The beginning of a new semester at Seton Hill University (SHU) is on its way, bringing with it plenty of awaiting homework assignments and projects bound to need some research. Decrease your worries though, because there are plenty of areas an hour’s drive or less from SHU from which you can draw inspiration or seek out a day’s fun at. All you need is transportation or tickets (if applicable) and an interest to learn something new.
Maddie Gillespie
Editor-in-chief
The beginning of a new semester at Seton Hill University (SHU) is on its way, bringing with it plenty of awaiting homework assignments and projects bound to need some research. Decrease your worries though, because there are plenty of areas an hour’s drive or less from SHU from which you can draw inspiration or seek out a day’s fun at. All you need is transportation or tickets (if applicable) and an interest to learn something new.
Timothy Esaias, an adjunct instructor of English, required his Publication Workshop students to visit various locations both on and off campus in order to expose his students to “target-rich environments where things can stimulate you. Museums are loaded with a variety of items you can look at or comment on,” said Esaias.
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art (WMAA) is the closest place to start. It is within walking and biking distance of campus on a good weather day, or a short drive by car.
Christina Woller, a sophomore, said, “I think the thing I like the most about the WMAA is the people. They are so nice and welcoming and will help you with anything. The museum has really great paintings and is free for students, too. It also has a lot to offer from their traveling exhibitions. What I mean is, for a small museum, they have a lot going for them.”
However, if you have a creative project that needs more variety or want to combine a day of learning with some shopping and hanging with friends in the city, take a day trip into Pittsburgh. You can drive or catch a busline into Pittsburgh. You can also drive part of the way to a “park and ride lot,” where you can park your car and ride the bus into and out of Pittsburgh. The three Carnegie museums and Science Center of Pittsburgh are approximately 45 minutes from SHU, but be sure to estimate higher if planning your visit during rush hour traffic.
Christine Scholl, a junior, said “Out of all the Carnegie museums, I can say that my favorite is the combination of the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History. Being able to see some of my favorite artists and their works, and because I have a lifelong love of dinosaurs and archeology/anthropology, basically makes that museum one of my favorite places.”
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is the place to go for studying humanity’s impact on ecosystems, analyzing how humans and various animal species have developed throughout the centuries, and taking a walk amongst the dinosaurs. The Museum of Natural History also carefully details how ancient civilizations lived. Students interested in numerous areas of history will find a plethora of interesting subjects useful for future projects, papers and more.
Molly Huffman, a senior, said, “I have been to couple of openings [at the Carnegie Museum of Art] for the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh and they also have an Art Students’ Night when admission is free. I know some people, including [assistant professor of Art] Carol Brode, who have had work exhibited there. I think they have some great shows and an extensive perminate collection. I strongly recommend Art Students’ Night to anyone and everyone.”
Any student with a penchant for art has a unique opportunity afforded by the Carnegie Museum of Art that according to their website “offers a distinguished collection of contemporary art that includes film and video works.” The permanent collections of both contemporary and historical work include the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Galleries, the Heinz Architectural Center, the Hall of Sculpture, and the Hall of Architecture.
Although the Carnegie Science Center is mainly aimed at making science understandable and interesting to children, there are still a few cool exhibits to check out. The Highmark SportsWorks portion of the Carnegie Science Center offers athletes and students in related medical fields the ability to “discover the physics of sports, nutrition and health,” according to the Science Center’s website. The Buhl Digital Planetarium brings stars, planets, nebulas and more to you up close and personal. Music enthusiasts may be especially eager to gain a look and listen at the planetarium’s laser shows on Friday and Saturday nights that feature “brilliant colors and rockin’ music.”
Alex Riggenbach, a sophomore, said, “I’ve been to all of the Carnegie museums in Pittsburgh, but my favorite is the science center because it’s very interactive and engaging.”
Students in the computer science or technology fields may also want to stop in at the Science Center’s RoboWorld to learn how “’bots sense, think, and act as you rove the largest and most comprehensive robotics exhibition in the world!” And any cinematic buff or future creative film makers who are seeking a thrill while maybe picking up a few tips should be sure to check out the Science Center’s Rangos Omnimax theater that “puts you in the center of the action” more than any other movie theater.
Andy Warhol fans and students curious about both the evolution of and art of the popular culture era will be captivated by the Carnegie Andy Warhol Museum. The museum showcases various exhibitions of past and contemporary artists’ work in addition to permanent galleries displaying Warhol’s pop art, film, death and disaster paintings and portraits.
Currently, the Andy Warhol Museum has 273 of Warhol’s films, over 4,000 of Warhol’s works in various media, and maintains an archive of Warhol’s works. According to the museum’s website, the museum’s archives is provided for the “general public and scholars and is the primary resource on the artist and the period during which he worked. It is both an exhibition space and a place for study.”
In the event that students are interested in architecture or simply would like to visit two of Pennsylvania’s most famous and unique architectural wonders, gather a group of friends and go to Falling Water or Kentuck Knob. Both of these houses were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and are approximately an hour away from SHU.
Greta Carroll, a senior, said, “I love Falling Water and Kentuck Knob! I visited Falling Water for the first time when I was about ten with my family, then I went on a field trip there in sixth grade. I also went in high school twice with two different classes and the summer after I graduated from high school.”
Tickets are required for the various tours at each location, but you can make a full day of it due to both homes being only seven miles from each other. Falling Water, built in the 1930s, and Kentuck Knob, built in the 1950s, are fascinating masterpieces of architecture that should be visited by those able at least once in their lifetime.
If you are more interested in contemporary art shown on a large scale, then the Mattress Factory Museum is a unique and engaging place to look. According to the museum’s website, “The Mattress Factory encourages all viewers, regardless of their background, to discover connections between art, creativity and their everyday lives.”
Angela Palumbo, a junior, said, “Seton Hill doesn’t really promote knowledge about all of these museums or centers. I had never really thought of it before, but they should make a bigger deal of that. Like they have the Monroeville Mall and Westmoreland Mall trips, they could have trips to these places.”
When asked why he thought students were not always encouraged to visit locations and museums off campus more often, Esaias said, “Some instructors do it, but I don’t see enough of it. Often it’s thought that the entire class has to go somewhere on a field trip, so it becomes more complicated.”
“The Mattress Factory was amazing. I don’t think it’s Carnegie, but it’s right down the street from the Carnegie Museum of Andy Warhol and it has so many interesting pieces that you could spend all day there.”
Some of The Mattress Factory’s permanent exhibitions feature works by William Anastasi, Jene Highstein, Rolf Julius, Yayoi Kusama, Winifred Lutz, Allan Wexler and Bill Woodrow.