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LONG BRANCH, NJ 07740.
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CONTACT: Sharon Villapiano, Director of Marketing/Public Relations, 732-996-7972
Students Gain Different Perspective of Art & History at Metropolitan Museum Tour & Workshop
LONG BRANCH, October 15 – Students at The Seashore School got a lot more than they expected on a
class trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art October 14. While fifth through seventh graders knew
they would look at masterpieces, what they never anticipated was coming away with a deeper
understanding of history and how milestone events through the ages have been depicted through art.
During a tour with docent Amy Churgin, the group learned the historical backstory behind Rodin’s
The Burghers of Calais, why Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui called his masterpiece Between Heaven and
Earth, why boys wore dresses in Renior’s paintings and a myriad of other facts.
Stopping at Renoir’s Madam Georges Charpentier and Her Children, Churgin challenged the group to
tell her if they saw two young girls in the famous painting and was taken by surprise with Matt
Pearsall-Vaughn’s quick reponse.
“There is a boy and a girl,” Pearsall-Vaughn said. “Boys wore dresses back then and I can tell the
children apart by the heel on their shoes… the girl is the one with the higher heel,” the seventh grader
explained.
Students also found out that bottle caps could be used to make masterpieces while analyzing
Anatsui’s aluminum and copper wire sculpture and then discussed at length the concept of what
makes a hero while looking at The Burghers of Calais.
They also looked at PS2015, an exhibit done by New York City children and saw work produced by
students their age or younger.
According to Seashore art teacher Sharon Pacera, the trip was arranged as part of a new sculpture
elective the school is currently offering and to prepare students for a class on Pointillism coming next
marking period.
“We wanted to give students a chance to see the artwork we have discussed in the classroom
firsthand, learn about impressionism and find out that sculptures can be made from many types of
materials,” Pacera said. “The added benefit was the group came away with a great deal of knowledge
about history.”
In addition, Seashore students took a Think Like An Artist Workshop in the Uris Studio with
instructor Barbara Woods, who encouraged them to use their imaginations to create unique
sculptures with every day materials such as wood, wires, foam, pipecleaners and sticks.
“Any time students actually do something, they remember it better than just from taking a tour,”
Woods said. “Creating a sculpture of your own to take home is something you will never forget.”
At the end of the trip, students were given a pass to come back to further explore the Met with
their families.
“The Metropolitan Museum of Art Trip was one on many field trips Seashore students will take this
year to enhance classroom learning,” Principal John Villapiano said. “Trips like this help students
better retain information and make learning more interesting.”
The Seashore School, which opened in 1974, is designed for families who want a smaller class size
and more progressive curriculum than their town offers, at an affordable tuition. From preschool-
eighth grade, the curriculum includes advanced foreign language, computers, science and swim
lessons, along with training in dance, music, drama and art. The approach to education is so successful
that students win academic competitions, score in the top percentile in standard exams, are
recognized nationally for achievement and typically gain acceptance into the high schools of their
choice. For more information, please call 732-222-6464 or visit www.seashorecampandschool.com
Caption: Seashore students found out why boys wore dresses in Renoir’s paintings, that scupture can
be made of a variety of every day materials and what constitutes a hero in Rodin’s famous lifesize
masterpiece The Burghers of Calais during a tour workshop at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
October 24.