Issue 50  September 21st 2026

Perfect Days

I just returned from what I can genuinely call one of the most perfect days I have experienced in a long time. Our NESA Visual Artists, alongside LEE High School AP Art History students, took a field trip to the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA).

Going into the day, I anticipated a wonderful outing. I expected to see their faces light up in front of the brilliant works on display, and I fully expected their jaws to drop when standing before paintings created by Diego Rivera when he was their exact age. I even anticipated the quiet, solemn gasps as they observed historical artifacts like the delicate shoe from a woman with bound feet.

What I did not expect, however, was the sheer depth of insight our students brought into every room.

I watched in awe as they debated the subtle balance between positive and negative space in ancient Greek pottery. I saw them approach modern line art with laser focus, uncovering layer upon layer of social commentary hidden within the depiction of a snail, a lion, and the moon.

Most inspiring of all was watching them step into the antiquities gallery not just as viewers, but through the eyes of future curators. They began to question the very framework of the space around them:

Is this artwork positioned to draw focus to specific details, and if so, why?

How has our modern, fast-paced digital culture shifted the way museums curate physical art for shorter attention spans?

Ultimately, is a curator’s primary role to create a haven for the art itself, or an accessible experience for the patron?

Although I have walked the halls of SAMA many times, today felt like visiting an entirely new museum. Our students didn't just look at the collection—they engaged with it, challenged it, and brought it to life.

Thank you to our dedicated faculty who organize these enriching field trips, and to our remarkable students for reminding me of the magic that happens when young artists look closely at the world. I am forever grateful to learn alongside them.