Response 2-Enniscorthy/Ferrycarrig

ITEM 1: This is a sculpture of a Liberty tree (left) from the National 1798 Rebellion Centre (right). The trees this sculpture is modeled after were planted during the Rebellion of 1798 when the United Irishmen were fighting for their freedom from the British. They planted these trees as a symbol of revolution. The sculpture altogether is monochromatic in color scheme, where multiple shades of green are used. Also, the use of different materials forming the canopy of the tree allows for a variation in value, making it almost come to life. Although the shapes in the canopy are abstract, it overall has an irregular, organic shape. This sculpture was a unique depiction of the actual trees planted. It's position in the center of the room made me think about the Irish history and caused me to imagine how life would have been at that time.



ITEM 2: These are pictures of the Johnstown Castle at Ferrycarrig. Constructed in the 1100's, this house was first occupied by the Esmondes, a Norman family, and then the Grogan famiy in the 1600's. Now, the castle and its garden are considered a "gift to the Nation." The beautiful features on the castle make the building a piece of art itself. The face on the picture on the right is an organic structure placed on a more geometric building, creating a unique contrast. Also, the way the actual light hits the stone and shades certain designs, makes the somewhat dark, medieval architecture appear majestic. The architecture itself also has unique touches. The pointed arch seen around the windows allows weight to channel at a steeper angle than a rounded arch.

ITEM 3: this is the sculpture of a dog at the Johnstown castle. I am not sure why this was created, but it makes for an interesting touch. My thought is maybe the family owned a dog, and he was a family pet dear to them. The monochromatic color scheme of the castle and sculptures like this one almost tie everything together. In a way, it hints at the fact that this animal was once "part of the home." The organic shape of the dog and its somewhat realistic size makes it appear more natural. The vertical line its head follows almost gives it a prideful posture, adding to the powerful and royal appearance of the castle. Also, just a side note, you can see in the background of the picture on the left an example of a post and lentil. Based on what is visible in the picture, I believe this is "ionic" based on the Greek order of columns.

Response 1-Waterford

MY IMPRESSION-When I got my first glance of Waterford, I noticed that the calm river running beside the stretch of colorful, cottage-like shops and restaurants encompassed an environment completely different from the one we have back home. The way the sun and clouds dance across the sky and take turns covering each building is so unique. At home, I have become accustomed to bland buildings and the constant heat from the scorching sun. However, here there is an extraordinary beauty about the city. I love the use of intricate detail and warm colors on the homes as well as the mystical grays on the rock towers (i.e. Reginald's Tower) and other old buildings. It almost feels like each structure tells a story. When I wasn't focused on the amazing architecture, I noticed that people here behave so much differently too. Nobody is rushing to work and people are so calm. I love the culture here, and I feel like merely looking at something tells me more and more about Ireland's history. Overall, this city, Ireland's oldest, feels like a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork in every way possible.

PIC 1: This is a statue of Thomas Francis Meager (1823-1867), an Irish nationalist who at the end of his life served as a U.S. soldier in the American Civil war. We saw this structure on a tour of Waterford. The organic shape of this artwork, makes Meager and his horse "come alive" on the streets of downtown. The    vertical line Meager's proud body follows as he sits on the horse, definitely portrays him as a strong war hero and powerful character in history. The actual light that shines down on the statue during the day makes the art even more majestic and almost forces you to think about how Meager and his horse would have actually looked walking through Ireland in the 19th century.

PIC 2: This picture was taken at the beginning of the Waterford Crystal tour. The company's production of unique, handmade crystal pieces began in 1783, but after temporarily closing in 2009, the base reopened in 2010. The beautiful bowl at the bottom of the photo was the design people in an apprenticeship with the company had to complete perfectly at the end of 5 years. If unable to do recreate a precise copy by hand, they must start the training over again. Otherwise, they would continue on for 3 more years to become a master at the trade. My favorite part about the tour was seeing and hearing about the importance of the bowl. It is incredible that people were expected to remake every design. The real texture on the crystal bowl is beautiful, and when the actual light hits it each curve and line etched into the crystal, it glistens. I never knew such incredible, delicate pieces of art could be made so perfectly with one set of hands!

PIC 3: This is a picture of a stain-glassed window in the Christ's Church Cathedral we visited on our walking tour of downtown Waterford. Built in the 18th century by the famous architect John Roberts, this Neo-classical structure has held services and events for hundreds of years. The window in this picture depicts the beauty of religion, and the use of contrasting colors (ex. red and green on the angel's robe on the right) draws attention to the complexity of the piece. The actual light brightens the image on the glass, almost making it come to life. Although this time period appreciated a "darker" beauty, the perfect compilation of stained pieces of glass creates a very divine piece of art. Even little details are important. For instance, the diagonal line the angel on the left places her head depicts more of an active or emotional behavior, while vertical line the angel on the right stands signifies a greater sense of confidence and power. It is just so incredible what can be done with art!

Post 1: An Introduction

I am a biology (premed) major/chemistry minor at Berry College. I plan on attending physician's assistant (PA) school in Atlanta after I graduate, and I’d like to focus my future career on thoracic surgery. I have always been passionate about serving others in order to bring glory to Christ, and I am pursuing a career in medicine to do just that! Besides my interest in healthcare, I am all about spending time outdoors. I’ll seldom deny the opportunity to hike, camp, kayak…you name it! I’m spontaneous and I love God’s creation. So, do you feel like backpacking for a weekend? If so, I’m in!

Just another little thing about me…about 6 months ago my incredible fiancé proposed to me! God brought us together through the Berry College Swim and Dive team, and after becoming the closest of friends first, we fell in the deepest love. Since then, I have been looking forward to the amazing life I have ahead! Within the next year I will be traveling to one of the most beautiful countries in the world, working towards my dream career and becoming the wife of the most genuine, godly men in the world! So exciting!

I am so thankful God has given me a chance to try something new and study abroad this summer. When I first got to Berry College, I heard from tons of people about how enriching a study abroad experience is. Their stories were so amazing, and I knew I wanted to have one of my own. After lots of searching for the right program, I almost gave up looking  until I heard about studying in Ireland with the European Council. Before then, nothing I found was the perfect combination of travel coupled with courses I needed to graduate. I knew Ireland was the perfect destination too, because I have always wanted to visit! As a little girl, I remember my grandmother teaching me an Irish jig. Ever since then, I have had my heart set on going someday! I thrive on adventure, and the thought of becoming immersed in the Irish culture by not only "seeing" it but also studying it really drives my anticipation to go. I knew in my heart this was my chance to travel to Europe and continue my education in a unique manner. In a nutshell, this will be the experience of a lifetime. Ireland's natural beauty and unique culture will make this trip a magical experience.

I am much more excited about the trip than nervous. For one, I cannot wait to truly "live" in Ireland for that long. I always thought I'd only visit Europe for a week at the most, so this is incredibly exciting to me! Also, I am pumped to experience the natural beauty. I recently received an amazing camera from my fiancé, so I’m eager to capture every landscape and unforgettable moment there. Something else that I love about this trip is the unique educational experience. Instead of merely taking classes in a cold, boring classroom, we get to go out and actually EXPERIENCE Ireland! The next few weeks will definitely reenergize my eagerness to learn.

Although I am mostly excited, I do have a few hesitations. My main concern is being away from everyone back home. For the past 2 years I have been by my fiancé’s side, and when I'm not with him I'm hanging out with my family. I know I don't see them much when I'm away at Berry anyways, but still. I'm also a little worried about how well I'll manage free time there. I tend to try too hard to see EVERYTHING, so I'm hoping and praying I won’t stress out too much if I don’t get to see everything I wanted to! I know it seems silly, but that's just how I am. My last concern is how unfamiliar I will be with Ireland. Since I haven’t been there before, it'll be a little tough at first for me to get used to where everything is. I know that won't be a huge deal for long, but it does make me a little nervous.

Overall, what I look forward to definitely outweighs my worries. I cannot wait to build relationships and gain a deeper appreciation for Ireland!