Every year, students in AP Art embark on a trip to Washington DC to see the art our nation’s capital has to offer, to site-see and to visit art schools such as Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). However, the trip also offers art students a chance to bond through learning more about one another.
“Taking a class trip is an AP Art tradition. In addition to getting the opportunity to see great museums and visit possible art school options for college, the trip is primarily a way for us to really grow closer as a class,” senior Lea Cody said.
Because AP Art maintains a demanding curriculum, the annual trip to DC brings the students together in a more laid back environment in which they can get to know one another.
“With a class like AP art, it’s really important to know everyone’s personality and their point of view, so we can trust each other when we receive feedback on our work,” Cody said. “Before the trip, I didn’t know each and every artist in AP very well, because it’s hard to make time to bond in such a rigorous classroom.”
This year, the AP Art students traveled to DC over President’s Day weekend. On their first night in DC, the group took a walking tour of the National Mall where they saw the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. The following day they traveled to Baltimore, Maryland to tour the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Cody says that the tour was meant to give the group a feel of what art school would be like and it also gave them the chance to visit with some of art teacher Ms. Cara Deffenbaugh’s former students. While in Baltimore, the group toured the American Visionary Art Museum. Cody described why the museum was a highlight of the trip.
“In Baltimore, we visited the American Visionary Art Museum, a collection of atypical works by people who didn’t necessarily study to become artists, so a lot of the work was really over the top and so much fun to look at,” Cody said.
The group spent the following day back in DC where they visited the National Gallery of Art.
“The National Gallery of Art was definitely a highlight for me. The few hours we spent there really gave me some quiet time out just to relax, enjoy, and really get inspired by what I was seeing,” Cody said. “The NGA houses everyone from Michelangelo to Andy Warhol, and it was really neat to see so much history and recognizable works of art in one building.”
Junior Ginny Shin considers their visit to the National Gallery of Art an eye opening experience.
“Before this trip, I didn’t feel anything at all whenever I saw the famous paintings. My mom used to force me to go to the art museums or galleries and I always wondered why she got so excited just by seeing paintings. I never understood her,” Shin said. “When I went to the National Art Gallery on this trip, I suddenly opened my eyes, and I felt the way my mom always felt. Even though I was sick and exhausted on the day we went to the National Art Gallery, all the paintings and statues from the Renaissance cured and pleased me. It was a turning point in my art life.”
For senior Hayveyah McGowan, her excitement from the trip came from the once-in-a-lifetime chance to tour the White House. But their visit to the White House offered a little more fun than was expected.
“My favorite thing about the trip was visiting the White House and seeing the inside of it,” McGowan said. “A highlight was that we were running late for our tour so we had to run 9 blocks to get to the White House on time.”
Shin says this 9-block-sprint was the toughest running she’s ever had to do. The walk from the National Gallery of Art to the White House typically takes 25 minutes, but the group ran it in ten minutes. Luckily they ended up making it on time for their tour and can now look back on the 9-block sprint as one of the funniest parts of the trip.
“When we arrived, it turned out we weren’t even late. The secret service staff had a good laugh at the 10 teenagers and teacher who were frantically racing to get to see the White House,” Cody said. “Although it was stressful at the time, looking back on it we all agree it was hilarious.”
In addition to the laughs, AP Art students took away many lessons besides being on time to the White House from their trip.
“I know I learned a lot about unconventional art methods and gained appreciation for the classical works,” junior Shelby Meyer said.
McGowan did not expect to see so much art in a place typically just associated with politics.
“I learned that DC has a lot of art museums and art related things,” McGowan said. “It’s not just a city of politics.”
Shin agrees saying that after going to DC she realized that everything about the city is related to art.
“The paintings and statues that were hanging on the walls in the White House, how the layout of the streets were designed by L’Enfant, and the beautiful Greek and Roman style of buildings—there’s nothing without art in DC,” Shin said.
For Cody, the trip was much more than a chance to learn about art. It is the bond she has formed with her class and teacher that she will take away from the trip.
“Apart from everything we saw on our trip, the thing I will remember the most is how close we got as a class. I think all of the girls would agree that we really see Ms. Deffenbaugh in a whole new light now, not just as our teacher but as someone we can talk to and joke around with and who we really view as our class mother,” Cody said. “We all opened up to each other too, and the trip was an opportunity for those girls who might not feel comfortable talking in class to express themselves and show their personalities.”
