WSU Italy trip 2022: Art History & Photography

Buongiorno dai vostri ambasciatori della Wright State University! 
Good Day from your Wright State University Ambassadors!

We are 14 members of a study abroad group from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. From July 5th – July 24th, 2022 we will be studying Art History and Photography in the beautiful country of Italy! During this three-week summer program, we will experience many aspects of the art and history of the Italian peninsula. Our itinerary includes stays in Florence and Rome, with excursions to the medieval hilltop towns of Siena and San Gimignano. There will also be the opportunity to visit Pisa and Lucca and spend a day in the Tuscan countryside. We will see masterpieces by Donatello, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Bernini, and others. We will also visit some of Western art’s most important sites, including the Sistine Chapel, the Duomo of Florence, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon. 

The purpose of this GoFundMe campaign is so that everyone in this group will be able to afford food and ground transportation while in Italy. Your donation will go a long way to relieving the stress of finances, allowing us to concentrate on our studies and travel experiences.

Read about the incentives for donating, and then scroll down to meet our team!

Donation Amount:

$1.00 - $15.00
A personalized postcard sent from our travels in Italy
$16.00 - $25.00
A small, matted print (roughly 4”x6”) of one of the student’s photographs taken in Italy.   (Delivered in September 2022.)
$26.00 - $50.00
A hand-made bracelet or keychain with a charm or bead from Italy. (Delivered in September 2022.)
 $51.00 - $75.00
A jar of homemade Bolognese pasta sauce. (Local delivery only, otherwise, you will receive the two previous gifts listed. Delivered in September 2022)
$76.00 - $100.00
A set of 5 blank cards with photographic prints of student work from Italy. (Delivered in September 2022)
$101.00 - $150.00
A tote bag decorated with a student’s photograph from Italy on the front.  (Delivered in September 2022)
 $151.00 - $200.00
A 2023 calendar with student photographs adorning each month of the year. (Delivered in September 2022)
$201.00 - $300.00 
A professional 1-hour photographic studio session held at Wright State University main campus (Edited digital files from the session will be provided.)
$301.00 - $500.00
A gift basket with a jar of homemade Bolognese pasta sauce, pasta, Italian wine, and bread. (Local delivery only, otherwise, you will receive the two previous gifts listed. (Delivered in September 2022)) 
Over $501.00
We will provide you with a selection of gifts from the list above!

 Now it’s time to meet the team!
 
Hi, my name is Isabelle. I’m currently working for a degree in English Literature and a certificate in Digital Media. After graduation I plan on pursing a master's in Library and Information Science and then a career as a children’s librarian. I’ve always had a passion for stories and storytelling. I’m looking forward to learning to read and tell stories with art and photography as well as creating projects for my own portfolio. What better place to do that than the beautiful country of Italy? Thank you all for your support!
 
Hello! My name is Cassie Crownover. I am currently working on my BFA with a concentration in Photography. This trip to Italy will be my first time leaving the country, and I am looking forward to learning more about a different culture through art, architecture and its history as well as getting to photograph one of the most beautiful countries! Any donation towards this trip helps and is very appreciated!
 

 My name is Bethany Lenell. I grew up in northern Illinois as the daughter of a hard-working carpenter. My dad always made sure his kids were a priority and for that I am very lucky. He took us on numerous summer vacations even though those were peak seasons for his occupation. Because of these trips I was instilled with a love for travel and new experiences. When I became an adult and eventually married, we both knew we wanted to travel. Economic circumstances brought my husband to join the military and we were able to fulfill at least a little of our desire to travel by moving to different bases with the United States Air Force. I have been to the Caribbean 3 times on cruises with my husband and we had planned on more with our 2 children before Covid hit. My desire to travel has not been hampered by current events. My husband has encouraged me to follow my dreams of an art degree and when this opportunity arrived told me “You are going on this trip” I am humbled and blessed by the encouragement of my husband to pursue my dream of an art career, something I put off because of life circumstances. I look forward to the amazing experience of overseas travel and education. Much love and blessings to all who have read this and contribute to this experience.
 
Hi, I’m Ashley. I’m a Liberal Arts student studying photography. I grew up inside the Washington DC beltway and spent a lot of time visiting its art, monuments, architecture, cathedrals, and museums – over 200 years of art. Now I get to go to Italy to photograph over 2000 years of art, monuments, architecture, cathedrals, and museums. Art captures a moment of time; photographing art captures the moment of discovery. 
 

 Hey! My name is Kelsey. I am currently a senior at Wright State University studying Fine Arts with a concentration in photography, and a certificate in Graphic Design. Capturing moments in time is something that has become a passion for me. Doing so in Italy where culture, architecture and scenery is so rich and beautiful has always been a dream of mine. Can’t wait to live out my dream this summer with Wright State! 


 Ciao! My name is Christine, and I am a junior at Wright State University seeking a BA in English with a focus in Professional and Technical Writing. I have always loved languages and immersing myself in world cultures so going to Italy would be a dream come true. Being of Italian descent myself, I am so excited to go and experience Italian life, culture, art, and food directly in the motherland! I hope to one day move to Italy and work as an English tutor or teacher. Thank you for your patronage!
 

 Hi! My name is Crystal! I am a recent graduate of the Art History program at WSU. I was originally supposed to finish my last semester with this amazing study abroad opportunity that was scheduled for the summer of 2020. Unfortunately, like many others, our plans were postponed due to a global pandemic. Even though I have already finished my degree, my education goals are not over. I will now be using the opportunities this trip provides not only to study some of the most beautiful art in the world, but also to visit graduate schools that I am interested in for their programs in Art Conservation. Every one of us on this trip will have different goals, but we all have a great financial need. Your donations go directly to helping us achieve our goals by lessening the stress of the financial burden of the trip. Thank you so much for your support! 
 

 My name is Rachel. I am a 3rd year junior at Wright State University working towards my bachelor's degree in fine arts with a concentration in printmaking. I have dreamt of traveling to Italy since my mother told me about her trip there when I was young. Having an opportunity to see works of artists and architects that shaped our modern world is one that is once in a lifetime. I am looking forward to learning and growing through this journey as this will be my first trip abroad. Any and every contribution is greatly appreciated!
 
My name is Gresham, and I am a second year BFA major with concentration in painting and photography. Passionate about art and travel, I hope to gain a vast new understanding of Italian art and culture while studying abroad in the beautiful country. Throughout my career as a student, I have studied many works from Italy in the classroom or at home and have come to love and appreciate the impact Italian art has had on the world. The possibility of being able to see it all in person is still hard to believe, but with your help that dream will become a reality. Italy is only the first of many countries I wish to visit with the intent of expanding my knowledge of the world and my own small but significant place in it. 
 
My name is Joshua Olinger, I’m a double major in psychology and the fine arts, with a focus on painting. I have a keen interest in Italian art and Renaissance culture with specific interest in Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Bernini and Donatello. Another artist, less well known is Guiseppe Arcimboldo, who left his early works of stained-glass windows in the Duomo of Milan and the tree of Jesse along the south transept in the Duomo of Monza and tapestry in the Duomo Treasury. Although seeing the Sistine Chapel and the tower of Pisa have been goals of mine for years, the possibility of seeing The Last Supper in Milan or the St. Francis Monastery are goals of mine as well. Just being able to meditate near a vineyard in the Tuscan countryside for a day would be worth a trip. Overall, I look forward to the trip.
 
Hi, I’m Sarah.  I’m an Art History major with a Classical Studies minor. My main interests are ancient Greek and Roman art and European art -- especially when classical mythology is the subject!  Seeing a traveling Pompeii exhibit when I was a child in England was a formative experience for me, and I am thrilled to have the chance to visit it and other ancient sites.    
 
I am Keith Kibler, a creative writer and fine arts student. I was in the Air Force and started college in 2013, with plans to graduate this summer. After living many years in multiple countries, I decided to sit myself in Ohio and start my path through the arts. My artwork consists of photography, printmaking, painting, drawing and sculpture. In my writing, I write poetry and short stories.
 
Hello! I’m Taylor Wiggins. I’m a 26 year old art student majoring in Media Studies. Broadcasting and communications are my minors. I’m excited for studying in Italy not only because this will be my first time studying abroad, and really my first time traveling outside the US, but because the art I would see there have been pieces I’ve studied for a while. To see them in person would be fascinating!


Hi, I'm Elissa. I'm a senior BFA painting major at Wright State - with a minor in art history. I plan to obtain a teaching license in art education post-BFA or go on to graduate study, as well as continue to create and sell art professionally. The study abroad trip to Italy will be my first time abroad, and an amazing opportunity as an artist and student of art. I'm so excited to study the master artworks and architecture of the Renaissance up close and in depth, and to apply that knowledge to my future endeavors and work as an artist! Thank you so much for your donation. It will assist in enriching this educational experience and is much appreciated!