The Art Department of Lycoming College will again host the annual Intercollegiate Art History Symposium on April 20. The event runs from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Lycoming College’s Fine Arts Building, Room 107. The event is free and open to the public.
A professional forum for topics in art history, the symposium offers an opportunity for undergraduate students to present their ideas to scholars and peers, as well as the general public.
Sixteen students are invited to present their original research from nine colleges and universities, including Bloomsburg University, Bucknell University, Gettysburg College, Juniata College, Lebanon Valley College, Lycoming College, Pennsylvania State University, Susquehanna University and Ursinus College. These presentations deal with a variety of subjects, such as feminism, indigenous art and iconoclasm (i.e. the destruction of art and cultural objects for religious or political reasons).
Two speakers represent Lycoming College: Alicia Skeath, a senior art history major with an American history minor, and Tracy Robinson, a senior double-majoring in art history and international studies with a minor in photography. Skeath will present her research on Caravaggio, one of the most prominent Italian painters in the Baroque movement. Robinson, on the other hand, will examine modern iconoclasm as seen in the recent acts of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, as known as ISIS.
“This annual event brings students together from area colleges to share experiences and research. It builds community and fosters the exchange of ideas and research among students who share interests and aspirations. And the presentations are always fascinating!” said Amy Golahny, Ph.D., professor of art history at Lycoming and participant in the symposium since its inception.
This annual symposium was established in 2006 by Roger Rothman, Samuel H. Kress Chair and associate professor of art history at Bucknell University, and previously hosted by Lycoming in 2012. Providing a forum for art history undergraduate research, it offers a chance for undergraduates to present their research, hone their speaking skills and share their ideas with an audience of their peers. These presentations highlight senior thesis research, the results of an in-depth research or independent study project, field work and study abroad, or exceptional internship experiences.