Delayne DePietro (Class of 2023)
Blogger Role: Arts Administration
Major: Arts Administration/Art History
I chose Marywood because being a local, I’ve had many chances to be on campus throughout my life and had always loved it here. I had discovered Arts Administration while away at another university and found that Marywood had amazing opportunities to work in the field and with local institutions like The Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art and The Everhart Museum in Scranton.
I am majoring in Art because it has always been central to my life. Even when I thought about straying into a more “traditionally successful” area like the sciences, it was always at the back of my mind. As a kid some of my most cherished memories are from museum visits, and the curators/staff were people I respected more than anything. I would love to provide that kind of memory for future generations and get them as interested in art as I am.
When I’m not in class, I’m trying to discover every inch of the art scene possible. I look for any exhibition, gallery, festival, workshop possible because it brings me so much joy no matter the content. I also knit and crochet in my free time, as well as trying other “hobby” art forms whenever I have the time.
As a kid some of my most cherished memories are from museum visits, and the curators/staff were people I respected more than anything. I would love to provide that kind of memory for future generations and get them as interested in Art as I am.
So far, my favorite art class at Marywood was Art in Mexico and Peru. It was so fascinating to cover an area of art that is drastically understudied, and it was amazing to participate in the revival/study of indigenous cultures. I think that studying an area where colonization brought such a massive change in art and identity is so helpful in understanding more complex expression, especially in regards to culture and the artist’s self image.
The coolest thing I’ve done at Marywood since I started was going to the MET Museum in NYC with my art history class last semester. It was actually my first visit ever and I was absolutely floored by it. It was also one of the first times I was able to go to a museum with other art history fanatics, so being able to discuss academically the pieces we were seeing was so valuable. Even having an assignment to do while in the museum was exciting, and I won’t forget that day for a long time.
When I graduate, I will continue on exploring art as I am now and (hopefully) get into working in my field. My internships here have helped me acquire so many great connections, and I plan on at least volunteering with some local institutions to continue that practical experience. I hope to also create more art once I have more time to do so.
I’d recommend the Art program at Marywood because the art staff here is so incredibly supportive and passionate about what they do. The school has a great connection to local arts and pushes us to have real-world experience. The class sizes are also perfect, being both small enough to know your professors and get individual attention and big enough to have a support system of classmates to work and discuss with. I can’t imagine getting the same kind of experience with my education anywhere else.