Iconic Works Come to Life for Ramblers on AP Art History Field Trip

4/30/2025

On Friday, April 25, 65 AP Art History students in the Dumbach Scholars Honors Program traveled downtown to view collections at Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA) and the Art Institute of Chicago. This field trip allowed students to experience some of the iconic works of art they have been studying in class firsthand and apply the analytical skills they have developed. The trip also served as a review opportunity for students ahead of their AP test.

The group started their day at LUMA. Before the field trip, students researched works in LUMA's Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque collections and prepared presentations to share in small groups before venturing off to view these works for themselves.

Their second stop was the Art Institute of Chicago, where they explored art from around the globe in the Europe, Asia, Americas, and Africa Galleries as well as the Modern Wing. Throughout the school year, students became familiar with styles of different artists and periods, which helped them identify where and when a work was made, and by whom.

AP Art History is a required course in the Dumbach Scholars Honors Program, an enrichment program designed to enhance the curriculum of Loyola's most gifted and motivated students. For more information, contact Dumbach Scholars Program Director and AP Art History Teacher Lesley Shifrin at lshifrin@loy.org.

Rambler Reflections:

"The field trip on Friday really showed me how much I've learned throughout the year. I saw firsthand how easily I could apply what I’ve learned in class to real-world situations. At the Art Institute specifically, I viewed works I had seen on past trips in a new light. I was able to analyze and think about art in a deeper way. It was incredibly rewarding to recognize how much I've grown in my knowledge since the beginning of the year. I loved being able to make connections between what I saw and what I've studied. My favorite part of the day was recognizing artists by their distinctive styles with just one look at a piece. I also loved identifying the era each work came from. Seeing art from so many different time periods—and reflecting on how it has evolved—was fascinating. Overall, this trip to the Art Institute really helped me realize how much I enjoy and appreciate what I’ve learned this year." — Piper Dorsten '27

"This Dumbach/APAH field trip was deeply meaningful and valuable to me. Being immersed in the art I've studied and enjoyed through a screen brought the class to life in a profound way. I was especially grateful to visit LUMA—it felt like a more personal and intimate experience. Religious works make up a significant part of our course content, and they carry even more meaning when viewed in the context of our Jesuit institution. Standing face-to-face with pieces that connect both to our faith and to what we've studied throughout the year put everything into perspective. The art came to life, and the meanings we learned from textbooks became something I could truly recognize and feel.

Later at the Art Institute, the experience continued to be powerful. I've visited the museum many times growing up, but this time was different—the art felt alive. Styles, periods, and artists I now know captured my attention. Information I once thought of as facts to memorize had become tools to help me understand and enjoy the artwork around me. I'll admit, I used to find art museums boring and intimidating, but now I was overwhelmed with curiosity and excitement.

If I had to sum up my experience, it would be this: the trip transformed my classroom knowledge into a real encounter with history, emotion, and faith. Art became something I could engage with, interpret, and enjoy—and my only disappointment was that there wasn’t more time." — Henry Lemmon '26

"On Friday, I had the chance to visit LUMA and the Art Institute of Chicago with my AP Art History class. LUMA was really interesting to see—especially since I had never been there before—and we each got to present artworks we studied in preparation. Part of our assignment was to sketch a piece, which gave me a whole new appreciation for the talent and patience these artists had.

The Art Institute was such a fun experience. I loved seeing works we had talked about in class—recognizing artists we studied and getting to look closely at the techniques in real life. There's just something about seeing the art in person that makes it all so memorable for me and my friends. It's the kind of experience that doesn't get old, especially with so much to see and learn.

One of my favorite parts was exploring the Modern Wing and the Arts of Europe sections. Our class got so excited over works by Monet, Turner, Duchamp, and many others. Recognizing our favorite artists or seeing something that connects directly to what we've learned makes the trip feel so worthwhile." — Lilla Prosko '27

"The trip was an awesome experience—it was so cool to see my knowledge of art history and the artists we've studied come to life outside the classroom. LUMA's collection of religious art was especially interesting because it paralleled scenes we've seen in class, like The Lamentation.

The Art Institute was a lot of fun too, especially because so many works were connected to the artists and styles we've learned about all the way back to the first semester. One of the coolest moments was seeing a work I had never seen before and being able to recognize the artist without even reading the plaque, just by noticing their signature style.

Overall, the trip was so much fun, and I loved getting to see what I've learned throughout the year in a real-life context." — Santi Rodriguez '27

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Iconic Works Come to Life for Ramblers on AP Art History Field Trip

Loyola Academy