News - November 28, 2008

The Speaking Hand: Gesture in Italian Art

With such an intriguing title, interest is running high for this year’s symposium by the Syracuse University Graduate Candidates for the Master’s Degree in Fine Arts.

The grads can hardly believe they have finally come to the end of a challenging year of studies in Florence. Says grad Tom DePasquale, “In the course of our research we’ve continuously come upon new questions about the role that gestures play in art which we never could have anticipated when we first chose our symposium topic. It’s been very fulfilling to be involved in new research on an aspect of art that is so essential to the way that art conveys meanings to the viewer.”

After much research and discussion the grads have chosen the following quote by Leonardo da Vinci to sum up their symposium topic, "The hands and the arms must, in all their actions, display the intention of the mind that moves them."

Notes grad Stephanie Kaplan, “Perhaps the most amazing aspect of this process has been witnessing the development of all of our papers.  It's interesting to see them change and progress, and to suddenly realize that our papers are coherent as a group.“

Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Florence Rab Hatfield continues to be pleased with this very interesting topic, which involves many fascinating images and adds that, “The students could well be breaking new ground.” Grad Mary Delmastro comments, "All of us are very excited about the symposium. Much of what will be presented is original research on a subject (gesture) that has been given little attention. I think it's a relevant topic though—a better understanding of the form and meaning of gestures allows us to more accurately read art. The most challenging part has been trying to consolidate months of research in a 20 minute presentation that can be understood by the general public."

The grad students are deep into rehearsals now, aiming for a flawless presentation. Says Kaplan, “Every rehearsal the feedback is valuable and every rehearsal I'm again intrigued by my colleagues' research.”

The symposium The Speaking Hand: Gesture in Italian Art will be held at SU Florence on Friday, December 12, 2008.