Holy Ghost Prep’s annual senior portfolio trip to The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMA) took place on November 16.

The first stop on the New York museum tour to MoMA took Holy Ghost students up close to some the art world’s most iconic works, including van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” and Picasso’s “”Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.” The seniors all agreed that the Monet “Waterlilies” was breathtaking. The museum educator engaged the students by inviting comments and questions. As they sat near certain works, the HGP students did thumbnail sketches to help them better understand the artist’s intentions.

The tour at the MMA is different. This museum, founded in 1870 “to rival the great museums of Europe,” is a 17-acre, encyclopedic museum. The enormous collection encompasses everything from pre-historic art to contemporary pieces. The docents led the HGP students through discussions as they saw a wide range of works from all countries and time periods.

The seniors were given some free time to tour at each museum. The group this year went to Bill’s Burgers on 51st Street for a fun and delicious lunch.

“It was great experience to see such important art works. The tours also provided inspiration for our own pieces,” said Graham Gibbs ’18

Art teacher Karen Smallen and her husband David accompanied the students. HGP senior portfolio students have been going on the New York City museum trip with Mrs. Smallen for over two decades.