Summer 2025 was the 39th on-site Pratt in Venice.
18 students participated (21 had been enrolled, but three non-US students withdrew including two graduate students due to concerns about visas or about returning).
Students were from Fine Arts and Art History as well as Communication Design and Digital Arts. One of the Art History students was from Princeton University.
In addition to our regular classes in painting, drawing/printmaking, art history of Venice, and materials/techniques of Venetian art and our traditional visits to Padua and Veneto sites, we had two visits from a star alumna of the program, Monique Rollins. Monique is a highly successful painter and gallery owner, living with her lovely family near Florence. She joined our Accademia Visit and participated in our discussions, and she returned for the final crit as a guest critic (accompanied for a part of the morning by her three beautiful children!)
Sarah Lichtman, Chair of History of Art and Design, spent two days on site with Diana, seeing our facilities and meeting faculty; she joined the HAD Materials and Techniques visit to the mosaic lab, the all group visit to the Doge’s Palace, and a faculty supper.
Another unique moment was the presentation at UIA of their pigment collection by the artist/pigment makers whom Michael Brennan has found to supply good quality colors.
We again enjoyed a special early entry to the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua to study Giotto, thanks to preservation architect Stevan who designed the lighting and climate control.
Our visit to the Veneto was blessed with extraordinarily clear dry weather. We could see the Alps from the Pullman as we headed from Castelfranco (and Giorgione) to Palladio’s Villas Emo and Barbaro with frescoes by Zelotti and Veronese, and again from our perch above Bassano where we enjoyed our traditional pranzo al fresco.
Liz Duntemann joined us to teach the on-site art history class, when Joe Kopta opted out. She brought in her expertise in the history of art and architecture related to healing.
Paolo Spezzani lectured to all on non-destructive ways to investigate art and wood conservator Enrica Colombini taught M&T students in a session in her UIA lab.
Students in Painting and Printmaking were highly productive as documented (together with art history research) in the exhibition opened in Dekalb Gallery on September 29. Kudos to them and to Michael’s curation and Fay Ku’s teaching bookmaking as well as printmaking.
Here’s to another successful year of Pratt in Venice!
