While many students are feeling the pressure of November crushing down on them with term papers and exams, others are ending the the fall semester on a lighter note. For example, the students of Spanish Culture and Civilization, taught by Professor Ramiro Armas Austria, have done something different for their end of term assignment. They will be hosting a Spanish culture exposition on Wednesday December 4.
Each week throughout the semester the students of the class worked in groups of four to prepare pieces of art demonstrating various aspects of Spanish culture.
Professor Austria then selected pieces—to be part of the end of term exposition—that most accurately portrayed whichever craft was created that week.
“This is a showcasing of different aspects of Spanish culture for people who have no idea, or have only a little bit of knowledge and want to know more,” said Austin Bell, the organizer of the event and a student in the class. “We are showing people what we have done over the course of the term.”
Throughout the semester students have made things such as Bull Art using paper mache, they have made maps and mosaics, chessboards, rugs, and stained glass representative of the churches and religion.
Now the students have the opportunity to showcase all of their hard work from the semester.
Students do so much work throughout the year whether it be papers, class presentations or exams, but it’s not very often that they get the opportunity to share our hard work with others.
Professor Austria has made this possible for his students, and though it may be unconventional, its a great way to learn about a culture by creating important aspects of the culture through art.
The exposition is something that Professor Ramiro is hoping to hold again next term showcasing the work of his second class on Latin American culture.
“At the end of the next term we are hoping to hold a final exposition either solely with the Latin American artifacts or with all of them encompassing into one,” said Bell.
But until then there is the Spanish Exposition hosted by the Spanish Culture and Civilization class. So on Wednesday December 4 at 1:30pm head on down to the Great Hall in Champlain College and submerse yourself in the intricacies of Spanish culture.
Perhaps along with culture Professor Austria’s students will bring along the Spanish climate so we can all escape winter for an afternoon.
