Web Site for the Official Student Newspaper of Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota Four-day trip focuses on art in the Big Apple by Katie Sheehan Not all spring break vacations involve passing out on the floor of a Cancun hotel room following too many tequila shots at Sen?or Frogs. For those seeking a more enlightened escape from winter’s lingering inertia, places are still available for the NCC sponsored Museums, Galleries and Sites of New York City trip, March 21-24. Led by art department members Cindy Koopman and Martha Wittstruck, and o ganized by Escapes to New York, the fourday excursion promises a well-rounded sampling of the world-famous art mecca. From the photography of Alfred Stieglitz to the pop art of Andy Warhol and the SAMO graffiti of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Manhattan continually claims its place at the vanguard of the global art scene. Through visits to three major museums (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art and The Guggenheim) as well as a guided gallery tour of the famous Chelsea neighborhood, students will view a diverse sampling of works ranging from the old European masters to the hip up-and-comers. Not an art enthusiast? Perhaps this trip can change that. According to Cindy Koopman, who encourages all students to consider the trip, “there is something completely unique about New York with its concentration of people and its concentration of art.” Furthermore, she views New York as an “important city to visit,” especially given “its current history in terms of 9/11.” In addition to multiple art-themed outings, the tour offers visits to other key vantage points, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building and Chinatown, as well as a group dinner in Little Italy. The itinerary also includes free time for students to explore the city on their own terms. If given enough advance notice, Escapes to New York will assist students in planning their free time, including purchasing tickets to an off-Broadway show. To receive academic credit, participants will create a directed journal focusing on an art-related topic of their choice. Journals may be crafted with illustration, photography, video or prose and will address questions posed by course instructors. To secure your place on the tour, a deposit of $150 accompanied with registration form must be postmarked by Nov. 15, 2006. Cost of the trip varies according to room occupancy (fee for double occupancy is $1090) and includes airfare, hotel, airport transfers, a MetroCard, admission to three major museums and three tourist sites. A one-credit tuition fee, in addition to the tour cost, must be paid to NCC for spring semester. For more information, contact Cindy Koopman at cindy.koopman@normandale.edu or Martha Wittstruck at martha.wittstruck@normandale.edu.