Summer 2012: Hungary & Czech Republic
Dreaming in Magyar: Hungary and the Czech Republic
This study abroad course offers students the chance to experience living and working in Central Europe. Our home base for the trip is the International Ceramics Studio, a center that features comfortable lodgings and excellent studios - ample workspaces, numerous kilns and mold-making facility. A special translucent porcelain clay is available for use. The Studio Museum houses an extensive international collection of contemporary works in clay, providing an excellent on-site study resource.
Hungary has a long tradition of ceramics from folk art wares to the exquisite Art Nouveau luxury wares of Zsolnay and the fine porcelains of Herend. Extraordinary architectural ceramics are to be found on Hungarian buildings. Students see many fine examples of historic and architectural ceramics in Kecskémet, Budapest, Pecs and an extended visit to the Herend porcelain factory. A four-day adventure to Cesky Krumlov, a UNESCO destination in the Czech Republic, includes tremendous art, architecture, live theater and a “white-water” rafting excursion through the Czech Republic country side.
Dates
May 14–June 16, 2012
Academic credit
Open Ceramic Studio Investigation (three credit hours)
George Timock, professor of ceramics
History of Hungarian Architecture (three credit hours in liberal arts)
Aaron Blumenhein, architecture
Trip expenses
The cost for six credit hours is $5,319, which does not include airfare or food. Students will purchase airline tickets on their own in order to arrive in Budapest and meet up with the entire group. We will then take the bus to Kecskemet, Hungary. Trip expense does include single room lodging, studio fees, materials fees, visiting artist's demo fees, museum fees, day trips to Budapest, Herend, Pecs, Tihany (a hillside village on Lake Balaton), four-day trip to Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic (river rafting included), live outdoor theater, all ground transportation to and from Budapest Airport.
Deadlines
Application and accompanying required documents plus a $250 non-refundable deposit is due in the business office by Friday, Feb. 3, 2012.
Student selections will be made by Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, and accepted participants will receive email confirmation. A short waitlist of students will be notified of their status at the same time.
A non-refundable payment of half of the total trip fee is due in the business office by Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012.
Full payment of the total trip fee is due in the business office by Friday, March 9, 2012. Students must have all required documents on file. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Program description
"Dreaming in Magyar: Hungarian Art and Architecture"
LAEL 3823 01
Instructor: Aaron Blumenhein
Credit: three credit hours of liberal arts elective
This course is a cross-sectional capsule of architectural education with an emphasis on historical Hungarian building traditions, forms and vocabulary. Through the basic study of architectural vocabulary, students will be able to dissect the constructed forms they will be observing and understand the origin of historical Hungarian buildings. Within contemporary contexts, students will be able to trace architectural styles in reverse. In contrast to beginning with the meaning of architecture and its formal origins, with which the students may not have any primary experience, this process affords them a connection to what they observe directly.
Students will continuously be employing creative acts that will enrich and inform their personal work to compliment their tactile work with materials in studio. Students will be required to maintain a visual notebook. A final paper is also required, which will fuse the technical knowledge learned in lectures and readings with the site visits of Hungarian art and architecture. The pre-programs readings in "Accessible Architectural Theory" are intended to give the student a basic lifetime of understanding of the meaning of architecture and its importance to our improved sense of existence.
Ceramics Elective Open
CERME 357 01
Instructor: George Timock
Credit: three credit hours
The ceramic elective open is a self-directed offering taught by George Timock and assisted by visiting and resident artists at the International Ceramic Studio (ICS). Students are encouraged to identify areas of visual interest and create works with the translucent porcelain clay used exclusively at the Herend porcelain factory in Hungary. The ICS is the only venue outside the Herend factory that is authorized to use this extremely high temperature, glass-like porcelain material.
Students will have the opportunity of working with this Herend porcelain clay to form with the potter's wheel, hand-building construction and the specialty of Eastern Europe -- plaster mold design and porcelain slip casting. Hands-on demonstrations are an integral part of the studio experience. The KCAI faculty member and ICS resident master artist assist students with both technical and aesthetic concerns.
The introduction of glazing the porcelain ware, loading and firing the two large high fire kilns (1380º C) with both wood and natural gas gives students a knowledge base and understanding of this final process. Developing and demonstrating critical thinking skills for examining and discussing their creative work and the work of their peers during this month-long adventure in Eastern Europe is a very important expected learning outcome for the ceramic elective course. A final presentation and critical evaluation with faculty is required.
Download the calendar for the trip.
Web Reg
Web Reg
To register for classes, or to veiw and change your schedule, log into Web Reg. You will need your student ID number and PIN.
Costs & Financing
Costs & Financing
Visit the Costs & Financing page for information on costs, scholarships, loans, refunds and deadlines.