On the last day of week one, we started our adventures with a visit to the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. What once began as a humble collection in a science building is now a well-established home for some of today’s greatest contemporary art. Those at the museum have made it their mission to promote intellectual discourse along with knowledge and awareness amongst the community through an innovative approach to the discussion of art. We focused our attention on the work of Nina Chanel Abney whose energetic, large-scale canvases taught us important lessons on politics, race, homophobia, inequity, and how such topics are handled in our current society. After soaking in as much as we could from Abney’s lively narratives we moved on to the Liberty Arts Studio to learn about different sculpture and metal casting techniques. This sculpture studio and foundry has dedicated its time to providing the space and means for in-studio artists as well as the community at large to be inspired, empowered and educated. We finished off our day with a stunning glass blowing demonstration. Overall our first week of adventures was filled with inspiring speakers and diverse demonstration of artistic creativity across many different media. On to week two and the chance to make some of our own art!!
Students watch in awe as a balloon is made from solid glass: Glass Blowing