Jennifer Moreci

International Experience Country:
England
Cohort Year:
2013
Home Institution:

Carnegie Mellon University

Heinz Programming Area:
Arts and Culture
International Experience Summary:

Jennifer Moreci spent six weeks in London, England taking courses in Arts Business over the summer of 2013. While studying at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, she also was able to gain behind the scenes knowledge of London’s Sotheby’s Auction House with frequent class trips, and shadowing experience during auction preparation and actual sales. Jen was able to contextualize her undergraduate coursework in public policy and fine arts into a real world business setting. The academic work at the Institute, in tandem with the hands on experience at the auction house, provided invaluable knowledge and insight for Jennifer as she moves forward into her accelerated master’s degree program in arts management at the Heinz College of Carnegie Mellon University. Beyond expanding her academic and career interests while abroad, Jen was able to understand her American identity through conversation with British peers about American customs, while learning about her peers own cultural norms. Through these conversations Jen was able to distinguish the two very separate cultures that exist in these two countries that are often time so closely lumped together in terms of world position and stance. The immersion of being in another place allowed Jennifer to expand upon her own understanding of American culture, and identify the nuances that exist amongst highly westernized societies that become homogenized to the average citizen by factors such as media influence and misunderstandings of historical context for cultural practice in these societies.

Community Engagement Experience Summary:

CEE Title: Always Popcorn

"Always Popcorn" acted as a forum for sharing work with the aim to gain exposure to artists– both historical and current, share ideas, interests and enthusiasm for art. Undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff were all encouraged to participate. Through this film exchange, we hoped to ignite a dialogue regarding our practice as artists, and the significance of the role that the arts play in enriching people’s lives. We believe in the responsibility we have to share joy with others, and that this is a global truth. Even before man formed words, he was compelled to draw on the walls of caves. Creation is a part of human nature. We hoped that in some way, the films were able to enrich our audience’s life, even if only for a moment. And more importantly, that people were motivated to continue to share the things that inspire them in this world with others, for it is essential to our very humanity. By sharing challenging works with the people in our community, we were able to spark discussion and debate over notions of what art itself is, and what it means to be an artist.