Past Program

Japan: Papers, Temples & Print

This travel course is a cross-disciplinary Liberal Arts + studio collaboration between THAD and PRINT. Together they offer students an in-depth exploration of the Tokyo and historic Kansai region to see and draw the most important Shinto, Buddhist and secular sites in Japan, and to couple that visual exploration with 9 days of paper making.

Co-led by Daniel Heyman (Senior Critic, Printmaking) & Elena Varshavskaya (Senior Lecturer, Theory & History of Art & Design)

At-A-Glance

What
Wintersession Travel Course
Where
  • Tokyo, Japan
When
Winter 2020

Course Dates: Jan 5, 2020 — Jan 27, 2020

Who
Open to RISD students, Brown University students

Minimum 2.5 GPA required. Open to first year students with approval from the Dean of EFS.

Topics
  • Art
  • Design
  • Craft
  • Papermaking
Faculty
Academic Credits
6
Department
  • Printmaking
  • Theory and History of Art and Design
Course Numbers
  • PRINT-4525
  • THAD-W525
Cost
$4400

Includes accommodation, field trips, local transportation, some group meals, museum entrances, health and travel insurance. Airfare not included.

Instagram
Japan: Papers, Temples and Print
Tokushima, Japan 2019
Japan: Papers, Temples and Print
Tokushima, Japan 2019
Japan: Papers, Temples and Print
Tokushima, Japan 2019

About this Travel Course

This two-component course (Printmaking and Art History) offers an in-depth exploration of the Tokyo and historic Kansai region to see and draw the most important Shinto, Buddhist and secular sites in Japan, and to couple that visual exploration with nine days of paper making. Through an intensive workshop students will work side by side with the finest Japanese paper makers as they learn paper making skills and gain an understanding of the continuing vitality of traditional Japanese crafts. Through historical site visits students will gain an in-depth understanding of the background of Japanese visual culture. Returning to Providence, students will spend an intensive week creating a final project using the paper they have made that reflects on their experiences in Japan, as well as write 2 art history papers.

Accommodations will vary depending upon to availability, with the goal of experiencing a variety of traditional and contemporary hotels, ryokan, dormitories, and so on.

This is a co-requisite course. Students must plan and register for PRINT-4525 and THAD-W525. Students will receive 3 studio credits and 3 liberal arts credits.

Apply to a Wintersession Travel Course

The application for Wintersession Travel Courses 2025 will is now closed.

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