Girls studying AS and A2 Level Art and Textiles had the opportunity to visit Venice at the end of the Summer Term. Once there they were able to experience much of the cultural ambiance of this unique Italian city and visit a range of Galleries, Palaces, Exhibitions and Islands.
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As well as embarking on this series of visits the girls were encouraged to sketch, paint and visually observe what was happening around them as preparation for work they will undertake as part of their courses.
Highlights from the trip include:
- A trip on the Grand Canal to St Mark's Square and the splendour of the magnificent Doges Palace. The paintings and furnishings were spectacular and the bridge of Sighs and prison cells were equally impressive.
- A visit to the Mariano Fortuny Museum which took the group off the beaten track and allowed the girls to see the real Venice- the narrow streets, the canals, the bridges and the gondolas.
- Boat trips to a number of Islands including Murano, where the girls enjoyed a visit to a glass museum, Burano - where the buildings are painted bright colours and Torcello - the oldest island where the first Venetians settled. On Torcello there were very few inhabitants but a wonderful Cathedral, with the most beautiful mosaics on the walls and floor.
- Visits to galleries - the Accademia , then the Guggenheim and the Fabric and Costume Museum.
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As well as enjoying all the cultural activities that Venice had to offer the girls also tried to experience as much of the Venetian way of life as possible with journeys on the vaporetto, meals in traditional restaurants and of course numerous samples of Italian ice-cream!
On the final day there was one final surprise when the girls visited Campo Santa Marguerita. Here they found an array of small Artisanal type shops with real practising Artists and Crafts people- just what the girls were looking for. There was a Ceramicist, a Wood Carver and a Glass Maker. The Wood Carver in particular was fascinating - not only did he make wonderful wooden sculptures of clothes, he also was kind enough to spend time talking to the girls about his work.
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Mrs Tebb who accompanied the girls on the trip said "All the girls achieved a very commendable amount of work and all tried very hard to record and appreciate their surroundings. It was a pleasure to take this group and we feel that the real benefits will be seen in next years' AS and A2 work. In the meantime it has given purpose and meaning to many girls as they embark on a summer holiday, taking them to other interesting and beautiful places. They go with eyes opened wider and a broader outlook on life, having shared a worthy experience with their friends and teachers."