Recently, on the gifted field trip, we were able to
experience various forms of art. Our first stop on the trip was The Fox Theater
of performing arts. We were given an expert performance of the Mighty Wurlitzer
Theatre Pipe Organ and an explanation of its many uses and detailed history.
After hearing the Webster fight song played on the organ (which replaced the
sounds of every band instrument by itself!), we took a tour of the entire
building. We saw everything from the very top balcony seats down to the stage,
the signatures from past performances to the dressing rooms, and the ornate
restrooms to the exclusive members’ dining club.
After the extensive tour, we got back on the buses and
headed for Laumeier Sculpture Part. It was a little chilly, but we could still
enjoy an outdoor picnic lunch followed by a tour of the part. We experienced
different forms of physical art from a multitude of artists. Also, we explored
the ideas of functionality versus looks and the varying balances of these ideas
in different pieces of art. “The Way,” one of the most popular sculptures in
the park, is more for the looks and less for functionality, while some of the
other sculptures served as pavilions or chairs (they’re more on the functional
side). Overall, we had an exciting trip on which we were able to explore and admire art. It was a pleasant escape from the everyday classroom setting that still involved critical thinking and acquiring some artistic knowledge!
