CEP Intern

Travel Tales from the Team: Ashley

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At International Arts & Artists, we love hearing about the incredible experiences our exchange visitors have during their programs! From exploring new cities to experiencing different cultures, exchanges expand our understanding of the world around us. We know all about the power of exchanges — in fact, many of our team members have studied, worked, or lived abroad! So, we’re launching a new blog series called “Travel Tales from the Team” where we’ll share more about our own travel experiences.

Meet Ashley, our amazing Program Officer! Besides pursuing her Master’s degree in intercultural and international communication at American University, this native West Coaster loves wandering around DC’s unique neighborhoods and exploring its many museums. Like the rest of the team, Ashley is a living example of the benefits of cultural exchange, and has many interesting things to say about her exchange experiences!

Keep reading for more on what Ashley had to say about her experiences traveling and living abroad!

Have you ever lived abroad for an extended period of time?

Yes! I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain, for a year during my undergraduate degree and lived in Mongolia as a Peace Corps Volunteer for 3 years. During my time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mongolia I lived in a rural village and taught students English at the local school as well as engaged in community development activities. I lived in a yurt or "ger" and I learned to make my own fires as a source of heat, fetched water from the well, and used an outhouse as my toilet. Although I lived in spartan conditions, I enjoyed my simple lifestyle. As the only American person in my town I integrated in to Mongolian culture and learned many traditions and partook in lots of customs. Learning the Mongolian language also helped me to connect to my community members and form long lasting friendships.

What was the first place you traveled to outside of the country?

Being from southern California, the closest and most convenient place to travel outside the country is Mexico, so naturally it was the first place I traveled to outside the United States. I remember being very young and shocked by the differences of Tijuana, even though it was just a couple hours away from my home. I remember the children on the streets coming up to me yelling "chicle, chicle". At the time I was intrigued that kids my age or younger that were trying to sell me gum, to me, another child as well. I realized their situation and remembered feeling grateful for my life in the United States.

Do you have a favorite place that you’ve traveled abroad?

Every part of the world is so unique and fascinating, but I particularly loved visiting Turkey. Istanbul has an amazing energy and the others parts of the country were breathtakingly beautiful. My favorite part was riding hot air balloons in Cappadocia at sunrise looking over the uniquely shaped rock formations. Some of my favorite memories are exploring the souks in Morocco and riding camels in Mongolia.

What did you learn about yourself while abroad?

I’ve learned that I'm an open-minded person. I somehow end up always talking to locals, while listening and learning how their everyday lives revolve is always a humbling and eye-opening experience. An interesting conversation I had with a local during my time in Mongolia was the insight of an elderly Mongolian woman in my village that showed me the value of community. She said that in such small communities as hers, everyone was dependent on the friendliness and willingness of each other to help during harsh or unforeseeable situations. This idea resonated with me, as I witnessed firsthand community members selflessly helping each other and expecting nothing in return. I learned one does these things for others only because if they were in a difficult situation they would want people in their community to be there for them as well.

What advice do you have for people traveling or looking to travel abroad?

I would say research the local spots in the place you are traveling to, as these tend to have the most interesting stories and also a great way to make connections with the locals. Also have an open mind when traveling to a new destination about the food and culture.

Host Spotlight: The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine

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Since 1994, the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine (LACMM) at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York has been providing music therapy clinical services both in the hospital and in the community. By using music within the therapeutic relationship, the team at LACMM is able to address the many physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of patients. The music therapists at LACMM work with patients at all stages of their life, from premature infants to patients recovering from surgery to end-of-life care, making it an ideal complement to traditional medical treatment. As Dr. Joanne Loewy, Director of LACMM, explains “We are truly in-tune with our patients!”

Each year, International Arts & Artists partners with LACMM to provide J-1 visa sponsorship for international fellows and graduate interns participating in the Center’s educational and training program. LACMM’s program focuses on specialist-level care, giving fellows and interns the opportunity to develop professional skills including the principles of music therapy assessment, ethics, treatment planning, evaluation, and more.

We recently caught up with John Mondanaro, Clinical Director at LACMM, to learn more about LACMM, its training programs for future music therapists, and its experience working with international exchange visitors. “International Arts & Artists has been tremendous resource for talented individuals wishing to participate in all that the LACMM has to offer,” John told us. “As a grant funded program, the LACMM’s ability and desire to host such individuals has come to fruition more fluidly with the International Arts & Artists’ capability to provide sponsorship unique to each situation.”

What’s a day in the life of an exchange visitor at the LACMM like?

A day in the life of one of our exchange visitors can begin with a didactic seminar focusing on current methodology, experiential of clinical intervention, and trial within a lab-format. Clinical supervision with a designated licensed and board-certified music therapist on staff follows. Here the exchange visitor is provided with confidential space in which to process feelings, challenges, and successes he or she may be experiencing. The day can unfold as spontaneously as one might expect in a busy acute care medical setting in one of the busiest cities in the world. Clinical observation and application of learned interventions; participation in various research protocols in which the exchange visitor is either gathering data and questionnaires, or providing the music based intervention under investigation; sending time in outreach efforts, are all possibilities. The LACMM’s involvement in cultural initiatives and staff wellness offerings may draw the exchange visitor into the provision of such offerings. There is often time built into the day for exchange visitors to read from the LACMM’s library of our own publications, or visit the medical library to expedite literature review on a clinical phenomenon that the LACMM is studying. Additionally, exchange visitors are encouraged along with our interns and fellows to practice musical skills on the assortment of instruments that we maintain in our inventory. An ending of the day may be spent in attendance to one or our outreach efforts with marginalized populations such as a community choir for stroke survivors or a support group for individuals living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, or HIV.

What are some of your favorite things about hosting exchange visitors?

LACMM has had a growing presence internationally for 25 years, because our model of Medical Music Psychotherapy across the lifespan is unique in the world. Dr. Joanne Loewy and the LACMM team of therapists remains at the cutting edge of research and clinical practice, which draws much attention from music therapy students and professionals worldwide. The ability to share what we are growing with exchange visitors is a privilege that is made possible by the sponsorship opportunities afforded by International Arts & Artists. That many of our trainees will build programs in their own countries gives us tremendous pride, because at the center of such programming is the wellness and care of others.

What are some of the cultural activities that exchange visitors participate in during their program?

New York City offers a wide range of cultural events, some of which have affiliations with the LACMM. Our work with Lincoln Center in a program for adults with Alzheimer’s stands among many opportunities for the visitors’ exposure and immersion in this rich art scene. The LACMM has hosted visits with such music celebrities as Jon Batiste to the inner city schools of New York to promote music therapy with Asthma; conducted wellness groups and workshops with the Actor’s Fund; hosted departmental visits with opera star Renee Fleming, Grammy winner, Cheryl Bentyne of the Manhattan Transfer; and has welcomed and honored at our annual What A Wonderful World Gala, such celebrities as Jon Hendricks, Pete Seeger, Levon Helm, Dionne Warwick, Vanessa Williams, Dave Brubeck, Jon Batiste, Roy Haynes, and Bernie Williams.

What is the value to LACMM in hosting international visitors?

The LACMM receives from its visitors and trainees in the same spirit in which it gives: sharing the gold and planting seeds for future music therapy programs that will benefit people around the world. Cultural diversity stands at the forefront of healthcare initiatives, and the LACMM endorses music and music therapy as the treatment modality that unabashedly meets these initiatives because nothing like music can both viscerally engage and also transcend cultural barriers. By hosting candidates from around the world, we inspire this philosophy in others.

Learn more about IA&A's programs for music therapists and start planning your unique exchange experience!

 

Supporting Artists and Exploring Museums in NYC

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Many of us know why exchanges matter! Exchange programs give visitors from around the world the chance to experience America’s diverse culture, to learn more about the arts in America, and to develop the skills they need to thrive in their professional careers.

We recently caught up with Heliis, a #J1Alum from Estonia who learn more about her internship at the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in New York, NY. ISCP is an incredible organization that supports the creative development of artists and curators, and promotes exchange through residencies and public programs. The organization is New York’s most comprehensive international visual arts residency program, with over 1350 artists and curators from over 80 countries having undertaken residencies at ISCP.

During her internship with ISCP, Heliis had the opportunity to learn many new skills, particularly in communications and fundraising, by participating in many different projects throughout her exchange program. Keep reading to learn more about her fascinating experience in New York!

What impact has your exchange experience had on your life and your career?

Thanks to this exchange experience I feel much more confident in myself and my skills. Working in a foreign office was a very enlightening experience, especially in giving me the entry-level skills I needed to get my career started. Since most of the jobs in the job market require at least some sort of professional experience, I think a full year-long internship was a good choice to obtain knowledge and also build my network. During the internship, I connected with so many different aspects of working in a nonprofit organization. I was trusted with important responsibilities which gave me more confidence in myself. This exchange year has definitely made me open up more about my career choices and what I would like to focus on in the future.

What is your favorite memory from your exchange program?

I have a lot of fond memories of my program. I enjoyed assisting the most with ISCP's social art offsite project Pablo Helguera: La Austral S.A. de C.V. This entire program consisted of telling stories of life and memories, and it was an amazing experience to see all the participants building their stories and the public express their experiences in a small community.

What was your favorite cultural activity to do in New York?

New York is such a huge city, that you can get lost in the activities that you can take part in there. However, I would say that I definitely enjoyed the rich museum scene, especially the art museums. Since I very much enjoy interactive experiences, I developed a few favorite museums such as the Whitney Museum, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and the Museum of the City of New York, which I visited numerous times during my exchange.

What advice can you offer to future exchange visitors coming to the United States?

I would definitely say be very open-minded, be open to conversations, and be willing to share your experience. Americans are very open themselves and like to get to know you, what your interests are, and what your dreams are. At first, it might feel overwhelming because the culture is so diverse, but soon you will encounter so many different ideas, thoughts, experiences, and really meet people from all areas of life, which makes you feel part of it with your own experience.

What does cultural exchange mean to you?

I feel like the cultural exchange is very important in giving us as humans an opportunity to discover new things in life as well as within ourselves. Connecting with others and their cultures have enriched my life tremendously, and I am more than thankful for those experiences.

Travel Tales from the Team: Pauline

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At International Arts & Artists, we love hearing about the incredible experiences our exchange visitors have during their programs! From exploring new cities to experiencing different cultures, exchanges expand our understanding of the world around us. We know all about the power of exchanges — in fact, many of our team members have studied, worked, or lived abroad! So, we’re launching a new blog series called “Travel Tales from the Team” where we’ll share more about our own travel experiences.

Meet Pauline, our incredible fall intern! A student at the Sciences Po Rennes, Pauline is majoring in Politics & Society in a dual French/German curriculum. She also spent her fall semester studying abroad at American University through the Exchange Visitor Program. In her spare time, Pauline loves exploring new museums, discovering new street art, and listening to as much French rap music as she can!

Keep reading for more on what Pauline had to say about her experiences traveling and living abroad!

Have you ever lived abroad for an extended period of time?

Yes, several times! I was born in Germany to a German father and a French mother, and was always brought up in this bi-national environment. I lived the 6 first years of my life in Cologne, Germany, before moving to the west coast of France with my family where I lived for 12 years. I now study in a French/German curriculum and have had the opportunity to live, study, and work in Bavaria, Germany. Even though I’m half-German and spoke German at a high level when I arrived, I still noticed some cultural differences and needed to adapt myself to that environment and communication context.

Since I was socialized as a French kid, going to school there, interacting and sharing contents with French classmates, learning about French history and eating French food, listening to French music and watching French movies, going to Germany kind of made me realize how “French” I actually was or had become over the years. Even though I was “The German” in France, I was “The French” in Germany.

I studied in Brittany, France, for 3 years before that. This fall, I studied International Law & Organizations at American University and interned in Washington, DC, for one semester. After that, I went back to Germany for one semester in order to complete my Master’s degree and then I’ll have to decide if I am going back to France or not for my second Master’s program. America is the third country I’ve lived in for an extended period of time, and it’s always a great experience to live and study in different environments! The academia, work, and everyday culture are quite different, even in countries that are part of the so-called “Western” world.

What was the first place you traveled to outside of the country?

The first place I went outside Germany was France, and we went there every summer after I was born. But since I consider France to be my home country, I guess that doesn’t really count! I visited Turkey and the Dominican Republic when I was younger, but since then I traveled mostly in Europe. By now, I visited 14 European countries! I am using the chance I have to be a European citizen and to be able to move freely in the Schengen area without having to ask for a visa or to change my currency. It’s also very easy to find cheap ways of travelling, for instance by taking long-distance buses or trains or low-cost flights. When I travel inside a country, I also use a lot of car-sharing to reduce my expenses – it’s also a great way to meet people you probably wouldn't have met otherwise!

Do you have a favorite place that you’ve traveled abroad?

I really enjoyed most of my travels, so it’s hard to pick a favorite place! I would say that instead of places, I mostly enjoy specific moments within each of my travels. If I had to choose a favorite however, I would say that I particularly enjoyed discovering Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. I went there for one week last November and was really amazed by the beauty and the energy of this city. Going for a night walk along the Danube River and looking at the monuments is absolutely breathtaking. The people are very friendly and the whole history (ancient and recent) is very well reflected in the city and its inhabitants. Budapest is also an important center for music, film, theatre, dance, and visual art. You can find a vibrant underground culture, and a great number of museums and galleries, plenty of temporary exhibitions in the most unlikely of settings!

What did you learn about yourself while abroad?

I love to travel and to live in other places, because it puts you out of your comfort zone. Being abroad and far away from your common environment, your family, your friends, or the place you like to go forces you to explore new things, even if they don’t look appealing to you in the first place. I think that it’s very important to learn to question one’s own cultural customs and challenge one’s own beliefs. It’s also a good way to reconnect with oneself and take some time to reflect about what you want to do and the kind of people you want around you.

Is there a place you’ve always wanted to go?

I would love to go to Asia, because I’ve never been on that continent and am very puzzled by it. I would like to discover the landscapes, the food, and especially the difference in mindset. For now, I pretty much stayed in the “Western” world, so even if there are a lot of differences between Europe and the United States, I guess that it would be a completely different experience that would challenge me again to reflect on how my view of the world was constructed.

What advice do you have for people traveling or looking to travel abroad?

My best advice is to try and meet as many local people as possible. Doing an exchange program and staying with people from your home country makes no real sense, and you will improve both your languages skills and your understanding of the other’s culture much more if you try to blend with the locals. Instead of trying to recreate the environment you are used to be in or looking for things resembling what you already know, try to embrace the way of life of the locals! What do they do to have fun? How is their relationship to food, family, or work? These are the questions that I think can help you get the most “un-touristic” experience of a place.

Roaming Through Rome with IA&A at Hillyer

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This past spring, International Arts & Artists (IA&A) had the opportunity to travel to Rome through a Sister Cities Grant funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. While in Italy, we met with artists, galleries, nonprofits, and universities with the aim of promoting artistic collaboration and exchange between Rome and Washington, DC.

This week, Allison Nance from IA&A at Hillyer shares her experience in Rome and highlights how this trip helped advance her program’s goals and projects.

Visiting Italy has been a life-long goal of mine, as my great-grandparents immigrated to the United States several generations ago. To visit Rome in the context of promoting the importance of artistic exchange, well, I can certainly check off this bucket list item and then some! There is an idealized view of Italy that many of us American’s have (“la dolce vita”, Under the Tuscan Sun, pasta, wine, etc). Of course, there was delicious food and wine – thank you Imen for cooking that incredible fresh seafood pasta dish! – but as a country with a deep history that is contemporary and dynamic, there was much to take in and learn. Several months after returning home, I think I’m still absorbing it all.

As Director of IA&A at Hillyer, a contemporary exhibition space in Washington, DC, I have had the privilege to work with the Italian Cultural Institute and the Embassy of Italy to develop and present programs that bring Italian language and culture to our local audience. This trip was a unique opportunity to strengthen these relationships. The Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Emanuele Amendola, as well as Renato Mirraco, former Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of Italy, introduced me to several artists, gallery owners, and nonprofit leaders living in Rome. Having these contacts made for a robust and fulfilling trip that has resulted in new, ongoing projects reaching into the next year. This project gave myself and two DC-based artists the opportunity to not only learn about the contemporary art scene in Rome but also to introduce DC’s rich artistic community to our counterparts in Rome.

As mentioned in previous blog posts from Stephanie, Rex, and IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs, we were able to present at a conference on the importance of international cultural exchange and how these exchanges have a lasting, positive impact on our local and international creative communities. We partnered with Sala 1, a nonprofit research center for contemporary art, architecture, performance, and music, to present this conference. Through this collaboration, we were able to meet four artists who were exhibiting at Sala 1, and this then led to presenting their work at Hillyer this past August. In addition, this coming spring I will be curating an exhibition in Rome at Sala 1 featuring the work of one of the artists who traveled with us in May, Stephanie Williams, along with two other DC-based artists, interdisciplinary artist Naoko Wowsugi and poet Elizabeth Acevedo. The exhibition will bring together different mediums to share work on gender, race, ethnicity, and the immigrant experience in America.

While we in Rome this May, one of the artists I conducted a studio visit with was Pietro Ruffo. Pietro has an incredible studio at Fondazione Pastificio Cerere, a former pasta factory that was built in 1905 and later converted into artist studios in 2004. It was great to see him at work, introduce him and other artists to our DC artists, and to make this connection. Through a new Sister Cities Grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, we are partnering with the Italian Cultural Institute to bring Pietro to the United States in May of 2019 for a solo exhibition at Hillyer.

Visiting Rome was exciting, and it’s hard to put into words how surreal it feels to turn a corner and be faced with the Colosseum or the Pantheon, or any number of ruins that are casually interspersed with daily life of a modern city. And while all of that was wonderful, my best memories, those that will stay with me, are meeting so many artists, curators, and new friends, who welcomed us into their homes to share a meal. While I speak little Italian, and sometimes language can seem to be an insurmountable barrier, coming together with these people to talk about art over a glass of wine or a quick espresso is the only language we needed to connect.

I look forward to see how all of these connections will come together and play out in the years to come. Ciao!

 

This blog post was produced as part of a grant funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Roaming Through Rome with IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs

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This past spring, International Arts & Artists (IA&A) had the opportunity to travel to Rome through a Sister Cities Grant funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. While in Italy, we met with artists, galleries, nonprofits, and universities with the aim of promoting artistic collaboration and exchange between Rome and Washington, DC.

This week, Jennifer Schrock and Chris Sciotto from IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs share more about from their experience in Rome and highlight how this trip helped advance their program’s goals and projects.   

There’s more to IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs than just J-1 visa sponsorship! We’re always seeking out new ways to build cross-cultural understanding through exchanges and partnerships in the arts. Our Exchange Visitor Program supports the next generation of creative leaders through internships, training programs, and other special projects in the arts. We’re also helping American museums and cultural organizations engage in more international work through our International Partnership Initiative. So when the opportunity arose to join our colleagues from IA&A at Hillyer in Rome this past spring, we jumped at the chance to further our program’s goals!

As we prepared for our trip to Rome, we outlined three distinct goals for our trip. Given the scope of our work, we were focused on promoting exchange programs, identifying potential partners for future exchanges, and hearing the perspectives of Italian students and artists who might be interested in participating in exchange programs. Of course, we were also excited to practice what we preach! We wanted to learn more about our sister city and the Romans who give it life.

We kicked off our week with “Exchange Ideas”, a conference co-presented by IA&A, the U.S. Embassy in Rome, and Sala 1, a nonprofit research center for contemporary art, architecture, performance, and music. Speaking at “Exchange Ideas” gave us the opportunity to highlight the benefits of and advocate for people-to-people exchanges. We were excited to speak with attendees afterwards and received great questions about exchanges from high school-aged students who were already thinking about interning abroad!

In addition to the conference, the networks we developed and organizations we learned of during our meetings revealed a number of potential partners for collaborative programming and exchanges. In sharing information about the Exchange Visitor Program with university career counselors, we received valuable feedback about when and where informational resources can make vital differences in a student’s ability to participate in an internship abroad. Throughout our trip, we also distributed a number of copies of our report Art in Context: The Current State of International Engagement.

While we were pleased to have made real headway on our objectives, speaking with university staff highlighted a gap that we would have loved more time to address. One thing we learned is that, in the broader context of finding internships abroad, the importance of applying for visa in preparation is not always made clear to students. We would have liked an opportunity to host an information-sharing session for educators, mentors, students, and other interested audiences to discuss the logistical considerations of participating in an exchange program.

Perhaps one of the most surprising things our team learned while speaking with some of Rome’s contemporary artists was the degree to which the city’s history and tradition of fine art, and the responsibility of maintaining that tradition, weigh on the creative consciousness of Roman artists. Of course, it was no surprise that a tradition of such importance and influence could seem imposing to contemporary creatives; as Americans, with a much shorter historical experience as a nation and a substantially younger culture, such a thought had not occurred to some of us before. IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs has been thinking of ways to incorporate the insight we gained from our discussions with artists into our public programs and we’re excited to use this element of creative identity in IA&A’s Art in Context programming series.

Overall, our trip to Rome was a great chance to further develop the relationship between American and Italian artists and cultural organizations, as well as to lay the foundations for future work. From facilitating reciprocal exchanges to collaborative programming, there’s no shortage of opportunities! We came away from our trip confident that personal relationships are the driving force behind lasting and meaningful international relationships. Parts of the trip would not have been possible without help from our contacts in Italy, including some alumni from our Exchange Visitor Program. This experience further reinforced the findings from Art in Context: The Current State of International Engagement regarding the value of personal relationships. We look forward to further developing our relationships with our new friends and partners!

 

This blog post was produced as part of a grant funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Roaming Through Rome with Stephanie

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This past spring, International Arts & Artists (IA&A) had the opportunity to travel to Rome through a Sister Cities Grant funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. While in Italy, we met with artists, galleries, nonprofits, and universities with the aim of promoting artistic collaboration and exchange between Rome and Washington, DC.

Throughout the month of September, we’ll be sharing stories from our experience in Rome. You’ll hear from IA&A at Hillyer and IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs on how this trip helped advance our programs’ goals and projects, as well as two DC-based artists who joined us on the trip.

Meet Stephanie J. Williams, a multimedia artist who looks to the storytelling capability of material. An alum of RISD, her work has been shown locally, nationally, and internationally. Through installations and stop-motion animation, her work addresses how the established and self-made mythology helps us understand the world around us. She explores how power structures are built and how these structures establish legitimacies of taste, which in turn affect our ideas about identity.

Stephanie was one of the DC-based artists that joined us on our incredible trip to Rome. While there, she visited galleries, exhibition spaces, and other artists’ studios to learn more about the arts and creative work in the city. She also spoke at “Exchange Ideas,” a conference co-presented by IA&A, the U.S. Embassy in Rome, and Sala 1. Stephanie shared how IA&A at Hillyer has supported her artistic career and the impact of cultural exchange on her work.

We caught up with Stephanie over gelato to learn more about her experience in Rome, what surprised her the most, and how the trip has impacted her creative practice.

You were recently in Rome with IA&A for a cultural exchange trip supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. What were your goals for the trip? Of these, was there anything in particular you would have liked more time to continue pursuing?

My goals wherever I travel are the same: to meet as many makers of culture as possible and participate in an exchange of ideas. That was something that was such a large part of this trip, especially within Rome’s DIY venues. Even though the week was generous, I wish that I had arranged to stay longer, explore and perhaps collaborate more directly with the artists’ spaces that we visited with.

What aspects of your own cultural experiences and their impact on your work were you most excited to share with your counterparts in Rome?

Many of the artists that I’ve met this year have been focusing in on origin stories, genealogy, and immigration. I find myself wondering who has the power to control the narratives of culture that become historical record. There are so many gaps in my knowledge that form my perspective as an American that I wonder, if anything that has been constructed is capable of being deconstructed, what fictions have I held as truth.

What surprised you most about the contemporary arts and artists of Rome?

How much context affects the focus of the work. Many of the artists we spoke with were reacting to the canon of figurative art. In made me look inward.

What are some new projects or directions in your work that you are excited to explore? Has your experience in Italy had a noticeable impact on your current practice or the work you have planned for the foreseeable future?

I’m sure that is has but that hasn’t been made clear to me yet. It’s been a travel-heavy year for me. So many changes, a new job, along with travels throughout Southeast Asia in addition to Rome. It’s been difficult to see how these new experiences are pushing the work.

Overall, what are some of the most significant takeaways from your experience in Rome?

There were so many pieces that I had grown up seeing in textbooks that form so many hierarchies of taste, that in person seemed so human. I really felt the atmosphere in Rome, everything from the food, the coffee, to what Allison called the “casual ruins” surrounding everything. The atmosphere was so much older and settled in Rome. It’s a special place.

 

This blog post was produced as part of a grant funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Roaming Through Rome with Rex

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This past spring, International Arts & Artists (IA&A) had the opportunity to travel to Rome through a Sister Cities Grant funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. While in Italy, we met with artists, galleries, nonprofits, and universities with the aim of promoting artistic collaboration and exchange between Rome and Washington, DC.

Throughout the month of September, we’ll be sharing stories from our experience in Rome. You’ll hear from IA&A at Hillyer and IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs on how this trip helped advance our programs’ goals and projects, as well as two DC-based artists who joined us on the trip.

Meet Alexandra (Rex) Delafkaran, a San Francisco transplant living and engaging as an interdisciplinary artist, dancer, curator, and administrator in Washington, DC. An alum of the San Francisco Art Institute, Rex has exhibited in galleries across the country including “Tender Bits,” a recent solo show at IA&A at Hillyer that explored the relationship between cultural practices, desire, and utility. She is currently a participating guest writer at the local online art writing publication DIRT and curating projects of her own.

Rex was one of the DC-based artists that joined us on this incredible trip to Rome. While there, she visited galleries, exhibition spaces, and other artists’ studios to learn more about the arts and creative work in the city. She also spoke at “Exchange Ideas,” a conference co-presented by IA&A, the U.S. Embassy in Rome, and Sala 1. Rex shared how IA&A at Hillyer has supported her artistic career and the impact of cultural exchange on her work.

We caught up with Rex over espresso to learn more about her work, her experience in Rome, and what’s next for this incredible artist.

How did you come to focus on language and identity as a theme throughout your works and across mediums?

After having moved across the country from California to DC, I began studying Farsi. I started attempting to write in partial English and Farsi as a practice, which was unexpectedly thrilling, and those began transforming into movement scores, which then became performances. Those elements of text then made their way into the ceramic sculptures I was working on, taking the notions of physical utility and intimacy and relating them directly to language. It kind of blew my mind, how much it all was coming together. Then in 2016 when the first iteration of the Muslim ban came to surface, the anger and disappointment and confusion I felt in response was completely overwhelming. Ultimately I think it was a noticeable catalyst in this direction of my work. I began researching the history of Iran and the areas where my family is from, and began looking for more information about the relationship between the United States and Iran, ancient Iranian art, and cultural practices that appear in both places. Language is the intermediary in this process of questioning the relationship between my sexuality, cultural background, familial history, and hyphen American identity, and the relationship those have to my immediate and extended community. I’m in an excavation of sorts, a dig, and I am standing on the edge of a large pit with a pile of dirt next to me and clay under my nails.

How does your involvement in performance art affect your creation of visual arts, and vice versa?

My practice has come to teach me that they both must coexist. I have danced and moved creatively my whole life, and that I think directly affects all the art I make and the way my ideas manifest. What does the piece feel like to make, hold, move; how do these ideas and this research manifest physically in the world, in my body? The two practices flow in and through each other dynamically. It’s actually a really sweet experience to realize “Oh this isn’t supposed to be a sculpture, it’s a performance!”

You mention seeking out means of starting conversations and provoking thought with your works. What kind of conversations did you wish to start with your recent exhibition at IA&A at Hillyer?

I think the extremely engaging and powerful aspect of working in conceptual art is that while I have been circling in my own little world about the work and its connections to art and culture and reality, there is room for so much dialogue. I want people to tell me how they feel about it, what do all these symbols do together? Do the chains feel violent to you? What is your relationship to flags? How do you feel about ceramic phalluses strapped to cinder blocks?

You were recently in Rome with IA&A for a cultural exchange trip supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. What were your goals for the trip? Of these, was there anything in particular you would have liked more time to continue pursuing?

The sister cities trip was an incredible experience for me as person and as an artist. Going into the trip I was the most excited to film performances in historic areas in response to their architecture, and I really feel like I was able to get some exciting documentation from those moments. What I was surprised by was how moving the historically charged architecture and public spaces were. At the end I found myself wanting to make more site specific, longer movement explorations. We also saw so many artists’ studios, I was surprised as to how inspired I was to make more sculpture when I got back to the United States. The incredible attention to history and craft was impactful and certainly affected my perspective on what it can mean to be an “artist” in other parts of the world.

What aspects of your own cultural experiences and their impact on your work were you most excited to share with your counterparts in Rome?

It was so exciting and fruitful to share my experience as a queer Iranian-American person with some of the artists we met. They expressed a lot of curiosity about why my identity felt like such a site for investigation for me, and that made me pay particular attention to who each artist is, what their relationship is to Rome culturally and socioeconomically. I wish I had more time to get an understanding of their relationship to the Middle East and Islam actually, especially based on their government’s stance on refugee asylum and immigration. Seeing how other people work was so eye opening, the experience makes me want to talk more and collaborate with international artists absolutely.

What surprised you most about the contemporary arts and artists of Rome?

I think the focus on craft and tradition. Hearing about the effects of living in an art historical site like Rome for young contemporary artists was fascinating and unfamiliar. That experience seems to clearly influence the forms and conceptual nature of the work there. It was surprising that the concept matter that seems so omnipresent in the contemporary arts that I see in the DC art scene had such a different aesthetic and priority in Rome.

Based on your recent experience in Italy, what roles do language and identity serve in the work of artists you met with in Rome? Has this affected your own strategies for sparking communication through art?

Absolutely. I think a lot of my work revolves around language already, and being in Rome surrounded by a literal different language, as well as different visual physical language was very affecting. I found that visual and physical language was the most engaging! The physicality of grand frescos, epic sculpture, fountains, piazzas, papal chapels - these felt like they were communicating so much. It sparked a reminder as to the power of curated and public spaces, and its relationship to the bodies and identities around and within them!

What are some new projects or directions in your work that you are excited to explore? Has your experience in Italy had a noticeable impact on your current practice or the work you have planned for the foreseeable future?

I am really excited about the flag series that is featured in my solo exhibition “Tender Bits,” “Flags for when you don’t know where you are.” It feels like I'm on the cusp of a new body of textile work based on that series, and I am really looking forward to working larger on these upcoming pieces as well. I also am hoping to explore some new ways of working with sculpture. I feel like I am still in awe of the reverence I experienced in public space in Rome, as well as the way the artists spoke about their craft and the aesthetics of beauty. I want to see what happens to the work I am making when I re-frame or re teach. This applies to movement as well, in my dance work I think these ideas are already surfacing in new ways.

Overall, what are some of the most significant takeaways from your experience in Rome?

It is possible to make room for awe and splendor in art alongside criticism. Physical experiences of international spaces can be listened to as richly and intently as an artist talk, new friend or unfamiliar languages. I was also reminded the power of collaboration and dialogue, and the importance on regularly stepping out of my artistic, political, and social comfort zones.

 

This blog post was produced as part of a grant funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Roaming through Rome with IA&A

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Accra. Seoul. Sunderland. Brasilia. What do these cities all have in common? They are all sister cities with Washington, DC! These partnerships give Washington, DC, the chance to share its culture, history, and challenges with its 14 sister cities around the world.

Rome, Italy, has been a sister city since 2011 and regularly cooperates with Washington, DC, on a range of cultural, economic, social, and educational projects. Several of these projects are supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which offers special Sister Cities Grants to support and strengthen the cultural bonds between Washington, DC, and Rome. Through this grant, IA&A recently had the opportunity to travel to Rome with a group of artists and arts professionals to promote artistic collaboration and engagement between the two sister cities.

From the moment we stepped off the plane, our time in Rome was a whirlwind of meetings, visits, and, of course, plenty of espresso! During our trip, we visited studios, exhibition spaces, galleries, and museums to learn more about the arts and creative industries in Rome. We also met with Rome-based artists, curators, and academics, as well as several alumni of our Exchange Visitor Program.

The highlight of our visit to Rome was participating in “Exchange Ideas”, a conference co-presented by IA&A, the U.S. Embassy in Rome, and Sala 1, a nonprofit research center for contemporary art, architecture, performance, and music. Hosted by Sala 1, the conference focused on how IA&A supports creative communities through local and international partnerships. Representatives from IA&A at Hillyer and IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs described our organization’s mission and programs, sharing stories of how our work supports the arts locally, nationally, and internationally. The conference also highlighted the work of two DC-based artists, Stephanie Williams and Alexandra “Rex” Delafkaran, who shared how IA&A at Hillyer has supported their artistic careers.

This cultural exchange was an incredible opportunity for IA&A to network with our counterparts in Rome and to develop the foundation for future collaborations between Washington, DC, and Rome. We came away from our visit eager to build on the connections we made and with plenty of ideas for future projects between our two cities!

Throughout the month of September, we’ll be sharing our experience in Rome through a series of posts right here on the blog. Team members from both IA&A at Hillyer and IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs will share more about their experience in Rome and how this trip helped to advance their programs’ goals and projects. You’ll also hear from Stephanie and Rex, who will share more about what they learned in Rome and how this cultural exchange has impacted their artistic practice. Ciao for now!

 

This blog post was produced as part of a grant funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Travel Tales from the Team: Erin

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At International Arts & Artists, we love hearing about the incredible experiences our exchange visitors have during their programs! From exploring new cities to experiencing different cultures, exchanges expand our understanding of the world around us. We know all about the power of exchanges — in fact, many of our team members have studied, worked, or lived abroad! So, we’re launching a new blog series called “Travel Tales from the Team,” where we’ll share more about our own travel experiences.

First up is Erin, our amazing summer intern! A senior at the George Washington University in Washington, DC, Erin is studying International Affairs and minoring in Spanish and Theatre. In her spare time, she’s involved with student theatre, and also enjoys reading and painting recycled glass bottles. Fun Fact: Erin absolutely loves sloths, and has several sloth-themed decorations in her apartment!

Keep reading for more on what Erin had to say about her experiences traveling abroad!

Have you ever lived abroad for an extended period of time?

I’ve traveled abroad for vacation, a service trip, and an exchange program, but I have yet to work or live abroad for an extended period of time. The closest I’ve come is when I lived with a family in Madrid for a two-week exchange program in high school. I also spent a week working as a translator in clinics for Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic a few years ago.

Do you have a favorite place that you’ve traveled abroad?

Probably a tie between the Aran Islands/Galway, Ireland, and Madrid, Spain.

What did you learn about yourself while abroad?

I learned that I can be more adventurous than I think, and my travels push me to live outside my comfort zone more often. I also love learning more about the culture and trying the local food of wherever I’m visiting.

Do you have a favorite memory of your time abroad?

I have had very different experiences abroad, so it’s hard to say. Spending time with my family in Edinburgh, helping nurses communicate with people in the Dominican Republic, visiting the Reina Sofia, and seeing Stonehenge to name a few.

Is there a place you’ve always wanted to go?

There are so many places I want to travel! I want to check off at least one place in every major area of the world, and so far I only have North America, Central America, and Europe.

What advice do you have for people traveling or looking to travel abroad?

My advice would probably be to look for authentic places to stay and visit. Exploring the more local areas of a place is so much more interesting and fulfilling than just sticking with the tourist areas. Also, choose your traveling companions wisely; travel with people you want to experience new things and go on adventures with.