Visual Culture Project

at the College of Staten Island/CUNY

Mission: The Visual Culture Project began as a partnership between the College of Staten Island/CUNY and the Staten Island Museum in 1999. The Project has two main goals: to facilitate the use of material culture for innovative teaching and learning at CSI/CUNY, and to promote an awareness of the uses of visual culture in education among the Staten Island community. The Project develops research opportunities for students in connection with the Library and in cooperation with the Art Gallery of the College of Staten Island. The Project creates a unique learning environment that combines the study of cultural artifacts with the use of present-day source materials and technology.

Coordinators:
Sandra Gambetti (History); Eric Ivison (History); Craig Manister (Performing & Creative Arts); Linda Roccos (Library)

Archaeology



The Archaeology Collection is on loan from the Staten Island Museum

Egyptian funerary equipment
Egyptian figurines
Egyptian shabtis, scarabs, amulets
Greek black and red figure vases
Greek and Roman terracotta statuettes
Southern Italian red figure vases
Etruscan pottery and metalwork
Roman glass vessels
Roman mold-made lamps
Greek and Roman coins

Cast Collections



In the 19th century museums and private collectors commissioned casts of works from the Classical world for research and training in the fine arts.

Today many major institutions in Europe and the United States are re-evaluating their casts collections and exhibiting them in newly designed galleries.

The College of Staten Island holds several casts on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Parthenon Casts



The CSI Center for the Arts building displays casts of the frieze of the Parthenon in Athens, acquired from the former St. George campus of the Staten Island Academy.

Two restored casts are now on exhibit in the Atrium of the Center. Eventually there will be a display of ten continuous panels from the West Frieze.

Digital Images



Digital Image Database (CSI-DID) is available for student and faculty use.

Francis MacDonald Journal of the Voyage on Board the Barque Augusta for Mrs. E. (Eliza Wallace) Macdonald

Transcription of the unpublished manuscript, dated 16 September-28 October, 1848 (collection of Barbara Gardner)