Ringgold art student studies in Italy.

Byline: Ronnie Moore

Jul. 12--RINGGOLD, Ga. -- Local resident Anthony Alemany, a rising senior sculpture student at Savannah College of Art and Design, is immersed this month in his artistic medium at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy.

"Many professors encouraged me to apply for a summer scholarship at this academy, and I was accepted within two weeks," he said in an e-mail interview. "They only select 16 individuals from around the world, and I am among seven chosen from the United States."

Mr. Alemany said he's been interested in art and the classical tradition of sculpture since he was young, but he only began to take it seriously about two …