Japan: Paper, Temples, Prints

About this Travel Course

This trip is a six credit, 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 papermaking in rural Tokushima on Shikoku Island. 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. Through historical site visits students will gain a in-depth understanding of the background of Japanese visual culture. Through an intensive workshop at the Awagami Paper Factory 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. Accommodations will vary depending upon to availability, with the goal of experiencing a variety of traditional and contemporary hotels, ryokan, dormitories, and so on.