Interlaken, 12" by 16", gouache on paper, 2022
Waterfall, 12" by 18", gouache on paper, 2022
Valle Verzasca, 18" by 12", gouache on paper, 2022
Mountain Village, 8" by 12", gouache on paper, 2022
Artist Statement
Studying abroad is a high impact experience that every Southwestern student has the opportunity to pursue. I spent four weeks studying in Switzerland over the summer of 2022 on a Southwestern led program. It was my first time leaving the United States and experiencing a culture different from my own. I took a course in theories and practices of sustainability with Dr. Long and other students from Southwestern. I learned about sustainability as it pertains to the environment, social structures, and economics, relating our discussion to beliefs and practices in European and American cultures. Studying and discussing these topics, while living in a country known for its environmental sustainability, allowed me to connect the course with my surroundings, understand the material more deeply, and connect it with my other studies.
In this series of gouache paintings, I am exploring the language of landscape to share the natural beauty of Switzerland that I experienced abroad. My work in art has grown from a deep love of nature and the inseparable relationship that we hold with the earth. This series recreates scenes from my travels in Switzerland to connect my major in studio art with the sustainability course I took abroad, and the environmental values upheld in Swiss culture.
Studying abroad is a life changing experience that every college student has the opportunity to pursue. This experience has allowed me to immerse myself in a different culture and see the world from a different perspective. I have carried what I’ve learned and experienced abroad to apply it to my studies at Southwestern. I have grown immensely in my personal journey, and I have made deep and lasting connections with the peers I shared this experience with.
A challenge students often face in pursuing study abroad is being able to fund your program. I would not have been able to put my goal of studying abroad into fruition if it weren’t for the scholarships and grants that I received. I applied to the Gilman Scholarship Program, which is a federal program based on merit and financial need. The program also provides resources to prepare you to go abroad and to maximize your experience. Thanks to Gilman, I was able to fund my experience along with study abroad scholarships I received from Southwestern. Every student has the opportunity to study abroad, regardless of their background, and there are many resources to support your ambitions.
