Hi. My name is Brian Wise and for my STEP signature project I had an Independent Academic International Experience studying Art in Europe. I focused on 14 different works of art located in 5 different cities, spending quite a bit of time examining each one, learning about the stories told within, and translating the emotional maxims in the paintings to my relationships and life. Although this was an art trip I had some fantastic experiences outside the gallery when traveling that forced me to step outside my comfort zone and embrace a new culture. I blogged about how the art changed me at my u.osu.edu/brian and feel that I hit most of my major points there so I want to focus this essay on how the travel transformed me and was really the finishing touch on my growth throughout this experience.
I can talk about specific travel skills, problem solving, or cultural adaptation until I am blue in the face however the overarching transformation I saw in myself during this process was my now intrinsic comfort in unfamiliar situations and how I deal with them. There were several occasions during my trip when I found myself in an unplanned circumstance and I had to figure out how to deal with the problem and continue on my way. Before the trip I often would freeze up when confronted with an unexpected problem and pass the responsibility off to someone else. However when traveling alone it is do or die and after having to make some tough decisions with nobody else to fall back on I now find myself calm, cool, and collected when faced with a problem in everyday life because I know that I have been through worse. This newfound confidence has benefitted me immensely in my academic, professional, and social life, and I can completely thank my STEP experience for that.
The other transformation that I saw about myself was my ability to switch mindsets quickly and wholly. When I was traveling I would go from the craziness of the streets of Paris or Frankfurt to the incredibly tranquil museum. This complete 180-degree shift was a great exercise of emotional discipline, forcing you to transfer from a helter skelter mindset trying to foresee the future movements of 100 different bodies to focusing completely on one object giving it your full attention. Before my trip I would often struggle with this, finding myself going from relaxing with friends to focused studying a difficult task as it would take me hours to shift to the mindset required to study. I have noted this problem for a long time and made a concerted effort during my trip to practice the quick mental changeover. And although I felt myself struggling with this during my first couple visits to Venice and Frankfurt, I had felt that by the time I had hit the Louvre I had mastered it. I now find it much easier to switch from focusing on one task to another, and every aspect of my life has benefitted from it since.
There were several distinct events that I felt contributed to my newfound confidence: An extended layover on the way to Italy, confrontation with conflict in Paris, and the impromptu trip in Latvia. Each one of these experiences contributed to my experience and comfort in new places, and how I saw myself as a new man after I got home.
I had $2000 dollars to plan this trip plus whatever I could cobble together from working during the year. And since my main method of travel was flying I had to be especially creative there. I purchased the cheapest round trip flight out of Cincinnati to anywhere in Europe and then planned to get one way flights from there. And that place ended up being St. Petersburg, Russia. I flew through Germany on my way out & back and flew 2 more flights for half the price. However when flying to Russia I planned to stay in the international terminal to avoid the Russian Visa requirement, which was quite stringent on American citizens. Needless to say I had to explain this every step of the way, and often between steps. And since my flight to Venice had a 10 hour stopover in St. Petersburg and a 12 hour stopover in Chisnau, Moldova, (and not speaking a lick of either native language) I would be put in uncomfortable situations the entire way over. I had my passport checked countless times, was detained for questioning 3 separate times just in Russia by the FSB, and had to go through two volunteer translators to get a boarding pass in Moldova. Each situation required me to think quickly and decisively for a unique solution, and after arriving in Venice I felt as if I could take on any problem the world could throw my way. This experience as a traveler made me much more comfortable in my own skin and gave me a radiating confidence still with my today.
The next situation that really put my confidence to the test was a confrontation with locals on my first day in Paris. The flight to Paris was very easy, and my uber driver very nice, taking it upon himself to welcome me to paris personally. He gave me great recommendations about the neighborhood my hostel was in, taught me a couple unique Parisian phrases (I speak a rough general French), and told me what sights were worth seeing. But he told me that to see the city I should just go and wander around, to get lost and find myself. Very romantic. So since the museums were all closed for the day that is what I did, dropping my bags in the bunkroom and taking to the street. However not long after I had wandered out of the hostel I was walking down a desolate street, suddenly realizing that I was alone in a more industrial area. No problem at all, I quickly pulled up a well-rated café on Yelp and set a course there for a quick espresso. After a couple of minutes walking by myself I heard the scuffle of shoes, realizing that I was not alone after all. Two kids, couldn’t be older than 16, dressed in hoodies and joggers walked quickly after me, and after my taking a couple random turns it was very clear that they were following me. One approached me, holding out his hand and saying “telephone”. His face, hand, and body posture made it very clear that he was not looking to borrow it. His friend, a little apprehensive about the matter, stood in the background while the borrower attempted to block my way. I at first did not understand what was going on, why was this kid asking for my phone? Then it hit me, he was attempting to shake me down. I responded by playing dumb, saying in my most American accent that I did not understand and did not speak French. The boy was not buying it though, and I very quickly understood that there was only two ways out of this situation – either giving up my phone (which contained ALL of my travel data, tickets, reservations, etc.) or taking a stand. This was my first time in this sort of predicament, and since neither kid had a hand in the pocket or was signaling at a weapon I saw an opportunity out. My years of hockey kicked in as I, mid babbling like a fool, hit my confronter in the ears then broke his nose with two swift jabs. Grabbing him and throwing him into his friend I then dashed away, not bothering to look back as I made quick time back to my hostel. However by the bloody crying and lack of hustle after me I knew I had thwarted my would-be attackers with force and efficiency. After the initial adrenaline rush had subsided I felt a whole range of emotions, which eventually settled on guilt. I had no desire to hurt them; I had put myself in the situation and acted out of fear. I spent the rest of the night in the hostel feeling guilty and afraid of what I had done and how I had behaved. But the next day I was faced with the dilemma of whether to emerge from the cocoon of safety in my hostel, back out into the unpredictable and seemingly dangerous world. What if it happened again? While deliberating over my breakfast I had an epiphany that I had acted decisively and although may have made a poor choice by putting myself in the situation, I made the most of it, escaped, and walked away with some very important lessons. And most of all that even though I had made a mistake, I had learned something from it, and thus there was no shame in my action. This was an incredible turning point for me, as in the past I had always looked upon mistakes as an event to be shameful of. But I now felt confident about this, embracing my mistakes as not faults but lessons to be internalized and acted upon in the future. With that new sense of tempered confidence I went back out into Paris, being extra careful of my surroundings but not in a fearful or conciliatory manner. I had a great time, learning a ton about art and culture in the French capital, spending too much on food and gallery tickets, and breathing in the city in a cultured and exploratory yet safe manner. I believe that mindset of accepting mistakes and pulling lessons out of them has stayed with me, and made me much more confident in new situations where I am bound to take a misstep.
Finally an experience that came to define my transformation of confidence during my travels was my impromptu trip to Latvia. In my ever-continuing search for cheap airfare I had booked a one way ticket from Oslo, Norway to St. Petersburg through Riga, Latvia to catch my long haul flight back to the states. I was excited because my layover was only an hour in Riga, which meant only one extended foreign layover on the way back (8 hours in St. Pete). However no travel can come easy and so after landing in Riga for my layover I got to find out that the second leg of my flight to St. Pete was canceled without my knowledge. And being that the next flight to St. Petersburg didn’t land until 6 hours after my long haul took off I was up the creek without a paddle. 3 weeks ago this would have me being a ball of stress not knowing what to do, and 3 months ago I think I would have just given up and settled down to live in Riga permanently. But newly confident me, placed in the newest very unfamiliar situation that had come to define my last month, was right at home. I immediately stopped, laid out my problem (no flight home!), developed solutions (new flight home, get on next flight to St. P and pray, fly to turkey 1 way then home), weighed my options, and acted confidently according to my best information. At 11:30 PM I had no idea how to get home, and after 30 minutes of intense searching in the airport café I had tickets to go home. I rescheduled my long haul flight, booked the next flight to St. P (covered by expedia thankfully), took a taxi to the comped hotel, and went to sleep. Since my flight wasn’t until the next day I got to go out and explore Riga (a little known but beautiful city blossoming in post soviet democracy. I even met a college student who got to show me around, and I saw the U.S. Army Battalion who was rumbling through all the way from spain to show off how we could protect Europe from the big bad Russians. All in all it was a pleasant stop, and I got to see a country that odds are I would never see again. But the most important learning I took away from this was a confirmation of my confidence and ability to make decisions under fire. This was the most challenging situation that I was put in during my trip and I emerged unscathed, acting confidently and embracing the responsibility that I know I would have shrank from before my trip.

I believe that I walked away with two important lessons from my trip. The first and foremost is that I love viewing art, specifically paintings, and I believe that I have lit a passionate fire for art that will burn for the rest of my life. The variety and mastery of paintings that I saw was breathtaking, and I intend to see as much volume and variety of paintings as possible in order to continue to grow as both an art connoisseur and as a person. One day I would love to become a patron of the arts, as these great works do not create themselves. However that requires a degree of monetary affluence on my part, and thus I will justify a portion of my life’s work as generating income for a future masterpiece. Throughout this essay I do not touch as much on the art side of my transformation however it is described in my blog, and there is my first and foremost recollection of my trip and emotional transformations throughout.
Secondly more pertinent to my arguments is the employment of the newfound confidence instilled in me throughout this trip. Currently being on co-op working in management in a factory I have found myself in a variety of precarious situations requiring the full breath of my confidence and aptitude. Whether I am dealing with a distraught worker, negotiating with a supplier, or presenting to vice presidents, I have never found myself to be lacking in confidence. There are still many times that I know I have no idea what I am doing, and will most likely make a mistake. But that is no excuse to emit insecurity, indecisiveness, or lack of strength, all of which will undermine any chance of success that I may have. I am applying confidence in a calculated manner, I am know my strengths and weaknesses, and play them to get me as far as I can go. Whenever I am feeling doubt about my ability, I look back on this trip and remember that I have been able to overcome almost any challenge that life can throw at me. That was the biggest lesson I was able to take away from this, and one that I plan to carry throughout the rest of my life.

Hallo from Oslo!

Salutations from the land up north. Like seriously north. Like this place is north of a significant chunk of Alaska. During my stay the weather averaged a balmy 53 Fahrenheit while getting an incredible 20 hours of true sunlight a day and another 4 hours of the lightest night I have had the “pleasure” of sleeping through :p. But through this cold climate the Norwegians have prevailed as the unequivocally “hottest” nation I have ever been to. These Norwegians are all gorgeous: men, women, children, dogs, everyone. I owe it to the fact that they also have a nearly perfect social system where there is an extremely low level of poverty, free healthcare, and “shit-tons” of vacation. When I visited Russia and Latvia I could see the epic failures of extreme socialism, and that made me wary of any collectivized system. This was the very apparent, systemic success of a moderate socialist system. I could drone on about this for days and days, but the theme is that I really believe they have figured out a higher form of living, in the arctic circle of all places!!!! But enough with my fantasizing, first I must thank my cousin Tom and Mari, both were incredibly generous hosts who welcomed me into their home with open arms. They showed me all around the wonderful city of Oslo, taught me the ways of the Norwegian, and entertained my delusional search for whale meat. I am very grateful for their hospitality and look forward to seeing them in August!!
Oslo is a unique city in that it is very much a European capital with monuments, famous buildings, and is equipped with top of the line public transportation. However it is utterly devoid of tourists, making Amsterdam look like Disney in comparison. Whether it’s the kroner, the weather, or the long journey north, tourists don’t seem to travel it up here making sightseeing a very enjoyable experience. It also made the art museums pleasant as well as I was often the only person in a room. The Munch Museum and the National Gallery were both good exhibits, showing off artists from both Norway and around the world. Here are my reflections:

“The Scream” – Edvard Munch – Munch Museum
Edvard Munch is the “modern national artist” of Norway, with works heralded around the world. The Scream is his most famous painting, and one of my personal favorite works. I interpret it as one man who is in his moment of utter panic, and this has made the world so “crazy” for him. Onlookers farther down the road look on, and watch him as his reality augments during his terror. Some may look at this painting as depressing, scary, or creepy, but I look at it a little different. To me it is a message of hope carried by the two people on the left. In the context the people are not out of proportion or augmented, they stand as a normal person. Yes the world may change, seem crazy, be too hectic, or terrorizing. But in reality it is often more the portrayal of events in your head that is hectic, and if you remember that no problem is “unfixable” then everything will be ok. That is why I see this as a good painting to end on. Over this whole trip I have encountered many problems- whether when my flights all got canceled at 1 am in Latvia, I had no where to stay in Paris, or had got on the train to the wrong airport in Oslo. Each one of these incidents had me incredibly stressed, thinking the world was going to end. But as long as I remembered that I could solve any problem put in front of me, and that the sun will rise tomorrow, I was ok.
“Bridal Procession on the Hardangerfjord” – Adolph Tidemand and Hans Gude – National Gallery
So this is a very Norwegian painting, probably the most traditional Norwegian painting I had seen. Fijords, boats, and happy men, it has it all. This glorification of the classic lifestyle really appeals to me, and brings about a sense of satisfaction and nostalgia. These guys had it all figured out- they had a job, friends, beer, and a boat (The essentials). If I can figure out how I consistently have that in life I think I will be happy, and that is what I work for. They are also living in a gorgeous area, with huge mountains rolling up straight from the sea. If I could idealize life, that would be it.

But this is my last stop. Going to roll through Riga, Saint- P, Frankfurt, and Toronto on the way home, should be quite fun.

This trip has been eye opening for me. The opportunity to travel alone really ensured that I was immersed in the local culture, met new people, tried new food, and learnt new words. The art really helped bring about some of the best reflection I have ever done, and blogging about it helped me get my thoughts out in a logical manner. I have really fallen in love with the French empire style of art, and now more than ever appreciate all different types of artists and the background they come from. This independent fellowship has been an academic experience that I could have never received in a classroom, and these memories last a lifetime. I have met so many amazingly kind and hospitable people who were so generous by just showing me around their city. I have homes everywhere I can go now, and I really look forward to getting back to Europe some day. But until then I am ready to head back state side and see my family, so to all I say Goodbye!

Currently listening to :
American Boy – Estelle feat. Kanye

Hallo Amsterdam!

I arrived in the land of bicycles and beers on Tuesday not knowing a think about the city, and left with a group of friends forged through canal water and late nights. Coming from Paris the city felt completely devoid of all tourists and all the nuisances that accompany them. Combined with the local cuisine being pancakes and beer, the use of bicycles, and the boats, Amsterdam was shaping up to be one of my favorite cities. Air there was the cleanest I had ever breathed in a major city, due to the reduced presence of cars and the canals bringing in fresh air from the ocean. Dutch as a language is also very similar to English; with my background in English and Latin I was almost able to understand it. The art there was incredible; Rijksmuseum is a national treasure for Holland. Although not as massive as the Louvre or as exclusive as Stådel, Rijksmuseum has a unique flavor of its own, proudly showcasing the work of both generations of Dutch artists and artists from around the world. It held a wide variety of mediums, always keeping the viewer on their toes, peeking around the corner to see what the next room held. The Van Gogh museum was another experience; different from any other museum I had been to yet in that it was the first museum to fully dedicate itself to one artist. It carried accompanying masterpieces however Van Gogh was the center of everything. The story of Van Gogh was particularly interesting as the museum chronicled the ups and downs of his life (unfortunately it consisted mostly of downs) with his art. This provided each work with a context that I had never seen before in an art setting, dramatically enhancing the experience. Here are my pieces of Art that I reflected on:

“The Night Watch” – Rembrandt – Rijksmuseum
So the nights watch is a depiction of a group of civilian soldiers gathered together for a similar purpose of protecting the city at night. When in Amsterdam I found a group of friends that were gathered together for a similar purpose as well, albeit touring around the city instead of protecting it. Over the course of my travels and often my studies it can get a little lonely, and it is really grounding and quite fun for me to enjoy the company of a group for a bit. We were all staying in the same hostel room, and quickly forged a group friendship that made it quite easy to unwind and feel at home. This painting really brought a sense of respite for me, helping me unwind.
“The Little Street” – Vermeer – Rijksmuseum
The Little Street was the opposite of the Nights Watch in that it was just a simple landscape. The colors are bright but relaxed, the lines clear but not sharp, and it was divided into quarters very evenly. This painting also brought about a sense of relaxation and peace for me, and even though it is devoid of meaningful human subjects it still conveys the underrated emotion of serenity. I often felt this when walking through Amsterdam, and this paining of Amsterdam really embodies its subject.
“Self portrait” – Van Gogh – Van Gogh Museum
So Van Gogh was one of the most talented artists to ever walk earth. His volume of masterpieces concretes that claim as undisputable. However he also suffered from debilitating mental illness that would ultimately claim his life. He is known for expressing his emotions (often that of despair) in his work, and it is very evident in his self-portraits. He painted dozens of these, all of himself, for either practice or sale. These self-portraits are masterpieces, and made very evident of how depressed he was feeling. They struck home for me as I can sometimes have a rollercoaster of emotions going from very happy to very sad. Over time I have learned to control these swings, and I think I have been quite successful in it. When looking into these paintings I see my “old self” and what I could have become if I were to allow myself to be sad constantly. It becomes hard to view these over and over again as I empathize deeply with him, but I must remember that these paintings serve as a lesson for me to make sure I am always trying to be happy.
Note* I am by no means saying that just thinking to be happy is a solution for everyone. Depression is a real medical condition that can often require a doctor to treat you. If you are feeling depressed you’re not alone: call a hotline, talk to a friend, see your doctor, do whatever you need to do to get the appropriate help. Remember there is no shame in depression, the first step to getting better is admitting that it is there.

But off that dreary talk, now I am going to swing north for a bit to Oslo and pay Munch and Co. a visit. Arctic Circle bound!

I have regrettably fallen a little behind on these, been so busy traveling! But rest assured I am back on the horse, and expect updates from Amsterdam and Oslo soon!

Bonjour from the city of love!

So this was my first city in that I have had no sort of true experience with the culture before, and my first city where I knew absolutely no one prior. I have listened to French tapes in the past but nothing to the extent of fluency. But upon landing in Paris I understood why it is foretold as such a magical city. My hostel was right on the canal in the 19th district, just a short jaunt away from the metro that would take you anywhere in Paris. Every morning I awoke to eat breakfast right on the water, watching that low Parisian skyline wrinkle in a magical reflection. During my stay I was blessed with great weather (very un-parisian), allowing me to see everything proper. The Louvre was breathtaking, with so much art there that my two days I budgeted for it were not nearly enough. Paris is a city that you could spend 2 weeks in and still not scratch the surface. I need to come back and do Paris again with a SO, it’s that amazing. The city breaths life, seemingly a generator of these authentic moments. I also understand the food reputation as well; it is well founded. Eating was by far my favorite activity in Paris, doing it at least once if not twice a day. Duck, escargot, frog, roasted chicken, baguette, beaujolais, and brioche all called my name waaay too much, and it would have been amiss if I did not indulge. But onto art! There was a vast amount of art I saw, and for this one I really think that it is better to describe each one a little bit.

“Liberty leading the people” – Delacroix
So this was one of the later paintings I got to see, and what an incredible sight it is. I am quite moved by these epic works portraying human struggle and emotion. The act of rebellion has always been one of mixed feelings for me, as it often is not justifiable nor authentic. This painting is trying to sell you into the concept of authentic rebellion though, the noble defection. These people are not dying for some false cause, they are dying for the freedom of their countrymen and families. I feel that it is often important to remember that in the right situation rebellion is acceptable, and maybe even morally obligated.

“Oath of the Horatii” – David
This is a particularly meaningful painting for me as several of these neoclassical paintings by David portraying roman legends were actually in a latin textbook of mine in high school. Instead of paying attention I would look at these pictures instead, as pictures are much easier to understand than Latin to 15 year old me. I absolutely fell in love with them, and the fact that I got to see them in person confirmed by affection for them. These are huge masterpieces, showing the epic triumphs and tragedies of these Roman legends. The detail is fanatical, with these colors that would sweep you away. I spent over 4 hours in the David room just taking it all in. It is really encouraging to be able to see these in person now, as I never thought I would have made it this far even though I promised myself I would someday. The picture shows these 3 brothers swearing an oath of fealty and of revenge. I connect with this image in that I am following through on my promise to myself, and that what promises I incurred on myself in the past still has meaning for the future.

“The Coronation of Napoleon” – David
This is another David that really drew my eye. I enjoy his style of Roman majesty and celebration, and his sense of realism as well. The coronation of Napoleon is a hot topic as some see him as a crazy dictator who tried to take over Europe, while others see him as the French hero who led them out of the darkness. The painting shows his self coronation, and that is meaningful because I can often forget why I am doing something, and by whos measure. Napoleon did it all himself, and he crowned himself the emperor of Europe because of it. It is important for me to remember that I can do anything I want if I want it bad enough. Just because something is in my way doesn’t mean it is insurmountable, and when I get to the top it will be me crowning myself, and not giving it to anyone else.

“Virgin of the Rocks” – Da Vinci
This painting portrays Jesus, Mary, and John the Baptist in a medieval style. It is hard to avoid religion in these earlier paintings as they were often commissioned by wealthy catholics. However I did find this particular work to be very moving, as it shows the caring mother ensuring here son and friend are doing well. It is important to remember to care for those under you who you are responsible for.

“The Wedding at Cana” – Veronese
This painting was magical in that Veronese is a masterful storyteller all throughout the painting. There are a 100 different stories throughout the painting, and all are unique. I spent quite a lot of time looking at the individual ones, but then I realized that the painting really was trying to tell you that no matter what craziness might ensure, there is harmony in chaos, and that is certainly what is occurring here. Remember to look beyond the struggle into the unknown!

So I have seen quite a bit of art in the Louvre, way to much to go into full detail with and still enjoy the rest of my trip. So I am on my way to Amsterdam now, land of pancakes and bicycles.

Salutations from Catalonia!

So in between my transit from Frankfurt to Paris I made a last minute decision to have a stop over in Barcelona to visit my dog. For years my family has raised and trained labradors to be seeing eye dogs for blind people, and as a consequence these dogs can land all around the world. Phineas, our dog in Barcelona, has been living with a blind man named Xavier for about 3 years now, and they have been doing very well together. Phineas was our “best” dog, having a very calm disposition but still active and playful. It was very rewarding to see him working, as I put a lot of time and effort into raising him. The fruits of your labor aren’t often realized right after you work so it was encouraging to say the least.

I stayed with Phineas’s family Xavi and Anna and their two children Paula and Meritxell. They are some of the nicest people you could ever meet, showing me all around Barcelona, feeding me, and giving me that local experience that far surpasses one of a typical tourist. The Paella, Tapas, and Spanish Omelets were all delicious, coming from “off the beaten path” establishments that I otherwise would have passed up.

Both Xavi and Anna took time to take me all around Barcelona, showing off their beautiful city. Camp Nou was spectacular (only surpassed by the shoe of course), and the Gothic neighborhoods at twilight took your breath away. Narrow streets and twinkling streetlights call for you to wander all through the night.

But on my way to Paris now!

Guten Tag!

Coming in from the lovely city of Frankfurt, Germany.I spent the past 3 days with the most wonderful German hosts, the Krakau family. They showed me all around their beautiful city and the countryside by the Rhein river. All I must say is Germany may be the “greenest” place I have ever been, both technologically and foliage. Both solar panels and forests are abundant, making for a rather pleasant environment.

The museums along the far bank of the Main were incredible, with the crowning jewel of the Stådel (wrong å symbol but I can’t seem to find it on my keyboard) being an incredible spread of art that is one of the finest in the world. The Impressionist collection was breathtaking, bringing to light the amazing talent that Monet, Manet, Renior, and Degas possessed. Here are my reflections for the paintings:

“Orchestra Musicians” – Degas
This piece was interesting because although it is regarded as quite famous, it was not gathering the crowd that the other famous pieces were. This allowed me to spend more time at it. It was particularly interesting as it depicts a dancing show in the background with orchestral musicians the foreground. You do not typically think of the musicians being the foreground of a painting as they are usually only the supporting cast. But these musicians are focused and seemingly invested in their roles. I really read this as a reminder that you must remember that there is always more work being put into a production than what is visible on the surface. The audience will only really appreciate the dancer, however the musicians are putting in equally admirable effort that should be recognized but is normally not.

“The Luncheon” – Monet
Monet, the master impressionist, was the center of attention in the stådel. This particular work I found to be very relaxing, and a bit of a contradiction to the seeming ethos of Frankfurt. Being the financial center of Europe, Frankfurt is a bustling, constantly growing town that moves very quickly. This painting is a contradiction to that by depicting a relaxed lunch session, with wine, bread, and grapes, and people arriving at their own pace. A child sits playing with a toy, and the food is unguarded. It emits a sense of calm, saying that you must remember that most everything is fixable and nothing is worth worrying too much about. When planning all of this I would sometimes stress out over this, school, friends, and other pressures. Art has been a refuge from my concerns, and paintings like these really embody that.

“A Game of Croquet” – Manet
This impressionist work was another painting that I find to be incredibly relaxing, bringing me back to home. When I was younger croquet was a favorite game of our family’s, and many a spring and summer afternoon were spent playing on our lawn. The man lounging while wearing nice clothing embodies that even if you are looking nice, have important things to do, or places to go, it is for your own sake, equally as important to take time to relax and forget about the world.

But now I have arranged a quick stop off in Barcelona for a couple days to visit with my dog who has been working there for a couple years now (seeing eye dog). On to Spain!

Currently listening to:
Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith

Bonjourno!

Have had a wonderful couple days in Italy, really reflective for me in terms of my experience.

On Tuesday I got breakfast with my wonderful aunt Cindy Froehlich, and we then climbed the hill to the castle in Conegliano. We then proceeded to my first warm up art exhibit, the Carpaccio exhibition in Conegliano. There weren’t any notable pieces in the exhibit however it was lovely none the less. After that we had lunch with the ever so gracious Juliana and Maria Clara. The rest of the day was spent around Conegliano in the most relaxing manner. What I needed after a 3 day plane ride.

Wednesday I went into Venice proper and proceeded the Museo Correr where I saw the “Transfiguration of Christ” by Bellini and “Man with a Red Hat” by Carpaccio. Both blew me away, attached are my reflections.

“Man with a Red Hat” by Carpaccio:
So coming on this first trip I was a bit nervous, I don’t have that much of a true educational background in art or painting and want to avoid sounding like a fool in my interpretations. The Man with a Red Hat is a mid 15th century portrait that displays a man in a red uniform with a red hat. The soberness of the man and the almost disinterest in his eyes really drew me to it, almost as if he had just found some disappointing news. It has a very exclusive subject, forcing all of your interest in the painting to the center. Well conveyed emotion, if a bit centric.

“Transfiguration of Christ” by Bellini:
This earlier version of the masterpiece is painted in a similar style as it displays the crucifixion of christ with a crowd gathered around. This painting almost made me think that all of our works are drawing us close to one centric theme, or one main meaning. The crowd is all looking to christ the martyr, and he is looking out to some greater truth. I am not condoning this specific way of truth, but just that there may be some, to use ethical terminology, fundamental truth.

After going to the museum I met several students at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice who invited me to their American English lecture. After taking their practice final exam with them (I passed thank goodness), they proceeded to show me around Venice the next day. They were incredibly welcoming, taking their day to show me around Venice and giving me a real taste of the local culture. Overall this really put a fantastic cap on my time in Venice, helping show me the real Venetian way of life.

Shout out to the Froehlich family for being the most gracious, fun, and welcoming hosts one could ask for. They went out of their way to help me, giving me advice, and treated me as their own. I am super lucky to call you family, and I need Kelby and Kody to learn to ski so I can take them to Utah and spoil them there!

But off to Frankfurt Germany to visit the Stadel and the Krakau family!

Brian

currently listening to:

Black Keys – 10 AM Automatic

Hello!

Made it to Venice, and after a wonderful 7 hours in St. Petersburg (actually not that bad) and a really fun 12 hours in Chisinau (not actually that fun), I made it to Venice. Cindy and her two boys Kelby and Kody were happy to see me, and quickly got me acquainted to Italy with the customary espresso, gelato, and spritz all in 2 hours. After a wonderful Pasta Ragu dubiously prepared by Kelby, the fact that I had not seen a bed in 3 days caught up with me, and I slept like the dead for at least 13 hours. But let’s take on tuesday!

Brian

Currently listening to:
nothing. still half asleep.

zdravstvuyte from st. petersburg!

The travels have been going well. I got a couple hours of sleep on the trans-atlantic flight but I am still pretty exhausted.

When I landed in St. Petersburg coming from Dusseldorf, I was not sure what to expect out of the former soviet city’s airport. But to my pleasant surprise St. Petersburg is actually most likely the nicest airport I have been in so far. There is only one terminal, and it is a huge soviet style room with 50 foot ceilings. Inside are multiple levels of modern shops, bustling with business. I am spending 7 hours here, and I am honestly looking forward to it, or at least more than my 3 hour experience stuck inside the dusseldorf terminal (which had only one drab cafe). But after my little fiesta today I will be onto Moldova and then to Venice.

Brian

currently listening to:
There’s the trouble – Dixie Chicks