College of Mount Saint Vincent Engages in International Cultural Exchange Program
7/21/2015
Riverdale, N.Y. – The University of Mount Saint Vincent has been engaging in a collaborative international art exchange with P.S. 7 Kingsbridge Elementary School in the Bronx and the Huilcapata School in Cusco, Peru. The exchange, initially inspired through service projects, is spearheaded by Enrico Giordano, Associate Professor of Fine Arts at the College, and a collaborating Mount student.
For its inception, the Cultural Exchange Project allowed students from P.S. 7 to send colorful collages—inspired by the works of Romare Bearden and Faith Ringgold—to children of Cusco, allowing them to see and learn about New York City and its community. During this first phase of the project, Professor Giordano worked with Mount student Yadira Dominguez ’14 as part of her independent study, Art as Social Intervention. The artwork traveled to Peru in May 2014 with Mike Moran, East Coast Assistant Director of Programs for IPSL, and was greeted with a reciprocal shipment from the children of the Huilcapata School to the children of P.S. 7.
“The children at P.S. 7 are thrilled to be involved, and look forward with great anticipation to getting the artwork from Huilcapata, which is prominently exhibited at the school,” Professor Giordano said. “Included in the exchange are not only wonderful works of art that give the two schools a window into the lives and environments of each country, but photos of the student artists and written descriptions, which serve to enrich and personalize the project.”
Recently, a secondary shipment was delivered to Peru, for the second phase of the project. For this iteration, Professor Giordano worked with Mount student Amanda Correa ’15. Once a week, Ms. Correa worked with a fifth grade class at P.S. 7 to create artwork and teach the children about Cusco. The students from P.S. 7 created personalized silhouettes—abstract autobiographical portraits— to express who they are with the intention of greeting their counterparts. This shipment traveled to Peru in May 2015 with another Mount student Ideline Gomez ’16, who recently was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad in Cusco with IPSL.
Professor Giordano will give a presentation on the Cultural Exchange Project at the IPSL International Service-Learning Symposium in Peru, November of 2015.
The project is made possible by the joint efforts the University of Mount Saint Vincent, IPSL, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL) in Lima, Peru, and P.S. 7 Kingsbridge Elementary School.
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment and leadership in the 21st century.