by Deepika Azariah

This past Sunday, Mr. Wayne Turgeon took his Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ freshman class on a field trip to the Oklahoma Museum of Art. An exhibition of Roman Art from the Louvre at the museum is on its third and final stop in America.The freshman class—along with Mr. Turgeon, two juniors, one graduate and one local teen—spent over three hours studying 184 artifacts of Roman life and culture which included full-sized sculptures, jewelry, mosaics, maps, manuscripts, timelines and more. Two online students, Aunt Bonnie & Granny Pat, drove all the way from Texas to be a part of this class trip. They were welcomed enthusiastically by the college students and left with plenty of hugs.

Inside the museum, Mr. Turgeon took notes on various exhibits and later quizzed the students on some of what they had learned. The Roman art from the Louvre featured exhibits from the early first century B.C. to the sixth century A.D. It explored Roman life through the prism of religion, urbanism, war, imperial expansion, funerary practices, intellectual life, and family.

Holding our breath under a sea of glass

Unfortunately photography inside the museum was prohibited, except for in the modern art section, where some students took a few pictures as memoirs of their field trip. The bottom photographs are courtesy of freshman Danielle Nance.

Visiting the museum was interesting as well as educational. We students learned a lot about Roman life and culture, which helped bring the Life and Teachings class alive. Maybe you’re taking a class in college or school that might benefit from a visit to the museum. Keep it in mind. Watch  for traveling exhibitions, museums and art galleries that can enrich your life. Last year at the Feast of Tabernacles I chanced upon an exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls in a brochure! So don’t forget to check the newspaper, on the Internet, or in flyers or with your friends. If you say things like, “I’m so bored!” try visiting an exhibition and you’ll realize how inspiring and educational it can be.

Colorful glass bowls

Part of the modern art exhibit