The fourteen Department of Art students enrolled in Dr. Erin Peters’ ARH 4030 capstone class traveled to New York City for experiential learning and professional development October 30 - November 2, 2025 with support from the College Art Association’s Art History Travel Fund.
The primary purpose of this field trip was to view temporary exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. Temporary exhibitions were the focus because Peters secured a competitive grant from the College Art Association’s Art History Travel Fund, which “awards up to $10,000 to eligible undergraduate and graduate art history classes to cover travel, accommodations, and admission fees for students and instructors to attend museum exhibitions.” In addition to departmental support, grant applications were evaluated in three categories: (1) the course description and syllabus; (2) the course instructor’s expertise; and (3) the planned itinerary. Peters’ successful proposal connected local and global materials and resources for students – the main goal was for students to see themselves as part of arts professions in Western North Carolina and in large international cities, like New York.
Peters designed class material around rich opportunities at App, including seeing and learning about the development of the Department of Art Fall 2025 Alumni Exhibition as the inaugural exhibition in the new Cathy P. Walling Gallery in the recently renovated Wey Hall and the exhibitions and collections work of the Looking Glass Gallery in Plemmons Student Union. Additional opportunities revolved around App’s connections and collections about nearby Black Mountain College in preparation for students to see Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective at MoMA. Asawa was a major figure at BMC and was a student there from 1945-1949. Along with readings and videos about Asawa and BMC, students engaged with App Library online materials, like the online exhibit, Black Mountain College: Innovation in Arts, Education, and Lifestyle. This online content was complemented with a visit to the Special Collections Research Center to look at archival materials from the Arts at Black Mountain College collection with Hannah Helmey, Public Services Lecturer Librarian. Students also talked over Zoom with Kira Houston, the Outreach Manager at Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, prior to visiting the exhibition.
While in New York, students also experienced Divine Egypt at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is on view from October 12 - January 19, 2026. Following the exhibition, students spoke with museum professionals about their work. Students first met with Brett Renfer (Senior Project Manager, Emerging Technology) and Emma Vecchione (Producer, Audio and Video) to discuss projects utilizing emerging technologies. These projects included the soon-to-be-released Virtual Reality experience about the temple of Dendur for which Peters consulted on research and writing and performed the voice narration. Peters’ involvement in this digital project resulted from long-term collaborations with the Department of Egyptian Art and Digital Department since being a fellow in 2013-2014. From these connections, students met with Diana Craig Patch (Curator in Charge of the Department of Egyptian Art and one of the principal organizers of Divine Egypt) to connect their experiences in the exhibition with one of the primary professionals responsible for its conception and completion. Students also had time on their own and chose to see more of the Met and MoMA, attend Broadway plays, frequent numerous designer and vintage stores, and visit additional museums and galleries. ARH 4030’s New York trip was transformative for everyone involved and a testament to experiential learning and being present and active in the world.
Students in the class:
Jasper Allman
Bobby Carter
Hannah Castro
Cardin Collins
Isabelle Guirguis
Emma Hancock
Olivia Long
Hannah Martin
Ethan Olsen
Andrew Reagan
Cate Russell
Joseph Spurlin
Claire Varino
Briana Wise
About the Department of Art
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Art at Appalachian State University prepares students to explore art, identity, expression and creative problem-solving while challenging them to go beyond their previous limits by discovering new connections to culture. The department offers degrees in art and visual culture, art education, graphic design, studio art, photography and graphic communications management, with minors in art history, studio art, photography and graphic communications management. Learn more at https://art.appstate.edu.
About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance.
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,795 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
Erin Peters F25 NYC thumbnail
Erin Peters F25 NYC thumbnail