As part of Christina Gerasimovich's unit on Ancient China, her 9th grade Global History students left the classroom and went on a journey to discover first-hand one of the world's oldest collections of Chinese art and artifacts at the China Institute in Lower Manhattan.
Founded in New York City in 1926 by American educators John Dewey, Paul Monroe, and Chinese scholars Hu Shih (胡適) and Kuo Ping-Wen (郭秉文), China Institute of America is an internationally-renowned U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to deepening the world’s understanding of China through programs in art, business, cuisine, culture, and education. China Institute Gallery is one of the most highly regarded institutions for Chinese art in the U.S. that presents acclaimed thematic exhibitions of masterpieces spanning 5,000 years of China’s history, showcasing artwork rarely seen outside China.
The class went on a private, guided tour of the exhibit “China Institute Gallery at 60, 1966-2026: Selections from Three Millennia of Chinese Art." Dating from as early as 3000 BCE, the objects students examined included fine jades, rare bronze vessels, paintings, calligraphy, Buddhist sculpture, ceramics, artifacts and scholars’ objects. With the help of the tour guide and Chinese history expert, students explored the symbolism of dragons, horses, rocks, bamboo, and the use of jade in Chinese art.
After the guided tour, students created their own art. Using authentic wood blocks from China, students made wood block prints, each piece a unique interpretation of the artwork they saw in the gallery. They even made their own ink!
Ms. Gerasimovich elaborated on the connection between the trip and the curriculum. "We just learned about Buddhism, and are now learning about Ancient China. It was so impactful to see the art we have been studying right in front of us, and for so many of the ideas we have be learning about materialized in beautiful artwork from the time periods we have been talking about in class. It's magical to see the curriculum come to life in front of our eyes! Additionally, our students are so talented, so any opportunity I can engage our students in artwork is fun and heartwarming for me!"