Jaina S. Sparling ‘25
In the midst of our hectic schedules as college students, it can be easy to overlook the artistic pieces within our campus buildings. During my Winter Seminar in Orvieto, I discovered the importance of slowing down to truly appreciate art in context. Rather than viewing art in isolation, I learned to see its connection to the space it inhabits. This concept is represented by the term in situ, meaning “in its place.”
Students who study in Orvieto, Italy are welcomed into a majestic building that was once a convent. In this space, we are invited to live in close community with each other — sharing meals, studying in the library, and enjoying the town together. The convent itself is filled with artwork that was created by students of the semester program and is integrated into key locations throughout the building.
Dr. John Skillen, a founding member of the Gordon in Orvieto program, always maintained that art’s full meaning can only be grasped when experienced within its intended context. Many of us learn to appreciate art by visiting museums or galleries, yet these displays remove the artwork from the environment that informed their creation. When this happens, the art loses some of its meaning. In Orvieto, students strive to experience and create art the way it was meant to be — embedded within a broader context.
One piece that stood out to me during my time in Orvieto was a painting of the Last Supper in the convent’s dining room. In class, we learned that it is traditional for convents, monasteries, and even private homes to have a painting of the Lord’s Supper in their dining room as a reminder of our communion with Christ during every meal. Shown below, this particular painting includes vibrant patches of color, capturing the movement and energy present on that pivotal night. This dynamic scene often reflected our animated conversations at the table, as we wrestled with pressing philosophical and theological questions. In a sense, the painting participated in our discussions and pointed us to the deeper meaning behind it all.
Now that I have returned to Gordon for the spring semester, I have taken more interest in the artwork that has been intentionally placed around campus. One striking example of art in situ is the multi-paneled artwork on the first floor of the Ken Olsen Science Center. This piece
was created by a former Gordon student who studied in Orvieto. It showcases distinct scientific disciplines, such as physics and chemistry, reimagined through the lens of art. Although I have walked by these panels many times before, I had never truly stopped to admire them. I find it intriguing that art can inform places and inspire people without ever needing our conscious attention. The artists who collaborated on these panels likely knew that most of us would rush past their work, absorbed in our own thoughts. Yet they trusted that the artwork’s presence in our science building would leave an inherent impression on students and faculty alike.
Above all, art in situ is about creating spaces where art and life intersect in meaningful ways. Whether in a convent in Orvieto or a science building at Gordon, these artistic pieces invite us to slow down and appreciate our connection to the boarder community around us.
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