Classroom curriculum met real-world application in a joint excursion of the fine arts persuasion.
On Feb. 1, select Thomas County Central High School French and art students traveled to Savannah to explore culture and put their fine arts studies to the test. Those in Kelly Arno’s French club and advanced French classes, as well as art teacher Shelby Young’s upper-level students and AP art pupils, were invited to attend.
“Whenever I find a trip to go on with my French students, I think about what other groups or subject areas would be interested,” Kelly Arno said. “Since we were going to see an art exhibit, I definitely wanted to include art students! Trips like this help students realize that what they're being taught in the classroom exists in real life.”
The trip was two-fold. First, art students went on a Savannah College of Art and Design visit while French students took a walking tour of some of Savannah's historic squares.
Accompanied by their guide, French students traveled to several of the six remaining original squares of Savannah. Included in the tour were several historical monuments such as the current and former resting places of Yamacraw Chief Tomochichi and a Jewish burial plot allotted to the community by James Oglethorpe.
“I chose to attend this trip because Savannah is such a beautiful city and it's my favorite place to visit,” student Sarah Kefalas said. “I had the chance to go on either the French trip or the art trip, and I chose French because of the walking tour. The walking tour included learning about the history of the city. I love history, so I found it very fun and interesting.”
Art students visited SCAD to gain a firsthand glimpse of the school’s inner workings and classrooms. Their tour guide explained some of the extensive work SCAD students participate in during and after their enrollment. Students were further informed about various artistic opportunities and how they can be utilized after college.
“The tour of SCAD was an excellent opportunity for students to gain knowledge about careers in art and potential future majors,” Young said.
AP art student Nykema Simmons attended the trip because of her interest in SCAD.
“I learned about the great career opportunities that are available at SCAD, and it (the tour) did a really great job of narrowing down my choices for my future,” Simmons said. “My favorite part was when the tour guide explained in great detail how successful most of the students were able to be. The trip was fantastic and opened my views about the school I could quite possibly attend.”
The two groups came together to visit the Jepson Center for the Arts, experiencing important history and connections that relate to their classes.
“My French 2 classes had studied art vocabulary and French museums in the fall, and they did a project on a French Impressionist artist,” Arno said. “Many of the artists students researched were showcased in the exhibition, so I thought it would be a fun way to bring their studies to life.”
Of particular focus was the “Monet to Matisse: Masterworks of French Impressionism” exhibition and a technology display called “Pulse” that featured unique, fun ways tech and art can merge interactively.
“Any time a French artist is featured anywhere in Georgia, I try to get my French classes there to see the culture and influence that France has all over the world,” Arno said.
Young explains how students were able to apply the information discussed during the tours to their artwork.
“The art students were able to experience other cultures through the exhibit and practice their critique skills by discussing the works with the docent,” she said.
Young and Arno both had specific hopes for what their students would gain from the trip. Arno especially wanted students to experience the curriculum she teaches in person, citing it is more memorable that way.
“I want students to, firstly, get out of the classroom to explore their state,” she said. “I believe very strongly that students do their best learning outside of the classroom. Whenever any of our regular curriculum topics show up somewhere outside of the classroom, I want to bring students to it. There is a huge difference between learning about art in the classroom and getting up close and personal with actual masterpieces. Many students have never been to a museum, so that's a new experience in the first place; they are learning how to behave in that space, but also how to appreciate art in a professional, non-classroom setting.”
Young had similar goals in bringing her students to visit SCAD and the Monet to Matisse exhibit. Many of the students have the potential for careers in the various field studies offered at the college, she said, so it was a valuable learning experience for them.
“I wanted students to utilize art vocabulary through critique, glean knowledge about historical and contemporary artists, and discover careers in the arts,” Young said. “All of these things also tie in with our curriculum.”
Students from either TCCHS Fine Arts pathway gained something from the trip.
“I learned a lot about the rich history of Savannah and the history behind some French artists and their paintings,” Kefalas said.
They also have a memory to cherish, Arno adds.
“We learned about history, French influence, art and culture, and we got to experience it on a beautiful day in the sunshine,” she said. “Students will remember field trips longer and more clearly than anything they learn from a textbook.”