The Leysin American School Visual Art and Design program recently collaborated with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to bring nine LAS students to the Design Miami and Art Basel fairs in Paris. Our talented Art and Design students visited this global hub thanks to the institute’s generosity and our unique partnership. The trip was a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn from industry leaders, explore inspiring exhibitions, and gain insights into the world of art and design.
This exclusive invitation’s tailored itinerary provided LAS students with rich learning experiences and the chance to connect with working artists from all over the world. From visits to the prestigious Art Basel art fair and the Design Miami furniture fair, and a curated tour at the Musée d’Orsay, students not only witnessed masterpieces but engaged in discussions that strengthened their understanding of the marketplace, visuals, and impacts of multiple creative industries.
This trip to Paris highlighted the invaluable role partnerships play in developing experiential learning for students at LAS. By collaborating with SCAD, LAS students were immersed in an environment where their studies could extend beyond the classroom, and their academic learning could be applied to real-life scenarios. Engaging with professionals like artist Laerke Lillilunde (who crafted the impressive entry stairwell installation at the Hotel de Maisons which housed Design Miami Paris), students witnessed and discussed the creative process with the actual designer, who was present.
Students also visited the Musée d’Orsay, where they along with Dr. Cindy Lisica, a Professor of Art History, studied the birth of modern artistic expression. This taste of university-style engagement inspired our students who found themselves in an engaging, high-concept tour. During this session with Cindy, students learned to recognize iconic impressionist masterpieces, identifying their brushwork, revolutionary subject matter, and color palettes. They also learned about how these seminal artists expressed the newly forming emotions, themes, and symbols of the rapidly changing city of Paris.
The LAS partnership with SCAD provides a platform for students to truly engage with Art and Design Today, enhancing their skills and perspectives through first-hand industry exposure to insiders’ perspectives on how they can help frame contemporary culture and society. By interacting with Paris Art & Design Week, LAS students found themselves among a community of global creatives, building connections and learning alongside their peers, sparking inspiration and encouraging them to consider paths in creative fields while applying their new knowledge to our classroom projects.
