Is this event a fried food festival with the wrong spelling of Greece or a collection of cultural art from first hand experiences of Greece? I would hope you thought it was the latter, because then you would be correct. Made in Greece X is an art exhibit that the students and faculty of Gulf Coast State College’s Athens/Skopelos study abroad program have put together. A group of students and faculty from Gulf Coast State College traveled to Greece in June of 2024 to learn more about Greece and its culture through an organization named the Skopelos Foundation for the Art in Skopelos, Greece. A few of the featured artists were Anna Parsons, Kelly Page, and Tammy Marinuzzi who all have produced personal, and inspiring works of art as a representation of one’s own travel experience and creative skills. Before taking the trip, the students endured a two week long, intense introductory courses in ceramics and photography. Ceramics are a key part of Greek culture, specifically in the early ages of the country providing a chronological timeline, and story telling of Greeks and their history. Photography is a first hand account of documenting experiences and interests of the photographer through a camera. Many of the photos included are of local Greeks, historical monuments and statues, or landscapes while many of the ceramics are vases and cups. Tammy Marinuzzi stated that a few of the reasons for traveling to Greece is “the rich artistic and cultural traditions of the country, the island of Skopelos, and to gain personal experience as a traveler.” Over a three week period, the students and faculty used their newly learned skills to create the works that are displayed in the exhibit.
One featured artist, Anna Parsons, stated that she is “so grateful for the experience and all the amazing memories I made along the way.” She has many amazing digital photos of statues and landscapes as well as ceramic pieces such as a “House of Memories” included in the exhibit.
Anna Parsons “House of Memories”
Kelly Page, another featured artist, who created a loutrophoros titled “The Grief of Demeter.” She was inspired by “the
abduction of Persephone and the artifacts I saw and learned about in Athens.” Persepone was Demeter’s daughter that was taken to the Underworld and was distraught and heartbroken about the loss of her daughter. Typically, a loutrophoros is used in a funeral service as an offering to the dead and later as an item to mark graves. Page stated that she was attracted to the form because of “the connection to honoring the dead.”
Kelly Page “The Grief of Demeter”
Jaden Lawson
Student Writer - Fall 2024
