Students in Mr. Clausen and Mr. Hultgren’s Honors Humanities classes visited the National Gallery for the “Beauty” unit they are studying. This week students spent the morning in the West Building, looking at classical art. Students had the freedom to explore the collection. In afternoon, Ms. Smith met them in the East Building (modern) and led a discussion of abstract art, rooted in the Barnett Newman series “Stations of the Cross” in the East Building tower. Then, students were free to explore more on their own. At the end of the unit, students will write a paper focused on one work of art from the Gallery. They must discuss the artist, the work, their reaction to the work, and then whether and why they find the work beautiful. In preparation for the trip, students read an excerpt from James Joyce’s “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” and “Very Short Introduction: Beauty” by Roger Scruton.