The Kawsay Ukhunchay: Andean and Amazonian Collection Open House allowed my students to reflect on their formal and informal educational experiences with Indigenous cultures. The students observed a weaving demonstration, listened to student curators, and engaged with various objects through a tactile learning experience. The collaborative Amaru chalk drawing gave the students the opportunity to fill in the body of the Amaru with their personal designs. The Open House achieved its goal of providing an immersive experience for all who attended, from academic novices to experts in this area of study.

ARTEDU 236701. Visual Culture: Investigating Social Justice & Diversity

Student Feedback:

This tour was significantly more interactive, while the other ones have had some hands-on activity, we rarely get to hold the objects. Most institutions are white gloved institutions. I think being so interactive and having the workshops worked really well. -Yadira Mendez

The display cases in the main area were incredibly unique in how the shapes and lines flowed between them carrying the ideas throughout all the artifacts. I especially enjoyed the mirrors in the bottom of the water case reflecting the sky like wallpaper behind the case making it seem as though the mirrors were small windows on the group looking into the sky above. – Cole Koehler

These gourds were so detailed, and I can’t even imagine the time and effort put into them because they looked amazing. I feel like this tour was more relaxed than an actual museum tour, mainly because we could touch the objects, which made the experience feel more personal. – Katie Beale

This was a very fascinating experience as it differed quite a bit from a typical museum tour. One aspect that differed the most is that the people who were giving the tour were a lot more experienced and seemed a lot more invested and passionate about what they were doing. – Kai Wang