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Art students gain perspective in study abroad programs

By Heidi Heater, a sophomore from Jackson, Ky.

WILMORE, KY—Asbury College seniors Janna Dyk of Silverdale, Wash., and Laura McNeel of Cincinnati, Ohio, learned more about art in other cultures in Spain and Italy respectively, as part of College study abroad programs.

“I wanted to increase my college opportunities and have a cross-cultural experience, and I wanted to broaden my repertoire of study and gain a new perspective on the world,” said Dyk.

Dyk, an art and Spanish double major, spent the fall 2006 semester developing her Spanish fluency at La Universidad de Murcia in Spain. Dyk studied Spanish education, literature for elementary students, drawing and music education.

For Dyk, both the classroom and her Spanish roommates helped her master the Spanish language. “We learned English as children by just being in the environment, so that’s the best way to learn a foreign language,” she said. “I went from talking like a child [in Spanish], merely getting my point across—to talking like an adult, having a conversation and being able to express myself more fully.”

Dyk enjoyed meeting new people and being able to have conversations in Spanish about life, the world and God. “The whole semester felt like one big conversation,” she said. Although not all her Spanish peers shared her Christian beliefs, Dyk said this experience helped her learn to love people who are different from her.

While in Spain, Dyk visited The Prado and the Reina Sofia museums in Madrid; the Casa Milá and the Picasso museum in Barcelona; and El Greco house in Toledo.

Dyk’s fellow art classmate, Laura McNeel spent the fall semester studying in Orvieto, Italy, through a student exchange program with Gordon College. Asbury College allows students to simultaneously enroll with approved colleges to expand students’ study-abroad options. McNeel was one of 19 students from across the U.S. chosen to study with Gordon.

“It was a great opportunity to meet people from around the country whom I otherwise wouldn’t have had a chance to meet,” she said. “Studying abroad provided an inter-cultural experience.”

While in Orvieto, she studied basic Italian, Renaissance art history, painting and poetry. “I never realized that I could write poetry,” she said. “Poetry class was an amazing inspiration for breaking out of my expressive shell.”

McNeel, who had already taken painting and Renaissance art history at the College, said this experience allowed her to gain a different perspective and understand the differences between Italian and American art. “If learning [Renaissance art] for the first time, I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate all the nuances of learning art in Italy,” she said.

McNeel enjoyed the slower-paced Italian lifestyle, which allowed her time to reflect and enjoy the beauty of creation—inspiring her art and broadening her perspective of life. In her paintings, McNeel desires to preserve the precious things in life, such as nature, memories and relationships, while incorporating her Christian faith.

McNeel is preparing for her senior art show this spring. The dates have not been determined at this time.

Visit the departmental web page to find out more about Asbury’s art program. For more information on study abroad opportunities contact Shelby Thacker, professor of Spanish and department chair at (859) 858-3511, ext. 2202.

Released: March 22, 2007