Did you know that the studiolo housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art was originally the self-representation of Francesco I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany? Bruriah High School’s new culture club learned that fascinating fact, as well as many more, throughout its Sunday immersion trip into art history, utilizing Manhattan as the classroom. The journey began with a lunch sponsored by Touro College at its Lander College for Women building, which was followed by an enlightening lecture by Touro art history professor, Dr. Balakirsky-Katz, on the history of some pieces housed in the Met, as well as the museum’s historical significance and evolution. The club’s next stop was to the Met, where they met with Nancy Edelman, current head of humanities at The Idea School, for a personalized tour of the museum. Learning from Edelman’s wellspring of knowledge on the pieces she had formerly taught in AP art history, the students experienced the wood-paneled illusion studiolo they had learned about with Dr. Balakirsky-Katz, studied the evolution of Monet’s technique throughout his career, and learned of the Kongo people’s belief in their healing “Power Figure,” a wooden statue into which a nail was stuck for any malady within the community. Ending the day by exiting down the Met’s iconic steps, Bruriah’s culture club walked away from the wonderful day with a greater appreciation and understanding of art and art history, as well as strong demand for more cultural events, which will be coming soon!

By Elisheva Hirsch (‘19)