Megan Lewis

The closest I had ever come to being in Philadelphia was going to the airport. So when i found out that the art department was holding a trip to go I jumped at the chance. I was especially excited to see the art galleries. Having been to the MOMA in New York just this past summer I was curious to see how the galleries and museums in Philadelphia would compare.

When the bus pulled up in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art I was completely in awe. It was absolutely beautiful. The steps, pillars, and outside sculptures were amazing, and the inside was even better. As I walked across the marble foyer and up the stone stairway I could only imagine what kind of treasures awaited my eyes. The museum was everything i expected and more. Every room held beautiful, inspiring works of art. Even though I was captivated by the whole experience, one particular work really moved me.

Walking around the second floor exhibits I was looking everywhere at once waiting to see what things caught my eye next and then I turned a random corner and fell in love with "Spring". The painted glass seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. It was amazing and seemed so pure. I was absolutely enraptured by it. It was one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen.

Though "Spring" was the most moving piece in the museum for me there were definitely other exhibits that were very entertaining. Some of my favorite exhibits were the Asian village replica, the Hindu sculptures, the stone carvings, and the medieval weaponry and armor. These three exhibits really captured my attention. They were extremely interesting and fun to peruse.

The Asian village replica was life size, which made it able for people to walk through. It had a cobblestone walkway, replicated native plants, and stone decorations. It also had a shrine inside one of the houses dedicated to one of the Hindu gods. Some of the areas were roped off though and i would have liked to get closer and look around more. It was a really cool replica to look at and walk around in.

The Hindu sculptures were a lot of fun because they were so intricate. Most of them had multiple appendages such as arms which was interesting to look at. They also had intricate headdresses and jewelry. Some of them even had animal-like qualities and features. They were really different but unique sculptures.

The medieval exhibit was really fun to look at. All of the weapons and armor were barbaric and awesome. I had read about such weapons in stories and history but to see it in person is a different experience all together. My favorite part were the different swords. Some had designs on them and others were so big it looked like no one would be able to pick them up. Overall though the Entire collection was really great to look at.

Even when I was leaving the museum there were still great things to see. Right outside the museum there was a fantastic fountain, and right above it was a sculpture of Greek god's and goddesses. The steps leading up to the entrance were covered with chalk drawings, and the view from the top of the steps into downtown Philadelphia was amazing.

Another gallery that I visited while in Philadelphia was the Moore College of Art and Design Public Gallery. There were some really interesting pieces in the gallery. For example there was a display of larger than life shoes decorating the one hallway, in which alumni from the college had decorated. The display that caught my eye the most though was the photos of African American children that were colored white in some parts. The artists goal in this exercise was to have students draw themselves as if they were another race. I thought that this exhibit was really controversial, but beautiful as well. It made me really think about the children in the photos and what they must think about race by their pictures.

Overall the trip to Philadelphia was amazing. I had a great time, and loved all of the museums and galleries I got to experience. It was fun just walking around and taking in all of the different places. Even though I was exhausted at the end of the day I was glad that I got to go to such a fantastic city and experience all it had to offer.