DONNA NADEEM

UNDERGRADUATE — BFA STUDIO ARTS, McMaster University

I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Pratt in Venice 2019 program. It was an experience that I treasure dearly. I developed new skills and insights, friendships, and a profoundly increased knowledge and understanding of Art History. The most nerve-racking part was flying alone and navigating through the city by myself to meet up with the rest of the group. Once I made it I knew that everything from that point on was going to be a wonderful adventure. Being on the vaporetto for the very first time I had so many mixed feelings, but I was completely entranced and couldn’t believe I was finally here.

Those six weeks have had a huge impact on myself and my studies. When you come to Venice you’re immediately immersed in culture and history. It is overwhelming and it is spectacular. The elegant city is romantic and breathtaking. One of the best parts was meeting so many extremely talented, kind people who have become my dearest friends. Even though we were from a variety of fields of study, we came together and shared our interests and knowledge.

It is a unique experience, being able to live in Venice. I loved living in an old Venetian apartment where appliances were older than me and we hung our laundry out to line dry. The simple freedom to explore the city and the surrounding cities was wonderful.

I was enrolled in the Painting in Venice and Printmaking and Drawing in Venice courses. The structure of the courses was very flexible and the professors encouraged us to set our individual goals and express our experiences in Venice in our own individual ways. It is amazing to see so much inspiration everywhere around you and be able to sit pretty much anywhere and draw or paint what you see and how you feel. Even though I wasn’t enrolled in the Art History courses, I still had the wonderful privilege of participating in all the on-site group classes and learn about all the churches, buildings, bridges, monuments and piazzas we could fit into six weeks. You can hear the passion in the Art History professors’ voices—as if they could spend all day discussing Tintoretto and Veronese. It was truly inspiring.

I am forever so grateful to have had this experience because it was life changing in so many ways. I know that my time in Venice will influence my work for years and years to come.