A select group of eighth grade Studio & Commercial Art and French students recently took part in an enriching interdisciplinary field trip to Pocantico Hills, where they explored the historic Union Church and the Rockefeller Archive Center. The experience invited students to apply their knowledge of the elements of art, principles of design, and French cultural history by engaging directly with the works of renowned artists Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall.

The trip centered on a visit to the Union Church of Pocantico Hills, where students explored the vivid stained glass windows created by Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall. The collection includes Matisse’s final masterpiece, the rose window, and nine additional windows by Chagall, making the church one of the few places in the United States to feature his stained glass. With support from trained guides and their teachers, students examined how both artists used color, line, and shape to create balance, rhythm, and emphasis within the medium.

“It’s amazing how the windows seem to be calling out to each other,” one student noted. Another shared, “I think Chagall is trying to teach us to take full advantage of your life.”

Students then visited the Rockefeller Archive Center, where they learned about the Rockefeller family's role in bringing these artworks to the community. They also explored Shen Wei: Still/Moving, an installation of paintings, choreographic compositions, and short films, including pieces never before displayed in the United States. Students observed how Shen Wei’s abstract works echo Matisse and Chagall through their focus on light, color, and immersive visual environments.

This interdisciplinary experience reflects Port Chester Middle School's commitment to hands-on learning that goes beyond the classroom. By engaging with world-class art in a historical setting, students strengthened their analytical skills and deepened their understanding of how artistic principles shape meaningful works of beauty. The World Language and Fine and Performing Arts departments remain dedicated to supporting academic excellence, creativity, and social-emotional growth as students prepare for high school and beyond.