Post Oak “Back-to-School” Museum Visits

Students and teachers at The Post Oak High School love to take advantage of the museums surrounding their campus, located in Houston’s Museum District. On the afternoon of August 17, just the second day of school, the high schoolers and faculty ventured off-campus to explore the MFAH and the Asia Society’s exhibits. This activity gave new and returning students the chance to reunite and get to know each other, while having a common thing to complain about - the heat. While the walks to, from, and between, the museums were sweltering, the exhibits were worth it. 

Once indoors at MFAH, students explored the museum in small groups. These self-guided tours excited the students. They whispered quietly but enthusiastically to each other about their summers, while walking through rooms of paintings, sculptures, and photography. 

At the Asia Society, students met with three of the four artists who were working on their exhibits. One was Naomi Kuo, who was weaving quilts that symbolized her Taiwanese ancestry out of recycled plastic. She was also designing shapes with old tangerine cartons, and other things she thought were “Asian.”

Another artist, Alexis Pye, shared how her exhibit would represent Black people in a non-stereotypical way. A third artist, Tatiana Escallón, explained how her art was inspired by Colombia, her home country, and marked with hidden poems and designs.

Farima Fooladi, an artist from Tehran, spoke to the group about her works, where she paints pools, landscapes, and architectural aspects that combine in unique ways. She explained that these works merged her memories of Tehran to her experiences in America. 

They also explored the Asia Society’s newest permanent collection, “Explore Asia!” The interactive exhibit taught students about aspects of China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. Students and teachers alike enjoyed the experience of exploring different cultures together. They had fun creating digital multicultural meals and menus, and were also captivated by a bullet train simulation. 

Museum visits allow students to freely wander, and see what they find interesting. These kinds of off-campus experiences are key to giving students a sense of understanding and connection with the world of identities around them.