During the first two weeks of May I had an amazing opportunity to join students from FIDM's Advanced Study Program in Set Design & Decoration on their European Study Tour. For two weeks we traveled through London, Florence, Venice, and Rome going to various theaters, museums, and historic sites. Seeing some of my favorite cities through the lens of this trip was a truly exceptional experience and it was a fantastic group of women to share the adventure with.
High Tea at Fortnum & Mason.
The displays in Fortnum & Mason are beautiful sets.
We rode on the top of the bus as we explored Central London.
Had an amazing tour of the National Theatre stages and art department.
Tour of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
Next was Florence where in addition to lots of history and art, we had two days of mask making workshop. Here we were getting inspiration from the Masks of Agostino Dessi's shop.
Then we went to his daughter Alice's Workshop to learn the process first hand.
The process starts with choosing a plaster cast and lining it with layers of felted paper.
This is the mask I worked on, a bird-like face.
Once dry, these will be cut and stringed for masks.
Each day we also had a walking tour with art historian, Rocky Ruggiero.
Our first day with Rocky included the history of Florence and the David.
I fell for this interpretation of David, "HERO for Florence — Homage to David: Saracino interprets Michelangelo", 2015. In the courtyard at the Accademia.
Everyone loved Florence.
The Duomo from the roof of our hotel at sunset.
While in Florence we took a day trip to Venice. A highlight from this study tour, seeing one of my favorite cities through their eyes,
So much inspiration in this beautiful city.
Final stop, Rome. Collage of the Spanish Steps.
Learning about the spectacles that would have been witnessed in the Coliseum.
Temple built upon temple in the Forum.
More beautiful ruins in the Forum.
From the Hall of Maps in the Vatican Museums.
Detail of tapestry from the Vatican Museums.
All dressed up for dinner and the opera on our last night in Italy. Memories that will last a lifetime.