Visiting Chavón: The School of Design
I always try to make the most of every trip I take - visiting interesting places that inform and inspire me.
For this year's "spring break", my family and I traveled to the Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic, known for its beautiful beaches, golf courses, and for its mountains - the highest in the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic is also a developing nation, and among the highlights of our trip was a visit to Santo Domingo’s Chavón: The School of Design, a university-level educational institution that has gained worldwide recognition for its innovative programs. Founded in 1983, with hopes of addressing the country's growing commercial and industrial demands, the School offers talented Dominican and foreign students the opportunity to prepare for careers in the fields of visual arts and design.
Here are some photos - enjoy.
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- The School is truly a pioneer in the teaching of art and design. Its programs include courses in communication design, fashion design, fine arts, illustration, digital design, interior design, photography, film production, and architecture. This is the entrance to the campus in Santo Domingo. Another campus is located in La Romana.
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- This urban campus was originally a cupcake factory until it was transformed and renovated into a beautiful, clean and airy institution. Here is the main lobby with high ceilings and lots of seating.
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- This is another view of the main lobby area – samples of the students’ art work are displayed on the walls. Chavon is also tied to another great college – it has been affiliated with New York’s prestigious Parsons School of Design since its foundation.
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- The School is supported by The Altos de Chavón Cultural Center Foundation, conceived by visionary, Charles Bluhdorn, and overseen by his daughter, my friend, Dominique Bluhdorn. It includes three floors which house five classrooms for art workshops, a photography studio, two labs for digital workshops, and classrooms exclusively for the children and teen programs. (Photo provided by Chavon: The School of Design)
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- The students here are extremely talented. These are just a few more examples of their work hanging in the main hallway. The School of Design’s location, at the hub of the Americas, makes it accessible to students from all parts of the world. Nearly two-thousand have graduated from the School, while more than 10-thousand students have participated in its special programs.
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- I was so impressed by the classrooms – every one of them is so clean.
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- Here is a computer lab – filled with top of the line Mac desktop computers.
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- Here is the lab during class – filled with students. At Chavón, students are encouraged to develop their critical thinking, and gain skills needed to make creative decisions and to solve challenging design issues. (Photo provided by Chavon: The School of Design)
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- The School offers two-year college level programs specializing in visual communications, film, fashion, and fine arts.
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- Classes are kept small and concentrated in order to provide ample student-teacher interaction.
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- Here is a painting class where students were asked to study and paint their interpretations of the landscape.
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- The students use water colors and other mediums for their paintings. It is a competitive institution which has earned international acclaim. In 2006, V Magazine named The Altos de Chavón School of Design one of the 13 best design schools in the world.
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- Here is another classroom filled with student paintings. After completing their two years of study at Chavón, some graduates transfer to a third year at a four-year institution, while many others go on to enter the workplace in their native country.
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- The students have a great respect for keeping the facility organized and ready for the next class.
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- Here is another classroom – so very clean. The school also invites visiting lecturers, so students are exposed to other cultures and world views.
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- The bathrooms are also very clean and light – each one with a different color palate.
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- The bathrooms were donated by a local family-run tile distributing company, Cerarte. They provided tiles that showcase their various designs and donated all the counters and fixtures. http://www.cerarte.com.do/en
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- Singer Corporation donated this room – filled with machines and supplies for its fashion students.
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- Here is one of the outfits designed by a student. I wanted one for myself – it is so pretty.
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- Here is another sample – an all denim bustier.
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- And a very creative garment made out of old neckties.
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- Here is a student spending extra time completing a sewing design project.
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- There are also programs for young children, ages four to 17, who come to the School on weekends for art focused classes and workshops in architecture, interior design, drawing and painting fashion, graphic design and photography – all these programs have become hugely popular.
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- The School also has an excellent cafeteria and student lounge.
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- Chavon: The School of Design is a gorgeous facility and a wonderful place where students can pursue their artistic dreams. If you would like to know more about the School, click on the highlighted link for their web site above. I will share more photos from my trip to the Dominican Republic in tomorrow’s blog. (Photo provided by Chavon: The School of Design)
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