For my academic workshop, I chose to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum contains new exhibits including World War I, a picture gallery, and a new fashion collection, all of which were interesting. This trip helped me to complete two assignments, but more so allowed me to enjoy new works of art, and taught me a bigger lesson.
An extra credit assignment for history required me to critique three pieces in the World War I exhibition, and I chose to complete my blog post by critiquing Talking Pictures: Camera-Phone Conversations Between Artists. This exhibit is a picture gallery made by 12 different artists, who were asked by the MET, to communicate with another artist for five months via pictures or videos. The room is white with two text bubbles on one wall as you enter. Pictures were printed and hung up on the wall, although no distinguishable pattern emerged. Even with a short time frame, the many artists coming together told a complete story. Unsurprisingly, the lives of a collective group of people even over a short time was fascinating and beautiful. From two people being pregnant and giving birth in the same month, demonstrated through pictures of their newborns, to protests activist groups, an unintentional but provoking theme emerges; life may move too fast.
This assignment helped me to complete two projects and will influence future papers, but it left a stronger and more meaningful impact on my college career as a whole. Seeing these images of people moving through their daily life made me realize I need to slow down and appreciate what I have. I must, and we should all, take the time to create lasting memories, rather than losing special moments to the routine of life. This activity helps me in my first semester at Baruch by allowing me to enjoy my college experience over chasing my career goals. Lastly, this activity helped me to value in each day, and see the importance of enjoying school.