WELCOME

Welcome to the Urban Culture course at Avila University created by Susan Lawlor and Dotty Hamilton.  We travel with our students to great cities to explore art museums, engage with the architecture, study the local film and music venues, and experience the ethnic enclaves as a way to learn about the culture of urban spaces and the interaction of art and environment.  It's a fun, intense learning environment.  

Monday, May 20, 2013

Waiting in Toronto

In toronto waiting to go home

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Starring Aimee

Thanks Aimee. You were great on stage with the improv group

Improv at Theatre. St Catherine

Wonderfully funny improv troupe on the last night

Food tour at Jean Talon market

Loved walking through this market with our guide Jeremy and sampling crepes,  rye bread, apple cider,  cheese and sausages. Then a short walk to little Italy for cannoli. One of my favorite activities

Notre Dame Basilica

The evening light show at this beautiful church was a combination history lesson and architectural display

Dinner at Modavie

Centaur theatre

The set for the play at the theatre was a bus. Really funny clever skits about the characters riding the No 14 bus

Breakfast cruise

We started this beautiful sunny day with a boat trip down the river

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Danse X Montreal

The evening ended with a performance of three duets curated by Danse X Montreal.  Experimental dance  that was a perfect bookend to the morning abstract art tour.  A truly international event with performers from Japan, Korea and the United States.  The discussion after the dancing was held in four languages.

Shabu Shabu at Kayayaki

Dinner at this wonderful Japanese restaurant.  Shabu Shabu is a Japanese hotpot. Each of us cooked our own ingredients in a bowl at the table

Streets Came Alive

After we left the museum we were delighted to discover a lively street scene with musical performances, acrobatics, street theatre, and even a parade of Snow Whites.

Musee d'Art Comtempoirain

We began Friday morning with a tour of the Museum of Contemporary Art.  Unfortunately, no photos are allowed in the museum.  Our tour guide, Tracy, gave us a memorable tour that began with the history of abstract art in Canada.  Garrett aptly named a particularly monochromatic painting, Heinz 57.  These pieces challenged our notions of art and even posed the question whether a painting without paint is still a painting.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

An evening at the Cinematheque Quebecoise

Tonight, a series of animated short films at the Cinematheque Quebecoise.  Amazing, considering the films dated from 50 years ago or so.  Themes of lost love, military might, the conflict of difference, the power of music and kindness, and the loss of the soul.

Touring Old Montreal

After a nice lunch in Old Montreal, we took a guided tour of the old town with Annie.  She was great.  Learned alot about the architecture and history - a bit chilly, but we survived.

Museum of Fine arts

Touring the Museum of Fine Arts - and some of the outdoor art.  This is an installation in the street that you can wan on

Waiting for the Metro

First Day in Montreal and we're catching the train to our first destination

Morning in Montreal

Down the street from our hotel

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Waiting at KCI

For the first leg of our flight

Monday, May 13, 2013

Today is the Day - Leaving for Montreal

Looks like cool weather - the high sixties in Montreal.  That will be fine, especially if there is no rain.  A long plane trip awaits, leaving this afternoon with 16 students.