Nazareth University student Isabelle Talley is named a Gilman Scholar
Nazareth University rising senior Isabelle Talley ’27 is a BFA Studio Art major traveling to Cambodia and Vietnam this summer to explore themes of war and genocide in both countries and how war affected art. Her study abroad is supported by a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State. Talley received the scholarship this spring in a very competitive application process.
The short-term study abroad program to Cambodia and Vietnam is credit-bearing and allows students to visit the Southeast Asian countries and witness sites where history took place.
“Standing at the historic sites and being able to fully grasp the severity of events that happened on the soil will be so moving,” said Talley. “As an artist, learning art history is so vital in understanding how and why humans express themselves. Art and history are the same; you can’t learn about one without the other. The culture in which the artist creates influences their work, and then their work influences their culture.”
She also looks forward to the tropical climate, which she has never experienced, along with a stay at a host family’s home in Cambodia’s Banteay Chhmar. Previous student participants have said that spending time in this community was by far one of the most impactful experiences of their lives.
“I’m excited for our homestays where we will live with a family for a few days, work on the local farm, learn how to grow rice, and connect with children at a school,” Talley said.
She will turn her experiences into meaningful artwork. After studying in Greece last summer, a trip supported by a Nazareth SPARK Grant, she created and showed a small body of work in Nazareth’s Arts Center. She will curate a second show of her work at the Arts Center this fall after returning from Cambodia and Vietnam.
“I want other art students to realize how inspiring studying abroad can be and how much it can evolve an artist's voice,” said Talley. “The last time I studied abroad was not only life-changing, but it also enhanced my artistic voice. I became inspired to dive deeper into pouring techniques, unique textures, and the narrative of human stories in my paintings.”
She knows this is good practice for solo exhibitions in her professional career. Her dream is to one day show her art in galleries around the world.
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program supports students to study or intern abroad to gain skills critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity. The Gilman program supports American students to gain proficiency in a variety of languages and cultures, skills that are important to their academic and career development.
Contact
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
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