Historically, the region of Provence has norished myriad artists, including van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne, Matisse, and Picasso. The environment in which these artists flourished remains remarkably unchanged. Yet for the contemporary artist, the experience is enriched by the provocative tension between traditional French culture and the infusion of increasingly global sensibilities. Both the studio and liberal arts portions of the Center's program are designed to take full advantage of the region's rich array of cultural and natural resources through field trips to museums, architectural sites, and archeological excavations. Whether through drawing on site, keeping journals, taking photographs, or gathering found objects in the best French modernist tradition, students rely heavily upon their travel experiences as sources for studio work.
Students also have opportunities to visit Spain and Italy on their own.
The core of the Center's curriculum is the Individually-Directed Studio Program, which is set in a charged, atelier atmosphere. Within this environment, the Resident Director meets students twice weekly for individual and group critiques, discussions, and slide lectures. A structured Drawing component is an integral element of the program. Interdisciplinary Seminar Drawing upon discussions, critiques, lectures, and field trips associated with the Independent Studio Program, students interpret their studio, liberal arts, and cultural experiences. The Seminar offers important analytical tools and hones students' ability to think critically about the meaning and relatedness of their shared and diverse experiences.