Join us for an exciting adventure in exploring the ancient and living artistic traditions of Peru.  Our journey will start in Lima, where we will begin our immersion into Peruvian painting and textile traditions through visits to important archaeological sites, museums and conservation labs. From there, we head to Arequipa, Peru’s second largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage site.  The historic center of Arequipa, with its robust walls, archways, vaults, courtyards, and intricate Baroque facades made of white volcanic stone, will be our base for class time and practical work.   Our final stop is Cuzco, the Inca capitol, where we will explore the living textile customs in weaving communities and the unique painting traditions of the Altiplano. 

In addition to visits to important museums, conservation labs and Inca ruins, students will have the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of weaving traditions, see dyeing and weaving demos at weaving cooperatives, and visit some of the finest examples of Peruvian wall paintings in remote mountain villages.  There will be field trips to an alpaca and llama preserve, the largest indigenous market in South America, and facilities that process fibers and pigments.

We will have a weekend excursion to the stunning Colca Canyon to learn about indigenous life, ancient forms of terrace agriculture and mestizo architecture.  Our trip will culminate in a tour of the Sacred Valley and ruins at Machu Picchu.

This program is for students with a sense of adventure.  For the duration of two weeks in Arequipa, students will be housed in pairs with local families for a cultural exchange.  It would help to have at least a minimal background in Spanish due to housing arrangements in non-English-speaking homes.  While in Lima and Cuzco, we will stay in hotels, with the exception of one night when students stay with an indigenous family in the Andean village of Chinchero.  All meals will be provided in Arequipa, but some meals may not be included in our trips beyond Arequipa.

Courses

The program includes two courses that offer an overview of the history & techniques of Peruvian painting and traditional textile production with an introduction to basic conservation methods.  The courses will include lectures, museum and archaeological site visits, demos, tours of indigenous communities and ruins. They will offer hands-on experience in the production of textiles and wall painting reconstructions using traditional techniques.  We will also gain practical skills in textile and painting conservation. 

ARTC367 Traditional Painting Techniques (3 cr.)

Introduction to history, iconography, traditional materials & techniques of Peruvian painting, with a focus on wall paintings.  Basic principles of deterioration mechanisms, documentation and conservation of wall paintings will be discussed.  Course design is experiential and will consist of lectures, site visits, and practical work.

FASH426 Historic and Ethnographic Textiles and Clothing Collections Management (3 cr.) 

Overview of the textile traditions of both present-day and historical cultures of Peru and their relevance to the elaboration of cultural identity.  Students will gain an understanding of the materials and techniques used in the creation of traditional textiles through lectures, site visits, demos and practical work.  Basic concepts and practices of textile conservation in a museum setting will be introduced.

Application Deadline:  September 25, 2010

For information and to apply, please visit http://international.udel.edu/studyabroad/programs/database.asp?PWDID=734.