By MORGAN TARPLEY

mlt017@latech.edu

 

Twenty-two students from the School of Art have had three weeks to live the art, culture and architecture that is usually only studied in classrooms.

Through the study abroad program French Quarter, the students spent three weeks living and learning in Paris.

“[French Quarter] gave students a chance to have international exposure and to see beyond Louisiana and the United States,” Saul Zalesch, a French Quarter professor and an associate professor of art, said.

“We visited Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, plus we saw all kinds of other art not as well-known but just as eye-catching.”

Zalesch said if someone is interested in art, Paris is a great place to go because it is the center of the art world.

“[The students] were never in an actual classroom but we would go visit specific places and museums like the Louvre and the Notre Dame Cathedral,” Zalesch said.

“We saw the three most famous works in the Louvre: “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci, “Winged Victory of Samothrace” and “Venus de Milo,” both  by unknown artists.”

Zalesch also said the students and the faculty also spent a day in Chartres, France.

There they saw the Chartres Cathedral, which is considered the world’s most famous Gothic cathedral.

Jennifer Moore, a French Quarter participant and senior art major, said she never imagined how wonderful the trip’s experience would be.

“I wanted a chance to experience new things and see in person the paintings [like Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’] that I’ve studied in my art history classes,” Moore said.

“Any art major should love the chance to go and study in Paris. When else can you go to Paris to study art with a group of other artists?”

Moore said no one should worry about visiting another country.

“The experience that you will gain will be all worth it, and you might even come to appreciate what you have back home even more,” Moore said.

“I now know that I could travel to Europe, and I wouldn’t worry about being in another country. That is something that I didn’t expect.”

Moore also said one of her favorite memories of the trip was going to see where Van Gogh spent his last days.

She also enjoyed getting to visit Monet’s house and garden.

“I would definitely go back to Paris,” Moore said.

“I didn’t even want to come back home.”

Emery Zachry, a French Quarter participant and senior art major, said she wanted to go to Paris for the opportunity to experience another culture.

Zachry said she also wanted to see some of the world’s best art in person.

“I got exactly what I expected: fabulous sights and architecture everywhere I looked, really yummy pastries and clothes that I could never afford [at  home],” Zachry said.

“[Students] should definitely go.”

Brittany Schanzbach, a French Quarter participant and junior art major, said Paris was different than what she had expected, and it surprised her in more ways than one.

“I was expecting Paris to be the city of romance, a very laid-back sort of place,” Schanzbach said.

“My expectations were not totally wrong, but Paris is also a productive city,” Schanzbach said. “It’s a busy place, which I guess is something that I did not imagine.”

Schanzbach said the trip was so incredible she does not think there is only one memory she can point out.

“There were always goofy moments, but also there were those moments that take your breath away that you will never get the images out of your head,” Schanzbach said.

“One of the moments I will never forget is climbing to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and watching the Eiffel Tower light up at night. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.”

Rachel Shaifer, a senior art major, said any time anyone has an opportunity to study abroad, they should do it, because it is worth every penny.

“The time that I spent in Paris taught me about myself,” Shaifer said.

“I was able to get to know a whole group of people that I might not have had the opportunity to know without Paris,” Shaifer said.

“Life and experience are the best teachers, and this experience takes you out of the classrooms and lets you see art, the art we study about in art history, the art that is contemporary.”