Art History in Italy: A Student’s Immersive Learning Experience
Karli Briggs and the other students in the study abroad program in Foligno, Italy. Photo by Karli Briggs
Karli Briggs, a sophomore and art education major, studied art history for three weeks in Italy last May. Guided by Dr. Jennifer Webb, professor of art history at UMD, Briggs and her classmates spent their time across ten different cities learning in museums, cathedrals and basilicas.
As a future art educator, Briggs saw studying abroad as an opportunity to become more of an expert in her field. By gaining a greater understanding of art in an unfamiliar setting, she hoped to develop new skills and perspectives she can teach her future students.
Traveling outside of the U.S. for the first time, Briggs was determined to engage with locals while embracing their way of life. While initially feeling out of place, she eventually recognized the benefits of the discomfort and reframed it as part of her growth and learning process.
Navigating communication with locals was meaningful for Briggs. It was special for her to create moments of mutual understanding and connection with those who spoke a different language. While her fluency in Spanish helped her in some instances, she knew being in the shoes of a non-native speaker was a valuable lesson.
“When someone is looking at you like you’re stupid just because you don't know their language is an insane thing to conceptualize,” she said.
Briggs believes it's important to experience this sort of frustration. She says we can learn to be more empathetic and patient towards one another by working through it.
Another highlight of Briggs’ trip was learning outside a traditional classroom setting. Viewing the artworks she studied in class in person allowed her to engage with them more deeply. This opened her up to new ways of thinking about them. She encourages her peers to connect with art in this way wherever they can.
“Art is really an experience and so being there and experiencing it with all of your senses and not just your eyes on a computer screen is really important,” Briggs said.
The ceiling of the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. Photo by Karli Briggs
Discerning the true colors and textures of the artworks provided a sort of light bulb moment for Briggs. She also emphasizes that art is more than just the visual, it's about the historical context and what you're smelling, hearing, and feeling in the space.
She recalled an emotional moment while seeing the Birth of Venus at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
“I'm standing there and there's this mother and daughter just leaning on each other watching it and I'm like, ‘I have to die today!’ Then I was thinking about how I want my mom to be here and I want to witness this all with her,” she said.
Briggs enjoyed processing her newfound knowledge with other students on the trip. She said she now considers them some of her best friends. In addition to unforgettable bonding sessions, reflecting on her ideas and comparing them with friends allowed Briggs to draw more insights from her journey.
“Sharing different experiences was really important, just being human with each other- like ‘Was this a crazy thing that I only felt, or did you feel this too?’” Briggs said.
Briggs also found a friend in Dr. Webb, she’ll never forget the support her professor offered when she was struggling. She felt stuck on some of the class journaling prompts as she worried she wasn’t fully appreciating or understanding the lessons she was meant to take away.
“I’m like, I don't know what to write in this and [Dr. Webb] was just so helpful walking me through what I needed to do and how, and not just being like ‘Try your best.’ She cares so deeply about her students,” Briggs said. “She helped me accept that I deserved to be there as much as anyone else.”
Briggs's new relationships shaped her trip on a level she had not originally expected. Through the acceptance of her peers and teacher, she felt empowered to be herself and follow her instincts without worrying about outside or internal judgments.
“Being on this trip and finding my people and experiencing it with them was so important to me,” she said.
Stepping outside of her comfort zone, creating connections, and gaining new perspectives about art and cultural differences was transformative for Briggs. She believes it contributed huge lessons for her personal growth and learning that cemented her decision to study art education. She said Italy taught her that she could do hard things.
“I feel like a different person after Italy because of how much more confidence I have in myself,” she said. “I think it really changed the whole trajectory of my life.”
Briggs encourages students to experience the beauty of immersive learning environments. Whether it's studying abroad or exploring local museums and art galleries, educating yourself outside the classroom brings your learning to life while fostering a deeper sense of community.
“Immersing yourself allows you to look outside of yourself,” Briggs said.