Exploring Local Art and Inspiration
This summer, our ARTS 4 Justice program is excited to introduce a series of Summer Field Trips for our Juvenile Court and Community Schools cohort. These field trips are not just visits, but diverse learning experiences at local cultural and natural attractions. They aim to inspire creativity, expose students to diverse environments and artistic spaces, and promote healthy living. We have already completed four trips and have one more planned for next week.
Check out some of our highlights:
San Diego County Fair
Our first field trip took us to the San Diego County Fair, where two of our talented students had the incredible opportunity to see their own artwork displayed. This visit gave the students a chance to explore community artwork, check out woodworking demonstrations, and live sketch farm animals. Each student received a sketchbook in which they could document their memories, journal their feelings, create collages, and sketch what they saw or felt inspired by.
Museum of Contemporary Art - La Jolla
Next, we visited the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla with eight students. This trip focused on introducing contemporary art concepts and encouraging students to sketch their surroundings at the beautiful La Jolla Cove. The museum's diverse exhibits sparked creativity and curiosity, while the serene cove provided a perfect backdrop for reflection and artistic expression.
Tijuana Estuary
Our next field trip was to visit the Tijuana Estuary, where eight students participated in a mindfulness-focused excursion. This trip included a nature walk, meditation sessions, and watercolor painting activities. The tranquil environment of the estuary offered a peaceful setting for students to connect with nature, practice mindfulness, and explore their artistic talents through watercolor painting. While visiting the estuary, we checked in on our "Communitree I" piece, a project led by ARTS Teaching Artist Rob Tobin over ten years ago.
WNDR
Earlier this week, we had the incredible opportunity to accompany a group of 10 JCCS students to the WNDR Museum in Downtown San Diego. This captivating field trip exposed the students to the fascinating world of installation art, where they had the chance to explore 20 larger-than-life immersive art experiences. Each exhibit showcased the vast conceptions and boundless creative possibilities that the students can explore through art.
Up Next: Birch Aquarium
Our final field trip will take 12 students to the Birch Aquarium, where they will learn about and appreciate the diverse marine life along our coast. This visit aims to encourage a deeper connection with the natural world and inspire students to consider the relationship between art and the environment.
Throughout these field trips, each student's sketchbook serves as a personal canvas for creativity, reflection, and growth. By providing these opportunities, we not only encourage our students to explore the world around them and express their feelings through art but also significantly contribute to their artistic development. This trial series of field trips previews more of what's to come for our ARTS 4 Justice programming. We are excited to get outside and explore all that San Diego County has to offer with this talented group of students, but these field trips are more than just outings; they are a journey of discovery, inspiration, and profound artistic development for these young artists.
