This past Spring semester, Art and Text (ART 195), the introductory class for all studio art and art history majors and minors, piloted an exciting class project with the Escalette Collection of Art, an academic unit of Wilkinson College.

Art and Text (ART 195) educates art students on how we view the world through visual culture and visuality. This class is designed to open students’ eyes to theoretical methodologies, key issues, and the history of visual culture.

“Through numerous guest lectures from individuals who have created their own unique art practices such as design fiction or combining quantum physics and art, my definition of art morphed through exposure to more kinds of art and visual images than I previously was aware of.” – Natalie Teeter (SCC major, Studio art minor, ’25)

One of the interactive activities in Art and Text was a scavenger hunt in collaboration with the Escalette Permanent Collection of Art. Students were provided with a list of artworks and corresponding buildings, then were sent on a hunt to find the artworks, take a picture with the artwork in a way that emotes the way you feel about the artwork, and write a written response to the corresponding prompt provided for each artwork. They were also provided questions and prompts designed to encourage critical engagement with the work.

Abby Luhrs (Art History ’24) and Hayden Rouse (Art History ’25) during ART 195 scavenger hunt in Beckman Hall.

This interactive art hunt encouraged students to explore the locations of Escalette artwork, to practice close looking at the artworks, and critically think about visual culture through the lens of the Collection. These objects are a part of the everyday experience of being on Chapman’s campus and the “Art Hunt” exposed students to more artwork than they may have known was available on campus. Each student was challenged to “find” at least five artworks.

“This Art Scavenger Hunt assignment was fascinating, especially the pieces in Beckman [Hall], because I hardly go into that building and had no idea there was all this incredible art on show! Without this assignment, I would never have known about all of the artworks Chapman displays, and I certainly learned a lot more about the artists whose works are featured throughout Chapman’s campus!” – Hayden Rouse (Art History ’25)

Teeter similarly found the Art Hunt to be a unique and exciting way to engage with both the Collection and the material learned in class. She describes how ‘I got to explore areas of buildings I would not normally go to and be surprised by artworks along the way.”

Now it’s your turn!

Find some of the artworks that were included in the ART 195 scavenger hunt.

  1. Roosevelt Hall – 1st Floor, Dean’s Suite: Micol Hebron, Cabaray: Observatory Venus at the Lover’s Hour 
  2. Keck Center – 2nd Floor: Julie Shafer, Conquest of the Vertical: 600 miles to Eureka! n.3 
  3. Moulton Hall – 1st Floor: Paul Sepuya, Screen (0X5A8295) 
  4. Keck Center – 2nd Floor: Lia Halloran, Triangulum 
  5. Beckman Hall – 4th Floor: Judie Bamber, If You Come Any Closer I’ll Kill You

We invite you to explore all the works in the Escalette Collection by visiting our eMuseum. 

Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is the proud home of the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art. The Escalette Collection exists to inspire critical thinking, foster interdisciplinary discovery, and strengthen bonds with the community. Beyond its role in curating art in public spaces, the Escalette is a learning laboratory that offers diverse opportunities for student and engagement and research, and involvement with the wider community. The collection is free and open to the public to view.