Last Friday, sixth graders students traveled to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, or MassMOCA, for a day of observation, documentation, and creative inquiry. Throughout the museum, students explored how contemporary artists use light, sound, scale, movement, and immersive environments to shape experience and tell stories.
During the visit, students practiced photography techniques with Canon DSLR cameras, learning how framing, perspective, lighting, and composition can influence how artwork is documented and interpreted. They also discussed the unique challenges of photographing contemporary installations, including works that shift through light, reflection, or sensory experience.
The trip encouraged students to slow down, notice details, and think critically about how art can communicate ideas beyond traditional materials or formats.
From large-scale installations to interactive spaces, students engaged deeply with the museum environment while building both technical skills and visual literacy. Some students were able to learn about and experience the artwork with artist Alison Pebworth as she worked on her exhibition, Cultural Apothecary. While some groups were lucky enough to be served tea by Alison, others interacted with her as she stitched pieces of paper onto a large heart, which is a central element of the exhibit.
Experiences like this support our curricular focus on documentation as a creative practice, helping students observe carefully, reflect thoughtfully, and communicate their ideas through multiple forms of media. The unique ways in which different artistic disciplines, including theater, music, woodworking, innovation arts, and visual art, are represented across the myriad works at MASS MoCA align with BDS’s overall arts program, making it a fabulous learning destination!
– Brittany Conroy, innovation coach
