S:US Day Habilitation Programs Enjoy Private Guided Tour at The Met
Photo: S:US Day Habilitation program participants with staff at the Metropolitan Art Museum for a private tour and art workshop.
Participants with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) from Services for the UnderServed (S:US)’ Day Habilitation programs visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a private guided tour with an art workshop in a gallery. Led by two Arts Educators, Amy Delahunty Gilbert and Francisco Eraso, the participants visited carpets from the dynastic shrine of the Safavid period (1501-1722) from Iran made from silk and wool, showing wild animals in a field of vines, blossoms with flowers and natural landscapes. The carpets were used for floor coverings in a refectory. The guides also showed us a mosaic with an inscription, in an earlier version of Arabic stating “May blessings and peace be upon him.” The mosaic was in shades of aquamarine, teal and blue and made from glazed cut tiles in Iran in 1354. As we moved from gallery to gallery, our group viewed other artwork including some stone sculptures and small art objects protected inside glass enclosures.
Photo: People supported with intellectual/developmental disabilities creating their own art during the Met workshop.
The tour included viewing of artwork in several galleries. Regarding the visit, many people supported shared their positive experience. Ekuan liked seeing a statue “…that looked like a tree or a column. It was cool.” Melissa shared, “I liked making the art after seeing the art. I want to do it again.” Tyler loved seeing a lion represented in one of the carpets from Iran. Tasha shared, “I loved it! I liked everything about our visit – the rugs, the mosaic made from tiles. I want to come back!” Valerie shared that “…I liked the tiles, the mosaic and the prayer on the tile door which shared “Blessings and Peace. It felt good to see it; it was my first time at this museum. It was beautiful!”
We are grateful to the Met Arts Educators Amy Delahunty Gilbert and Francisco Eraso, all of the staff at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, along with the S:US staff and Direct Support Professionals for helping to make this guided tour such a rich experience for the people that S:US supports.
