On a rainy spring day, members of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) at the Greater Latrobe Senior High School stepped into
a world of color and creativity during a field trip to two of Pittsburgh’s most iconic museums: The Andy Warhol Museum and the Mattress Factory. Among them was Mia Stynuchala, NAHS Vice President, a talented art student, who shared her perspective on the experience.
Mia was inducted into NAHS during her sophomore year. Since then, she has taken every art course the high school offers. Some of these include studio art one through three, ceramics one through three, and personal studio art. With a strong foundation in both skill and artistic mindset, she approached this trip not just as a student but as someone deeply engaged in what it means to create and experience art.
“I had been to the Mattress Factory before, during my junior year, but this was my first time at the Andy Warhol Museum,” Stynuchala said. 
The two museums, though only miles apart, felt worlds away in art styles. “The Warhol was more in terms of being surrounded by art history and the artist’s personal journey,” said Stynchula. She apprechiated looking at iconic paintings, interactive exhibits, and getting a first-hand view of his legacy. The Mattress Factory, on the other hand, is more abstract—more about how the artist interacts and interprets the space.
For Mia, the trip wasn’t just about seeing art, it was about experiencing how it evolves. “At the Warhol Museum, the floors go by decade, so you can see how his work changed over time. That was really cool,” she said. “It changed my perspective on how art has progressed through history,” said Stynchula.
Art teacher Amy Balko, who teaches ceramics and photography led the trip, said that she wanted to broaden students’ exposure to different artistic styles and museum experiences.
“My goal was just to expose students to museums in Pittsburgh,” Balko explained. “Especially the Mattress Factory—it’s installation art, and that’s something a lot of students don’t get to see.”
From Balko’s perspective, the contrast between the two museums offered valuable lessons. “The Andy Warhol Museum is neat because it’s about one artist and his life, which gives students a focused view,” she said. “But the Mattress Factory is probably my favorite, just because you walk into the room and you become part of the art. It’s all about the emotions it brings out in you.”
Overall, the trip to the Andy Warhol Museum and the Mattress Factory was a fun and inspiring experience for everyone who went. It gave students like Mia Stynchula the chance to see different styles of art up close and learn more about how artists express themselves in unique ways. With help from Ms. Balko, the field trip was not only educational but also a great way to see art from a whole new perspective.
