By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
NEW YORK – The New York City art scene is dynamic, diverse and deeply influential.
Artists from every background, discipline and movement can be found there, creating a rich mix of traditional and experimental work.
Mallory Wetherell believes it’s the perfect place to take a group of young people interested in this type of career. A professor of art and design at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, she organizes a trip to the Big Apple every other year so students can explore the city and experience its famous art scene firsthand.
“I feel like this is a really important opportunity for our students, especially if they’re going to be a maker or a teacher, to broaden their understanding of art and expose them to the wider world,” Wetherell said.
A three-credit hour course, Cultural Studies Through Art is designed to be both an art history class and an unforgettable experiential learning opportunity.
UNK senior Hailey Hanneman describes it as “once in a lifetime.”
“I had so much fun,” said Hanneman, an art education major from Aurora. “I think any student, even if they’re not an art major, would enjoy this trip because we fit so much into the week we were there. Mallory Wetherell is an amazing professor and she created a really great experience for us.”
One of 17 students who signed up for the eight-day art adventure, Hanneman has a hard time identifying her favorite parts because she “loved it all.”
That being said, the Museum of Modern Art and Metropolitan Museum of Art were definite highlights. Those museums house numerous pieces from iconic artists such as Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Claude Monet, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol and Vincent van Gogh, who happens to be one of Hanneman’s all-time favorites.
“I really love how unique van Gogh’s brushstrokes are and how they work together to capture movement in his pieces,” Hanneman said. “It was fascinating to see the texture created from the impasto technique he used in person.”
Hanneman has photos of herself with “The Starry Night” and other famous pieces, which she plans to use in her future art lessons.
“I want to show those to my students so they can be like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s real.’ Because that was my reaction,” she explained. “You can look at pictures in textbooks and online, but seeing it in person was a totally different experience.”
The UNK group visited other world-renowned institutions such as the Guggenheim, Whitney Museum of American Art and American Museum of Natural History, along with smaller galleries in the Chelsea neighborhood.
Since she doesn’t utilize a tour company, Wetherell works in some “off-the-beaten-path” experiences, too. This year’s itinerary included a stop at Mercer Labs, an immersive museum that combines contemporary art with science and technology, as well as a graffiti tour in Brooklyn with a hands-on spray-painting lesson.
The UNK students also attended a Broadway show together and did some sightseeing at the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, Grand Central Station and other locations.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, located near the top of Midtown Manhattan’s tallest skyscraper, was another highlight for Hanneman. That attraction features interactive art exhibits, innovative technology and stunning views of New York City from glass ledges suspended more than 1,000 feet above Madison Avenue.
“Heights are not my favorite. I found that out,” Hanneman said with a laugh.
During her free time, Hanneman saw a second Broadway show with a smaller group of UNK students and stopped by the Museum of Ice Cream, a Brooklyn flea market and other sites.
“These are memories that will last a lifetime,” she said. “If I had gone to New York City on my own, I definitely wouldn’t have done as many things as we did. Plus, I made some new friends along the way.”
Wetherell led group discussions and lectures throughout the trip, sharing information with the students and challenging them to think about art in new ways. Instead of creating a quiz or assigning a paper, she gave each participant a sketchbook and a dozen prompts, allowing them to share their thoughts and reactions through a combination of writing and visual imagery.
“More than anything, this class is about the actual experience,” Wetherell said. “Because of this trip, I’ve had so many students who have felt more comfortable to then go to Denver to see an art show or travel to Chicago on their own. I’ve even had students who’ve taken this class and moved to New York.
“They come back with the confidence to pursue new opportunities and new ideas.”
