By Kara Sperry
ROGERS, ARK–To inspire the young artists from Haas Hall at the Lane’s first ever advanced art class, scholars in AP 2-Dimensional Art took a trip to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a renowned art museum in Bentonville, Ark. Scholar feedback was highly positive. Scholars say the experience benefitted their progress on their portfolios, which are due at the end of May and include 15 total works.
Senior Allie Edwards explains how her visit to the museum inspired her and how the art specifically pertained to her work: “The art I saw gave me some new ideas for my future pieces, and it helped me get ideas for different styles of abstract art because that’s what I’m focusing on in my portfolio.”
Another scholar in the class, senior Autumn Burkhart, states, “The pieces we saw provided me a new perspective on abstract and surrealist art pieces that I will be drawing inspiration from in my portfolio.”
Scholars were also shown new, innovative mediums that are uncommon in most traditional artworks, such as neon signs, string and glass. Edwards comments, “These multimedia pieces inspired me to try new things, and it’s all about learning and experimenting in the class beyond just classic art styles like oil paintings.”
Burkhart says, “The art we saw made me realize that not all good art has to be in a realistic style and made me want to push the boundaries of classic mediums traditionally used in art.”
The scholars also got to experience one of Crystal Bridges’ special exhibits on view for the first time in a U.S. museum. “Beeple’s Human One” is A digital and sculptural art piece that exhibits a human form walking through changing landscapes that are updated daily through the artist’s code. This piece inspires scholars to view their surroundings from the modern day and embrace technological developments in their art defying traditional art mediums.
Scholars say the visit to the museum greatly benefitted them and added to the course’s experience. They recommend it become a tradition in the class. Edwards states, “I would absolutely recommend this trip for future students. I really loved getting out of the classroom and seeing real art pieces in person rather than just through a screen.”
Burkhart says, “It made me open my mind to different techniques and mediums used in art that go beyond traditional art styles.”
