On January 30, Mrs. Mastroieni’s art class and Profa. Rodriguez’s spanish class went on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The largest art museum in the United states, the Met contains over 5,000 years of art from areas all over the globe. The museum was originally founded in 1870 and today contains over 2 million items. The immense museum contains objects of interests for every type of individual, not just the avid artist. For example, the world’s oldest piano for the music lover, the armor of King Henry VIII for the history buff, and ancient cultural dresses for the fashion enthusiast.
Arriving at the grand staircase leading to the entrance of the colossal museum was intimidating. It was difficult to keep one’s mind from speculating about all the treasures that lie inside. The Met does an incredible job of completely immersing visitors into the culture of each section of the museum by using realistic architecture to create an atmosphere that takes visitors back through time. The museum has a recommended entrance price of $25 dollars but this cost is merely suggested and any person can enter for free. As Mrs. Mastroieni says, the museum was designed to be “a gift to the public.”
The trip was an opportunity for art and Spanish students to enjoy a guided tour of “The Art of Spain.” The tour guide led an interactive discussion about selected pieces of art, shared historical background ,and offered personal opinions. Throughout the exploration of Spanish culture, students discovered various recurring themes and signature artistic elements. First, we viewed a courtyard of ancient sculptures from the patio of the Castle of Vélez Blanco that was built in southeastern Spain in the 16th century. Soon we moved on to a portrait of a lower class artist’s assistant that made a loud statement in a time period where portraits were reserved exclusively for wealthy aristocrats.
One of the most intriguing pieces was a self portrait of Leonora Carrington done in 1938. The quirky and mythical scene drew varying interpretations from all the students. Some remarked that it was sending a message of pushing gender boundaries. Others perceived it as a reflection Carrington’s desire to express herself more freely due to the restraints holding her back. The tour guide remarked that it always fascinated her that in every group she talks with, she hears “new comments pointing out different perspectives.”
After the guided tour, students had an opportunity to explore the museum on their own. The limited time of one hour made it impossible to view all the extensive exhibits. If an individual had an entire day to spend at the museum, he/she could still not manage see it all. It is easy to envision a leisurely day walking slowly through the museum, gazing upon every intricate piece of artwork. However, many students who had never been to the Met before, found themselves determined to race around, trying to absorb the sheer quantity of art from all different regions of the earth.
Personally, I left the museum feeling incredibly inspired and awed by the extensive amount of artwork in varying sizes and mediums, originating from different cultures and decades. I cannot wait to return to the Met soon and continue exploring.
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