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Scan Design Foundation
1001 Fourth Avenue, Suite 4400
Seattle, WA 98154-1192
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Aug 16, 2022
The University of Washington (UW) study abroad
Aug 16, 2022
program, "Honors and iSchool in Denmark:
Colonialism, Culture, and Why Public Art Matters"
is a collaboration between the UW
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Interdisciplinary Honors Program and UW's
Information School, funded in part by Scan Design
Juliana S. Villegas
Foundation. Running from August 21- September
11, this highly interdisciplinary program brings
together 17 undergraduates and graduate students in
Copenhagen, with an excursion to Aarhus, to learn about the
interplay of public art and activism in making visible colonial
histories and identities in Denmark, past and present.
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Foundational learning will include
Danish history and culture, site visits to
museums, art galleries, public art
installations, and guest talks with
community scholars and leaders at
Danish cultural heritage institutions.
Public art installations such as I AM
QUEEN MARY (now virtual) will
illuminate the process of bringing
together artists, cultural heritage institutions, government, and
communities to engage in the complex process of social justice
activism through public art.

The program directors work in collaboration with students and

Danish colleagues to facilitate nuanced and respectful dialogues,
always with a view to the U.S. and its construction of history and
identity through art and public engagement. Personal reflection
and deep listening are foundational aspects of the program as we
engage in respectful conversations around the complexities of
identity and its construction within Denmark and the U.S.
(individual, family, community, nation, global).

Through blogging the students are currently reflecting on topics of

identity and are exploring other pre-departure thoughts. Here is an
exerpt from a pre-departure blog by one student, Grace, who is
participating in this program:
What is identity? By Grace
Is it formed from things we can change or what we can’t control?
While we don’t choose the country or language we are born into,
people often express themselves through what they wear or what
they create.

La Vaughn Belle, one of the artists behind “I am Queen Mary”

explored identity while renovating an abandoned building in the
Virgin Islands. While rebuilding this space, Belle discovered pieces
of the country’s history that resonated with her past. Coral stones
were found underneath imported Danish bricks. She notes how
these stones were cut from the ocean floor by enslaved Africans
and used for the unseen foundation. Belle made etchings of these
rocks for her exhibition. In her search of Danish colonial archives,
she found few images of Africans living in Denmark but certain
images mirrored her own family photos. Although these photos
were from different eras and countries, they share shocking
similarities.
Belle found these inspirations when she was physically present in a
new space. Rebuilding the house and traveling to Denmark
allowed her to make connections to her own family history. This is
one reason why I chose to study abroad. The deepest discoveries
about our individual identities are made when we encounter new
spaces. While one aspect of my identity is being American, I did
not examine my own “Americanness” until I took an international
communications class. Having to explain certain aspects of my
culture and language allowed me to juxtapose my identity with
others and find similarities. Traveling to Denmark presents the
opportunity to continue making comparisons like Belle made with
her family photos. Already in the Nordic Museum exhibition, I saw
portraits of people with my wavy, rounded nose. From the busking
articles, it seems like Copenhagen at least shares Seattle’s rain, so
I’m sure I’ll discover more similarities once I'm there.

Follow along with the students' experiences by reading their

blogs. Read about their current pre-departure reflections. The
blogs can be found on this website.

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Acting Director/Associate Director, UW Honors
Program