Do you have an interest in the fine arts? If so, the National Gallery of Art might be the museum for you. National Gallery of Art Recently, Mr. Foster and Mr. Franco—art teachers at Springbrook High School—took their art classes on a field trip to the museum. The trip lasted about two hours total. Students left by bus around 10:30 a.m. They spent about an hour and 30 minutes in the museum and then had an hour to buy food and eat before boarding the buses again to travel back to school. We interviewed an AP Art student, Keith, and Mr. Franco, an AP Art teacher, to hear their thoughts on the experience.
We asked Keith and Mr. Franco to describe the trip and what they did during their time at the museum. According to Keith, “We unfortunately didn’t have a lot of time to explore, so I couldn’t get to everything in the gallery. Thankfully, the museum is 100% free, so I can go back when I want to.” Mr. Franco agreed, adding, “Many of my students mentioned feeling like they wish the trip was longer.”
Keith described his experience in the gallery: “I got to explore the works on the first-floor East Wing. There were so many classical works of art from Europe, and it was interesting to see how the styles of art progressed as history changed.” In the area Keith described, many artworks were based on the Bible. In fact, he noted that “at least a third of the works were about Christian stories.” In an adjacent section, he saw Dutch art from after the Netherlands became independent of Spain. Keith added, “It was interesting to see so many still lifes from uncredited artists, who are believed to have been women, since still lifes were considered a female form of art.” He also said the artwork on the first floor was extremely realistic and “almost looked like modern photographs at some points.”
Keith explained that, as a fellow artist, he enjoyed analyzing the painters’ techniques. He likes to study the color palettes artists use and how brushstrokes can create the illusion of fine detail. “Even if you don’t know anything about the process of painting, you can still look closely at the art, learn how they painted people and objects, and admire the skill these artists had,” he said. “However, don’t look too closely, because there’s a line you have to stand behind in order to keep the art safe.”
Overall, the National Gallery of Art trip was received positively by participants. If you take an art class next year, this field trip is definitely something to look forward to. It’s always exciting to learn about art and history, and with so much to explore, the museum offers a unique experience every time you visit.
