As the 3 a.m. sun rises above Mullsjö Folkhögskola, Missouri Southern art students photograph the rays reflecting amber hues off the water, the perfect scene to capture during their summer abroad trip in Sweden.
However, the students didn’t just visit Sweden this spring. Students traveled to Scandanavia, visiting art museums in cities such as London, England; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Oslo, Norway. The group also stayed at Sweden’s Mullsjö Folkhögskola, a partner school with whom MSSU has held a decades-long partnership known for their art programs and proximity to nature.
“Our partnership represents the value of our international mission,” said Dr. Dean Van Galen, president of MSSU. “Building these relationships with other institutions provides great opportunities for students to broaden their view of the world.”
While traveling, students completed seminars on Swedish photography and Scandanavian art with renowned Swedish photographer Örjan Henriksson, who was a previous visiting artist and instructor at MSSU in the 1990’s. He has revisited MSSU since, even teaching for a week early in the spring semester for a special topics photography course. A man of few though impactful words, Henriksson has made an impact on art students.
“I’ve had students state that he completely changed and expanded their concept of photography,” said Frank Pishkur, department chair and professor of Art and Design at MSSU. “Henriksson is great and has a very calm presence. Although he is quiet, every word is meaningful and important.”
Over the years, MSSU and Mullsjö Folkhögskola have sent students to their respective universities as international students for single semesters or longer, allowing the groups to expand their creative skills while experiencing different cultures. For MSSU students, this opportunity leads them to experiment with new mediums.
“My typical medium is drawing, but I’ve been photographing since visiting Sweden,” said junior visual art major Skyler Smith, a Seneca native. “The trip made me think differently.”
