Written by:  Kelsey Maharrey, Fashion Marketing and Management

The 68 days I spent at SCAD-Lacoste in southern France felt more like a dream than actual summer school.  I found myself living and studying in Europe, surrounded by a land rich in culture and history.  SCAD-Lacoste is located in the heart of the Provence region, which houses the landscapes often used as inspiration for famous artists like Picasso and Cezanne.   I was constantly surrounded by beautiful architecture, and was only a short drive from some pretty iconic destinations.  Instead of spending hours every day locked up in a dark classroom, we literally loaded up and drove to actual, standing examples of different styles of architecture.  We toured Romanesque, Baroque, and Gothic-inspired churches.  I enjoyed a meal at the exact café that Van Gogh depicted in his famous painting Night Café.

Our group-wide trip to Paris allowed me to gaze upon famous works such as Raft of the Medusa, Mona Lisa, and Nike of Samothrace. I also had the chance to present and sell artwork at an art exhibition, an opportunity I never thought I would have as a student in the Fashion Marketing and Management major.  I formed life long bonds with some truly incredible people from the other SCAD location.  I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to live in such a grand place, let alone learn and experience so much in a short period of time.  I would never change one moment of this amazing summer, and I will cherish the memories of my quarter in Lacoste forever.

Interested in SCAD Lacoste? All of the faculty at Lacoste are full-time SCAD professors from Savannah or Atlanta who travel to France as part of the Lacoste residential program.  Courses vary each term and may be offered in painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, film and television, photography, digital imaging, historic preservation, performing arts, art history, architecture, liberal arts, French language and culture, and other topics.  SCAD Lacoste facilities include a library, gallery, dining hall and housing, as well as teaching studios dedicated to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography and digital imaging.  View the FAQs on the SCAD website.