
Maggie Coors '25
Jan 24, 2025
Last weekend, AS: Studio Art embarked on the annual trip to New York City to engage in various media of art. The students on the trip included Xiomara Del Rosario, Renee Jin, Lilly Killinger, Yule Kwon, Katie Lee, Gaven McGuire, and Amon Yamamoto, all members of the Class of ’26. The trip was led, as always, by Director of Galleries and AS: Studio Art teacher Sydney Caretti joined by Assistant Director of Information Rainelle Dixon.
On the trip, students viewed artwork and participated in educational experiences to learn about different artistic professions and pursuits. Caretti said, “The objective of visiting and experiencing New York City, as I once did, is to inspire and open up the dream paths and possibilities that a career in the arts can be.”
The class took advantage of their short time in the city. Caretti said, “We hit the ground running in NYC, my favorite city in the world! We take in the Whitney Museum, galleries, Broadway, a working artist studio in the Bowery, performance art, musical art, live figure drawing, a flea market, views from the High Line and even higher on rooftops. We savor the sights, sounds and sometimes the smells of the city. And on this adventure, we connected with alums Ruby [Shang ’24], Ivy [Chan ’24] and Sihyeon [Bae ’24]!”
It is incredibly important in an education in the arts to have hands-on experiences and to view as much diverse artwork as possible. Caretti said, “I hope the students take in all they can to help inform their creative process and output. Living the experience is more imprinting than hearing or imagining. One can more easily render what they actually see than what they, in a limited amount of experience and knowledge, can imagine. This experience informs them to better build creative avenues of expression that are original and personal to their experiences.”
Similarly, Kwon said, “The world is full of hope and that empathy is the most important part of making shareable artwork.”
The group had an eventful return to Mercersburg when they got stuck in Harrisburg due to the recent snow storm. They were able to get back to campus the next day.
Overall, the trip was a valuable learning and bonding experience for the seven students and their chaperones.
Caretti stated, “This group became more cohesive as an organic unit. They learned to better communicate ideas and critique with comfort and shared experience. Artists who produce with limited exposure to other artists often stagnate or gas out of that bright light of inspiration.”
Kwon summed the trip up perfectly: “I found a new family in my fellow six artists in New York.”