Blogs

Meghan Hipple

I am a sophomore pursuing a degree in Art History with minors in Studio Art and Museum Studies. I graduated with honors from Hempfield Area Senior High School in Greeensburg, PA. I'm interested in exhibition design and museum education, specifically with an interest in making contemporary art more understandable and less intimidating for the public.

Kevin Fernando

Kevin is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, where he is majoring in the History of Art and Architecture, and Architectural Studies, with minors in Studio Arts, and Museum Studies.  During his sophomore year, Kevin made the switch from pre-med to the humanities and interned at the architectural offices of Murray J. Miller, while presenting at HAARCH for a collaborative installation piece constructed for Approaches to the Built Environment.

James DiBitetto

James DiBitetto is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh. History of Art and Architecture is one of his three majors, along with Neuroscience and Economics. He is currently writing an honors thesis in both HAA and Neuroscience and plans to graduate with honors from all three of my majors. While at Pitt, his achievements have come from a variety of areas. For the past three years, he has served as a Resident Assistant, helping to mentor and protect students living in the residence halls.

Liyi Chen

Originally from China, Liyi Chen has studied in Canada, Austria and France. Now she is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh pursuing a History of Art and Architecture major and double minor in Studio Arts and Museum Studies. Liyi is interested in Visual Studies, Museum Management and cross-cultural comparison. She was a staff writer for University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (UPJ) campus newspaper, The Advocate, she was a calculus tutor at UPJ Academic Success Center.

Robert Bush

Robert Bush is a featured senior for the Architectural studies program in this year’s HAAARCH.  As an esteemed student within the program, Robert was hand selected by respected professors for Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship positions for HAA 1914: Architecture and Computer Applications and SA 1430: Perspective Drawing.  Due to this type of academic dedication and success, many of his productions have resulted in displays within several exhibitions designed to showcase students’ creative work, includ

Jenna Briasco

Studying History of Art & Architecture and Historic Preservation, Jenna will be graduating in just a few short months. Over the last four years at Pitt, she has explored medieval and Renaissance history in depth and the Italian language, as well as more contemporary studies and the built environment. Since 2011, she has enjoyed interning with the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and the University Art Gallery.

Danny Augenbraun

I spent my freshman year as an undeclared and confused college student. After missing the fall semester of my sophomore year for reasons out of my control, I came back to the University of Pittsburgh with a new set of goals and newfound interest for learning. After declaring as an Art History major and a Studio Art minor I realized that I was finally pursuing what I was truly interested in. Currently, I am working with Prof.

Paige Anderson

Paige Anderson is in her second year at the University of Pittsburgh as an Architectural Studies major with minors in Economics and Studio Arts.  Graduating with honors from East Aurora High School in Buffalo, NY, she intends to continue her slow migration Southwest at a graduate school studying either Urban Design, Industrial Design, or continuing Architecture.

Agency in and around the period room

Verplanck Room, Metropolitan Museum

I visited the Met two days ago and found myself in the period rooms of the American Wing.  I was interested in the new interpretive tool, the screen with a menu of options, in place of the old static placard that listed all the objects in a horizontal format.  It puts a whole lot more information at the visitor's fingertips and seems to give us more agency as well because we choose to navigate: we can focus on "people" rather than "objects" and so on.

Francis Dashwood

Today I learned a rake was an 18th century playboy, while researching Francis Dashwood the 11th Baron le Despence. Look at that picture: He seems to have so much fun, unlike all the other 18th century men, who look all too serious. I also am continuing to ameliorate my data formatting and inputting skills. I am getting better and quicker at it, because I am a lot more used to it.