Category: Civic Engagement

The time has come for the LEAP Ambassador’s summer retreat! The organization prides itself in its forward-thinking nature, which is done to maximize our education and serve our community with intent and efficiency. This retreat was also something of a microcosm of our larger efforts, stressing broad-based and experiential learning.

Phoenicia’s Speciality Foods

By Ingrid Cuero

With a long day ahead, Professor Yawn, Stephanie Fors, Olivia Discon, Michelle Cardenas, Yvette Mendoza, Morgan Robertson, and I met for lunch to fuel ourselves at Phoenicia Specialty Foods: A Mediterranean market that houses many delicacies, including deli, cheeses, and desserts. It is more of a grab-and-go eatery, so there were many people coming in-and-out as we looked and picked out our choice of foods. This was many of the group’s first time visiting the market, and for some members, it was the first time having middle-eastern food!

Olivia decided to eat a Lemon Chicken Soup with Pasta Pesto Salad. 

Both Michelle and Morgan decided to get the Specialty Shawarma Wrap, Michelle having chicken and Morgan having lamb.

  Yvette decided to get the regular Lamb Shawarma dish with veggie grape leaves as her side. I stayed with the classic rice, beans, and grilled veggies as my side, with an additional zucchini soup to top things off. 

We took the time to catch up after a few weeks of summer break between us, sharing our summer activities and some laughs throughout.

After sharing some pastries, which consisted of baklava, lemon custard, and cookies, planned out the day in a bit more detail, and we were ready to take on our day!

Betty Moody Art Gallery

By Yvette Mendoza

After indulging in Phoenicia’s, our bodies fueled and ready, we set off for our first destination: the Betty Moody Art Gallery. The moment we stepped inside, we were captivated by the awe-inspiring artwork on display…

…and to our delight Ms. Betty Moody was there, and she graciously offered to give us a personal tour. 

Each art piece came alive as Ms. Moody passionately explained the work’s intricacies. As we entered through the main entrance, our attention was drawn to the collection by Andrea Rosenberg. Ms. Moody skillfully unraveled the hidden depths and artistic techniques behind Rosenberg’s floral paintings, revealing the significance of every brushstroke. From the choice of Japanese rice paper to the spontaneity and simplicity that belied years of experience, it fascinated us to discover the immense skill required to create such seemingly effortless abstract flowers.

We witnessed this contrast in two paintings placed on opposite sides of the faller – an exquisitely delicate blossom alongside a vibrant explosion of colors behind a boldly outlined orange flower.

We have learned of Rosenberg’s painting method, using thumbtacks to hang her canvases on the wall at a height convenient for her stature, and then getting to work. Often working quickly, Ms. Rosenberg can fill even large canvasses quickly.

Ms. Moody’s generosity extended beyond technical explanations; she also shared the rich histories behind many of the pieces, some of which she had in her own kitchen and bedroom adjacent to the gallery! Each piece held a profound connection to the past, including sculptures and artwork spanning thousands of years from Roman culture to the present.

Among the treasures was a calamari serving platter crafted from walrus tusk, artfully shaped into adorable seals, each possessing its own unique value. 

As we delved deeper into her collection, we encountered various art styles, from a signed Campbell’s soup can symbolizing the Pop Art style by Andy Warhol, to sketches by her dear friend and talented artist Luis Jimenez, known for his remarkable sculptures of mustangs and his skill in sketching classic cars.

Lastly, Ms. Moody showcased the remarkable silver jewelry crafted by her beloved husband, Bill Steffy, which, while distinct from pop art or drawing, exuded its own allure, featuring beautifully designed metal skulls and silver jewelry that she was wearing.  

Our gratitude to Ms. Moody is such a great amount. Every item she owned or curated in her art gallery possessed a profound meaning, and she concluded our visit by emphasizing that she doesn’t think of art as an investment, but rather simply thinks of it as a way of life.

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

By Michelle Cardenas 

Our third stop was the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, which was my first ever visit to a museum! We entered through Olafur Eliasson’s yellow-casted walkway, “Sometimes an underground movement is an illuminated bridge” to begin the experience.

Professor Yawn took Olivia, Ingrid and I on a tour through the museum, highlighting the various art periods, their historical significance, and key artists of each era. Starting with the Realism art movement, we had the opportunity to view a gallery that encapsulated the art world before the invention of the camera; resulting in a desire to capture life in extreme detail and realism. Olivia particularly enjoyed “Sheerness as seen from the Nore” by Joseph Mallard William Turner.

Personally, I was attracted to a Jacques Raymond Brasscassat piece titled “A Bull Fight”. 

We progressed through time and expanded on the influence of technology on art. 

The introduction of photography brought a sense of liberty to artists; allowing them to create works that were a reflection of their personal perspective as opposed to objective relativity. 

Many artists like Claude Monet began to develop new techniques, particularly impressionism.

The Impressionist era was followed by even more new techniques and styles, suggesting that ideas really do beget ideas. And we learned about pointillism and fauvism, which redefined what society considers a masterpiece. A piece that Ingrid enjoyed was “The Bonaventure Pine” by Paul Signac, which features the technique. When you look closer, you are able to see color theory at play!

We then got to the early 20th century, where I got to see my first Picasso painting, “Le Rameur” or “The Rower“.

Both Pablo Picasso and George Braque are accredited for inventing a technique called Cubism, a movement utilizing geometric shapes to create a painting that can be seen from several angles. 

We ended our tour with some American art pieces, many of which focused on the American dreams of westward expansion, highlighted through dreamy landscapes and featuring Native Americans. Here I discovered one of my favorite artists of the museum; Albert Bierstadt. The early American landscapes were breathtaking and captured the allure of the unknown frontier.

Before we left, we had the pleasure to visit Yayoi Kusama’s “Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity“, an immersive experience in which a subtle, fleeting burst of light comes and goes. Kusama, who is known for her work with polka dots, uses a similar assortment of lit lamps that are infinitely mirrored. The experience was both beautiful and incredibly thought provoking.

Special Exhibits: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Pixel Forest and Worry Will Vanish

With the MFAH possessing some beautiful Impressionist-era pieces in their general gallery, Morgan and I were treated with a special exhibit that had both Impressionist and Post Impressionist works on display! We were able to see works by Cezanne, Renoir, Cassatt, and even a Van Gogh, called “The Rocks”. We were both delighted to have experienced such renowned pieces in person. 

We also had the privilege to attend a truly immersive experience: Pixel Forest and Worry Will Vanish by Pipilotti Rist. This captivating installation consisted of crystal-like neon balls hanging from the ceiling, creating a breathtaking visual spectacle through a stunning light show. Stepping into this immersive environment felt like traversing the threshold into an enchanting and surreal realm, where reality blended seamlessly with imagination.

Thanks to the many opportunities the LEAP Center provides to expand one’s cultural awareness, I was exposed to new concepts and artists I was otherwise unfamiliar with. If a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston taught me one thing, it was that art is extremely reflective of the world events occurring within that time period. It was an excellent opportunity for us to familiarize ourselves with these classic masterpieces!

High Island

By Ingrid Cuero

After experiencing a day filled with remarkable works of art, it was time to hone in on our own craft: photography! A major focal point of our retreat is to ensure that each ambassador has the opportunity to develop a well-rounded knowledge of the world around them, which includes nature. With that, we traveled to High Island in Galveston just before sunset to practice our photography and, we hoped, to spot some wildlife–which we did, almost immediately!

Upon arrival, I saw three bunnies having dinner on the far side of the park. Taking slow steps into their direction, I went to them and captured a few photos before they took notice and fled the scene. Michelle was able to get an even closer photo!

We then walked onto the trail to the lake, where we spent most of our time. Some would say outdoor photography is its own beast, as you must adapt to the unpredictable conditions of nature to get a perfect shot. As many of us on the trip are familiarizing ourselves with the inner-workings of photography, this was a perfect way to apply what we have learned so far.

We had plenty of opportunities, as the landscape was filled with birds, turtles, and alligators, along with a beautiful sunset before us. 

During this time, we tried to educate ourselves about the many species of birds we captured (by camera, of course). A few breeds of birds that we saw included the Roseate Spoonbill, the Great Egret, and the Little Blue Heron. Mating season for these birds is between April and May, so we saw many nests with baby birds secured in them.

Professor Yawn explained to the group some interesting information about male birds in real time! Male birds, we learned, can be very territorial, leading to physical fights against other birds, and we saw many such examples of this type of behavior.

And with that, the LEAP Ambassadors ended a successful first day on their summer retreat! We had a fun-filled day focused on challenging ourselves to take initiative on the concepts we can improve on.