Art Department Field Trip

By: Molly Silvon

The annual trip to the Philadelphia Art Museum is something that art students look forward to every year. In November, fine arts electives get the opportunity to spend a day self-touring galleries, walking through exhibitions, and visiting some of the world's most famous works of art. The trip is even topped off with a race up the Rocky Steps! The museum offers collections spanning many media, complete with ongoing displays in European, Early American, and Chinese Art. Additionally, limited exhibitions on frescoes and Korean art highlight what the museum has to offer. One stop students always look forward to each year is the Japanese Tea House, also known as "Sunkarakun", which was designed in 1917 by Ōgi Rodō. The style demonstrated in the tea house reflects the architecture of similar buildings during the 18th century. It was originally designed for the artist's home in Tokyo. 

Photograph of the Japanese Tea House at the Philadelphia Art Museum

It is institutions like this that allow art students to gain inspiration from some of the greatest artists in history. In fact, when I spoke to Art Department Chair, Mrs. Kist, she shared that, “by spending a day at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, students are introduced to an amazing variety of artistic specialties and are allowed to become impacted by one of the largest collections in the nation. I know art students are already looking forward to next year!”