Northampton in Focus

On October 28, Suffield Academy’s Advanced Sculpting and Photography students visited Northampton, Massachusetts, for a day of artistic exploration. The trip included stops at The Smith College Art Museum, the Smith Botanical Gardens, and downtown Northampton, where students observed, documented, and drew inspiration from both art and environment.

Photography students participated in a street photography project, shooting on both black-and-white and color film to experiment with different styles. In preparation, they studied well-known street and documentary photographers and discussed the ethics of photographing in public spaces. During their visit, students captured candid city scenes and portraits that reflected the character and rhythm of Northampton. Upon returning to campus, they began developing and critiquing their black-and-white prints and will soon begin editing and printing their color images.

Meanwhile, Advanced Sculpting students engaged with a wide range of artwork—from ancient busts to contemporary pieces—before visiting the botanical gardens to study natural forms for future projects. “Students were exposed to so much art and inspiration on this trip,” said Mrs. Caginalp. “It was rewarding to watch their reactions to the variety of work. The botanical gardens and greenhouse were a new experience for most of the students and they had a sense of wonder walking around the space.” Lauryn Piela ’26 shared, “At the museum there was a section called Ancient Worlds where I saw busts like we were making back in the art studio, and it helped to see how other artists had sculpted them.”

Students concluded the day exploring Northampton’s public art, local galleries, and creative energy. Sculptures from Advanced Sculpting will be on display this winter, and photography students are in the midst of printing their images.