Yes, they met new people, tasted the food, and took in the landscape. But students who traveled to Laos with Fashion Chair Jennifer Varekamp also worked hand-in-hand with local artisans to support their creative entrepreneurial efforts.
Written by Jen Roy
During January 2020, students experienced the mystical country of Laos through an integrative collaboration with the social enterprise, Ma Té Sai, as they travelled with Jennifer Varekamp, Professor of Fashion Design, to some of the northern villages and worked with artisans on collaborative projects.
The course explored the culture of Laos, through the people, the food and the varied landscape from the Mekong River to the Buddhist temples. Students participated in a variety of workshops on traditional handwork and explored the unique atmosphere of the UNESCO World Heritage City, Luang Prabang.
Creations by Associate Professor of Painting James Everett Stanley are included in the permanent collection of The Studio Museum in Harlem. On the podcast I Like Your Work: Conversations with Artists, Curators and Collectors, hosted by Erica B. Hess, Stanley discusses how his own practice informs his teaching.
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Marc Holland (BFA ’99), director of MassArt’s Studio Foundation Program, says that as a result of a professor’s guidance, he switched gears — and uses that experience to keep front of mind that the best teaching lets students know they can impact the world in unexpected ways.
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Caroline Hu, visual artist, biologist, and educator landed her dream job — teaching biology in MassArt’s program of Integrative Sciences and Biological Arts (ISBA).
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