College News

Art Students Visit New York

Forty art students from QE recently returned from a study visit to a very frozen New York where they researched ideas for their art and design coursework. Whilst there, the students recorded the city through drawing and photography and observed the work of many artists and designers to assist with the development of their own work.

Despite delays to flights due to bad weather, the group arrived in time to travel to the top of a very atmospheric Empire State Building surrounded in mist and fog. The students visited other famous landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Times Square and Central Park with the wintery conditions adding to the experience. They also went to Wall Street and the World Trade Centre site where there was notably a more sombre mood as they remembered the victims of the 9/11 attacks on New York.

Visiting galleries such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Fashion Institute of Technology provided a wealth of information for students. The exhibitions allowed them to get up close to record the work that they had only seen in books and on the internet. Highlights included “Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs”, “Yves Saint Laurent & Halston: Fashion the 70’s” and “Cubism”. In addition, they were lucky enough to catch sightings of actors Hugh Grant and Colin Firth!

The trip was an exciting and stimulating learning experience which was very much appreciated by students. Student, Sophie Gowling, said:

“It was a fantastic opportunity to experience the culture – it’s a world away from looking at photos to actually being a part of the city.”

Livy Thompson added:

“I really gravitated towards the raw grittiness of the city. I found myself infatuated with the graffiti that danced around the walls, aligned with thought- provoking words that were beautifully exposed, allowing the people of New York to stop and listen.”

Art teacher, Sarah Steel, concluded:

“The study visit was a valuable, vibrant and visual experience and one that will greatly influence the students’ creative studies. They will remember it for the rest of their lives.”