Fifty Bridgewater-Raritan High School National Arts Honor Society members, accompanied by art teachers Sarah Nasson and Jason Draine, ventured to the Museum of Modern Art on November 14. Located in New York City, this museum contains works of many famous artists, including Salvador Dali and Monet. During the trip, students were given free rein to the five-story building and explored a wide variety of art dating back as far back as two centuries.
Students left the high school at 9 a.m. and hoped to arrive at the museum at around 11 a.m. They had to leave at approximately 4 p.m. to return to the school by 5:30 p.m. Once the students reached the museum, they immediately started to explore the exhibits. Before the trip, they were advised to start on the fifth floor, where the most famous art pieces resided. The students formed small groups and observed multiple art styles such as photography, embroidery, paintings and architecture.
During their time at the museum, they saw notable pieces like Claude Monet’s Water Lilies, Pablo Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon and Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory. One attendee reflected on how “breathtakingly amazing [it was] to see [these pieces] in person, especially knowing their cultural and artistic significance.”
When the groups finished touring the museum, they were also allowed to eat at the Museum of Modern Art cafe and participate in the creative studio. There was also a design store where students could purchase keepsakes and souvenirs.
When the students returned to the high school, they reflected on their trip and exchanged the pictures they had taken.
The National Art Honor Society holds trips like these annually. In the past, they have gone to other places such as the Metrapolitan Museum of Art and the Somerset County Teen Arts Festival. With these trips, students are given the chance to view and learn about different forms of art and the history behind its creation.
During spring break, the honor society also plans to go to Disney where they will have the opportunity to work with Disney animators and participate in several workshops. As of now, they have raised enough money for everyone attending to have one hundred dollars off the overall cost of the trip. Through arranging paint parties and setting up a platform on ArtSonia, the society is working towards raising as much money as possible.
NAHS co-secretary and trip attendee Lucia Bolle felt that the trip was an amazing opportunity.
“[The trip allowed me] to observe so many different art forms and gain inspiration from them,” she said. “[It was great to see the museum shine light on] beautiful and unique pieces of art that exist across the world.”
Bolle and other National Arts Honor Society members look forward to future trips with the enhanced experiences the advisors provide.
