Art, Creative Writing, Humanities, Photography and Spanish are the participating programs that had students in Arapahoe Community College’s well-organized Study Abroad program this past summer, which carried students to a pair of legendary old European cities: Amsterdam and Berlin, led by faculty member/gallery director Trish Sangelo.
The Colorado Gallery of the Arts at ACC-Littleton is hosting a handsome exhibit of art by those students, “Across the Globe, Next Stop ... Amsterdam and Berlin,” through Sept. 22.
The exhibit includes works in two and three dimensions by travelers who shared their impressions in a variety of techniques: a collection of tiny bicycles hung from a metal- framed mobile, photographs of historic buildings and canals in both cities, translate the individual response of each traveler. Reflection of sunlight on water, inviting doorways, closeups of delicious-looking foods: a fat sandwich, cut in half, pastries, pizza, a platter of meats ... yum!
Sunsets, of course and all sorts of street scenes.
The detail-filled photo “Canal 1” by Silvia Sofia Torres Rodriguez shows a mix of color and business.
Paula Vann’s photograph, “Ancient Stairs,” leads the imagination up and around a curving rosy brick wall — what is up there? Perhaps a cozy kitchen or sitting room.
Old buildings tell numerous stories, with traditional Greek-motif borders along walls and around entrances, as well as statues and reliefs that tell stories about historic figures — legendary and/or local. These artists did slow down to look.
Paintings and textile art completed after a traveler’s return offered a different response, as did a handmade scrapbook, “Frozen Memories,” by Jessica Rich, that held tickets, advertisements, small maps, pictures and colorful ads and programs that gave an up-close and personal image of the trip and the traveler.
To the right of the entrance is a long flag/textile hanging by Carol Emberly called “Graffiti Berlin,” with photo images printed on a gauzy, colorful fabric. It floats in a breeze created by air circulating in the gallery. She also exhibits small prints, including “Berlin Street Art.”
One could almost hear the street sounds in Carson Neavy’s “Into the Sunset” photo of Berlin, with older city buildings, a dome in the background, a canal with people seated on benches chatting — and that sunset sky, reflected in the water. It’s printed on metal, according to the label.
Rexi Jacquez notes next to her photos: “Berlin is covered in graffiti — from the streets themselves to the tops of the buildings. (The Berlin Wall is no exception).”
Another mobile displays a collection of picture postcards, each one with a memory for that particular traveler — and probably for many other gallery visitors.
Trish Sangelo said that people are already beginning to sign up for the next ACC Study Abroad: May 27 to June 7, 2024, to Lisbon, Seville, Madrid and Barcelona. Contact her for information: trishsangelo@arapahoe.edu.
The gallery webpage is arapahoe.edu/campus-community/art-galleries. Colorado Gallery of the Arts is at the ACC Campus at 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton.