Last week, the Arts Department took the 7th and 8th grade students to San Francisco to visit the fabulous Contemporary Jewish Museum. They experienced some wonderfully wild art, including a rainbow room, a multi-screen video of artists recreating stolen and vanished art (from Jewish families during World War II), a family dinner table with an actual heartbeat, and other pieces that inspired, baffled, and provoked thoughtful discussion.

In our afternoon debrief, the students expressed that they were challenged to interpret the artists' intentions out of contemporary ideas using shape, color, form, and light. Still, they somehow still found a connection to their personal identity. Higher-level thinking like this is difficult, but every exposure to critical thought and interpretation is another step toward becoming educated and empathetic humans. Among the connections they felt were to family, the light in a synagogue, the sensory power of food and taste, the exuberance of colors together, and to feeling and hearing a heartbeat that would last a lifetime (ask your kids to describe the Chinese dinner table!). 

Many thanks to Cara Buchalter (CJM educator and alumni '24 mom!) and Cristina Lozano for organizing this special trip and to all the parents who took the time to take us there! You can see some photos from our day HERE. 

Trish, Cristina, Mike, and Arie
Brandeis Marin Arts Department Teachers