Blazing a Path

An American University of Florence Alumni Spotlight

It is difficult to imagine two more opposite places than the remote woods of Alaska and the bustling, historical city of Florence, Italy. So when Caleb England traveled more than 5000 miles to start his new life in Italy five years ago, it proved to be a tremendous leap of faith.

 

“I’m really in love with painting; where is a good place to go? The city of art, Florence,” said England. “Of course.”

 

With a degree in cultural studies and a focus in fine art, England turned to a career in teaching after completing multiple tours overseas in the US military. He settled on The American University of Florence (AUF) as the best fit for him to continue his education. He graduated from AUF in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts, and quickly returned to the school as a professor to instruct students from around the globe.

 

“I’ve always been extremely visually oriented, so (art) gave me a way to express things that I felt like I didn’t have words for,” said England. “It’s developed through generations that we know how to read each other’s body language, and I think if you get to a high enough level in art that you can use that to express ideas to another person… I think that’s awesome.”

 

From an outsider’s perspective, Italy would not have seemed like the obvious new home for England. He had never been to the country before, nor anywhere in Europe for that matter, and had no familiarity with the language. Luckily, his years spent in the military prepared him for being dropped into foreign places he was unfamiliar with. He arrived in Florence in January, 2020 with only what he could fit into a backpack and a duffel bag. It took him two years to start feeling comfortable with the language, and another year after that he could speak it conversationally.

 

In many ways, England’s experience immigrating to Italy is similar to those of his students at AUF. While some may have ties to the country, for most it is a complete unknown that they have the privilege of coming to know for the first time during the program. His firsthand knowledge comes in handy when connecting with students and offering advice on how to maximize their time in Florence.

 

 

“I remember being nervous when I got here because it’s a new country, it’s a new culture, it’s a new language… when I really started to put myself into the culture, the language, I noticed how warm and inviting everyone was to me,” said England.

 

The opportunity to teach in possibly the most significant art city in the world is one that England takes full advantage of. He enjoys taking his students outside of the classroom to get hands-on with the sights that Florence has to offer, both classical and contemporary.

 

As far as lessons go, England looks to draw out the best in his classes by providing them with the artistic freedom necessary to identify their own individual style. Students receive marks for each project they present to him, but they are graded primarily on effort, rather than perceived quality of the artwork. This way, burgeoning artists feel comfortable knowing they have the liberty to not be perfect from the jump, and can take time to find their voice.

 

“We go through techniques, and I have them practice something new each week… at one point, I say, ok, you’ve practiced all these, you have to do your final project, now choose the one that you like and feel the most confident in,” said England. “If you’re coming in here and you’re putting in the effort, and you’re improving, then you’re doing it. Stop comparing yourself to something that you think is better than you in the class, that’s not what we’re here for.”

 

Diving head first into a new environment and making it a home can be a totally daunting challenge. It takes a lot of courage and belief in oneself to adjust to a new culture and find your own path. Caleb England tackled this challenge head on five years ago and succeeded, and seeing his students do the same is part of what fulfills him as a teacher.

 

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