By Tara Attanasio, Visiting Undergraduate Student in Arts and Culture Focus Area, School of Professional Studies
As a participant in the Arts and Culture Focus Area, I took two art history courses this summer: Evaluating the Authenticity of Art, and Jackson Pollock and the New York School. By the end of the Summer Session, my goal was to broaden my knowledge of American art history through unique courses focused on the history and context of New York City.
Evaluating the Authenticity of Art took an “applied” approach to art history. The course encompassed learning the provenance of 15th-century works specifically housed within New York art institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. My professor assigned a final project in which one must research primary sources to write a detailed report on a chosen object. I decided to research a watercolor painting by Paul Cézanne. In my first week of the course, I contacted multiple curators from the Met to Norton Simon about my object. I also visited the Morgan Library to view curatorial files and other primary documents to source my evidence for the final project.
The course Jackson Pollock and the New York School provided interesting insight into 20th-century art history with added local color, which could not be as well replicated at my home institution in California. Due to the small number of students, this class operated through seminar-style discussions enabling insightful discussions and opportunities to view the featured artworks firsthand through museum field trips.
Through these two courses, I fulfilled my home university’s major requirements, accelerating my undergraduate degree. More importantly, I was able to gain valuable and unique insight into New York’s art history and scene.
By attending Columbia, I now have access to knowledgeable and kind professors and librarians who are eager to help provide me with contacts and support for the assigned research projects. I also have access to the university’s beautiful and expansive libraries, notably Avery, the library dedicated to art history and architecture research. Beyond academics, I have had wonderful opportunities to meet new people and experience the city from bus tours and to future Broadway shows.
About the Program
Each summer, Columbia University offers hundreds of courses for Columbia students and students from other domestic and international institutions. Whether on campus or online, Summer term offers the opportunity to study with Columbia’s esteemed faculty, pursue academic interests, advance studies, and prepare for graduate school. Focus areas include Arts and Culture in New York City, Foundations in Pre-Medicine, Public Affairs and Sustainable Futures, and Wall Street Prep: Economics, Finance & Analytics. Learn more about Summer Session at Columbia University.
