Art! Theater! Pizza! SIC art students explore Chicago

The Southeastern Illinois College Art Club traveled to the Windy City this month for some exciting cultural experiences.

Staying at a downtown hotel, four students and instructor Sara DeNeal visited the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower, each some Chicago-style deep dish pizza, spend a day at the Art Institute of Chicago, and take in a show at the Cadillac Palace Theater.

Art student Tristen Bolin of Harrisburg was inspired by the trip.

"I loved the art museum just seeing works in person that you have seen in books or pictures for such a long time," he said. "It was very inspirational and it gave me an even bigger drive to keep being an artist."

A highlight of the Chicago trip for the students was attending a matinee of "Aladdin the Musical," which is on a national tour from Broadway in New York.

Art director Sara DeNeal said her favorite part of being an instructor is helping students discover what the world has to offer by taking trips such as this one.

"By taking students to Chicago, I am able to share in their new experiences and help them shape their sense of self," said DeNeal. "I love watching them discover paintings and sculptures they've only ever seen in textbooks or on the internet. The discovery of the brush stroke or chisel mark on real artwork is worth the trip every time."

To learn more about the visual art program or art Club at SIC, call Sara DeNeal at 252-5400 ext. 2232.