For In-site Cultural and Experiences course this year, Professor Kathy Liao took eight students to San Francisco. On the trip, students explored San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, De Young Museum, Legion of Honor, Contemporary Jewish Museum and the Oakland Museum of Art. They were invited to artists’ studios in the Norton Factory Gallery in Oakland and went on a tour of Crown Point Press. They were led through the streets of the Mission district and learned the history of the cultural movement that sparked the Mission District Murals. Students also got to experience the diverse culture of Japantown, Chinatown, explore Fisherman’s Wharf and walk along the Embarcadero. They rode on the cable car and took the Bay Area Rapid Transit, and got to walk up to the famous Golden Gate Bridge. For most students, it was truly an eye-opening experience! Below are some quotes from students’ post-trip reflection papers.
Ben Hart: “This experience showed me the significance of taking the viewer on a journey and making them see something in a new way. After having such an intimate relationship with a work of art it made the rest of the San Francisco trip a special journey for me. I want to create more art that takes my viewers on a journey and gives them a similar feeling to what I experienced on my trip.”
Jaylen Word: “I’ve gained much insight into the love and appreciation of art, especially when many of our world’s most renowned names can be found in museums just a few street sections apart. This trip has broadened my love for the craft, and I can feel a certain inspiration to see my own work in a museum of the same caliber as the ones we visited in San Francisco.”
Bethany Jordan: “I believe that the experience that I had on this trip has expanded not only my knowledge of the art world, but also my views on city life, food and culture. The knowledge I have gained throughout this trip is something I couldn’t find in any campus-based class. The physicality of being in front of those works and experiencing the emotions that the artist wanted you to experience can’t be relayed through a projection or computer screen. Between all the museums, tours and culture in the city, I can proudly say that my horizon has been greatly broadened.”