The Dripstone Wall

Monday, 18 September. Nearly a week has passed since we arrived in Prague. In that time we have learned how to use Prague’s public transport (trams, buses, metro, etc.), settled into our apartment buildings in the Old Town, watched Paul point out the beauty of decaying train carriages in the junkyard next to our art studio, had breakfast at Cafe Savoy, completed our first “Prague Is Your Teacher” day, seen flamingos scratch their necks and pelicans dance at the zoo, climbed Prague’s version of the Eiffel Tower, and even cracked a mirror with a convection oven (ask the guys in apartment 51).

Today, we began with a morning metaphysical meeting led by Nate.

Next, we shared the artist trading cards that each of us made for our first “Prague Is Your Teacher” day last Friday. “Prague Is Your Teacher” is an assignment where each student plans something to do on their own in Prague, like go to a museum or visit a gallery or see a show. The intention is for the students to let Prague be their teacher that day. Part of the assignment asks the students to share their experience with others in the form of an artist trading card. After their “Prague Is Your Teacher” day, each student makes a trading card that describes or tells a story about their day. Students then learn about each other’s day by sharing and collecting their cards.

For example, one student saw a show at the Museum of Decorative Arts. Another student went to the Museum Kampa. Another student photographed fashion worn by people in different parts of Prague. And another student read a book of Czech Jewish folktales in the park.

Later in the morning, it was time to visit the Dripstone Wall in the Wallenstein Palace in Malá Strana. As part of their drawing class, students observed the wall and chose a section to draw in their sketchbooks and then on a large piece of paper back at the studio.

Last port of call: the studio, to prepare the paper with gesso!

“Dobrou noc!”