The Gero Family Endowment for Excellence in Studio Art and Art History awards travel grants for AAHD students to study and conduct research outside the United States. The Endowment was established in 2014, by Notre Dame alumna Deborah Gero.
Sofia D’Agostino, BA in art history, traveled to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil for a week to obtain a better understanding of Brazilian culture and to dig deeper into why participation and interaction became central aspects of the works made by the Brazilian neo-concrete artists, Hélio Oiticica and Lygia Clark. This trip provided a foundation for her thesis on the subject of participation in Brazilian neo-concrete art, allowing her to have first-hand experience being in the cities that are the subject of her research. D’Agustino’s planning revolved around seeing the major art museums in each city and making time to visit other relevant landmarks or buildings.
Abby O’Connor, BA in art history, who is currently studying abroad in Toledo, Spain, for the fall semester, has traveled to various historical locations and art museums and exhibits all across Europe to support her preliminary research for the senior thesis in art history. While she was still undecided on a specific thesis topic, she is interested in Irish and Spanish modern art and art in the midst of political and social conflict. O’Connor visited the National Gallery of Ireland and the Irish Museum of Modern Art to discover more Irish artists and artwork. Many of the artworks in the Irish Museum of Modern Art collection relate to the conflict between Ireland and Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, a topic that she may study further. While she only arrived in Toledo a month ago, she strongly looks forward to her upcoming travel to a variety of cities rich with history and art, including more locations in Spain like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, along with those around Europe such as the Venice Biennale in Italy and the countless museums and art galleries in Paris.
Xiyun "Serene" Wu, BA Honors in art history, conducted several visits to local archives and exhibitions in Hong Kong during her study abroad semester. This experience provided her with firsthand insights into the contemporary art scene in Asia. The collections of local museums and exhibition sites deepened her interest in researching modern and contemporary art, particularly within the context of the Sinophone urban landscape. Wu attended Art Basel Hong Kong, a memorable experience where she could join special screenings and talks. She also traveled to London to explore a Beijing East Village photography collection at Tate Modern.