rich cultural landscape and creative scene.

“We saw so many historical sites that we had seen in many history and art history classes, but we also saw a living city that is constantly changing,” said Hailee Whitledge, an art history major from Frisco, Texas. “One of the best parts of the trip was the Street Art Tour and Urban Modern Museum where we saw how Berliners from the Cold War to present day continue to create art that is expressive, subversive, and engaging. I have studied abroad before, and each time I am reminded how much fun it is to go somewhere new.”

The UA Little Rock students who attended the trip include Kate Lusk, Brittany Kogut, Skylar Boone, Evyn Phillips, Sunny Jenkins, Ash Garrison, Maggie (Kendra) Bamburg, Hailee Whitledge, Lydia Woodruff, Emme Huey, Olivia Bacot, Rocio Pantoja, Sophia (Alice) Neely, Jason Bongfeldt, and Anastacia SantaCruz.

The study abroad trip was the first time that Emme Huey, an art education major from Cabot, had ever been on an airplane or traveled outside the United States.

“As scared as I was, it was still a fantastic learning experience and really took the anxiety out of international travel,” Huey said. “I think one of my favorite things we did was visit the Bauhaus in Dessau. The Bauhaus was regarded as a state-of-the-art hub for art education when it opened. It is monumental to all art schools worldwide, with a thoughtful pedagogy and layout that combines all disciplines and houses them all under the same roof. It was captivating to see the impact the Bauhaus had even on UA Little Rock‘s own Windgate Center of Art and Design.”

Students who went on the study abroad trip could take an art history course taught by Dr. Lynne Larsen, assistant professor of art history, or a graphic design course taught by Kevin Cates, professor of graphic design.

Students in the art history course studied Rococo architecture of the Prussian Kings, German romantic painting, Neoclassical architecture, German expressionism, Bauhaus design, and contemporary street art. They completed a research paper that they presented in Germany at the site they researched and wrote journal entries about their experiences.

“Experiential learning is so effective and meaningful,” Larsen said. “It was really exciting to see students make discoveries and get excited about works they had studied. They each stepped outside of their comfort zones to see new things, try new food, learn to navigate a new transportation system, and be exposed to a new culture and language – which allowed them meaningful growth.”

In the graphic design class, students created nine poster design concepts featuring architectural structures in Berlin that included an illustrated image and a type pairing stating the location.

“The students visited the locations, took reference photos, and then sketched ideas during down time,” Cates said. “They enjoyed the huge itinerary that we had and the diversity of the places we visited. They also enjoyed being able to view in person significant historical works by classical artists like Monet, Manet, and Rodin. They also were really appreciative of the afternoons/evenings off as well as the days off. They always came back the next day with fresh and fun stories of where they went and what they visited.”

Lydia Woodruff, an art major, explained that the group had a fantastic itinerary that included touring architecture, countless museums, street art, a boat tour, gardens, seeing downtown, and finding excellent food along the way.

“We also got to tour places such as the Schloss Charlottenburg, and explore Park Sanssouci, and one day we traveled to Dessau, Germany, to see the buildings and museums at Bauhaus,” Woodruff said. “One of my favorite moments was climbing all 270 steps up the Berliner Dom Cathedral to see a breathtaking panoramic view of the city from above. Seeing artwork and architecture in person that you have studied or heard about in lectures or textbooks is an unexplainable experience. I encourage other students to leave their comfort zones and try to have at least one study abroad experience during their college years.”