PVCC Puma Press: December 2006

David Bradley, PVCC fine arts faculty member, will conduct a trip next semester to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, that will give students the opportunity to engage in hands-on arts and crafts. The group will arrive in Mexico January 4 and return January 13, 2007.

According to Bradley, “San Miguel de Allende is very beautiful. It has cobblestone streets, Spanish colonial architecture, and many art galleries and artists’ studios to explore. Participants will learn the process for making sand molds and pouring molten glass into the molds to make solid glass art objects. Each participant will make at least eight pieces over the week of the workshop.” Students will also spend two days in the towns of Guanajuato and Queretero.

Bradley says the total cost of the trip is $2,000. This amount will cover the PVCC tuition, roundtrip airfare, double room at the Best Western Hotel in San Miguel de Allende, artist and material fees. Meals will not be included because “there are so many wonderful and inexpensive restaurants in San Miguel," he says.

If students wish to go on the trip, they should inquire soon because there is only room for 11 participants. An orientation will be held in Bradley’s office, M197, on December 12 at 6 p.m.

Bradley says “this trip is one of the few international trips in the entire United States that involves hands-on activity.” He adds, “Many colleges have study abroad trips, but this trip is one of the few anywhere that goes to another country for making art with local artists.”

In the past, Bradley has taken two other trips with students to Mata Ortiz, Mexico and to China involving hands-on activities.

Those students who wish to wait will have another opportunity to travel to Mata Ortiz, Mexico in 2007. If one wishes to go farther from home, Bradley will be taking students to China in 2008.