New Mexico IIU Kokomo KEY trip combines art, literature, cultural opportunities

As an artist, Myah Halter dreams about living in a place surrounded by art.

They found one possible destination through an Indiana University Kokomo KEY trip.

“In New Mexico, you can walk downtown and see all different types of art exhibits and shops and stores with handmade items, and small businesses, and they were doing well,” said Halter, a new media, art, and technology (NMAT) major from Kokomo. “It was inspiring to me as an artist to see that kind of culture booming. I would love to live in a creative place like that, to be inspired by what’s around there, and being a part of that culture. It’s one of the best places an artist can live, because art is derived from what you surround yourself with.”

Halter was among 25 students and faculty who visited Albuquerque and Santa Fe as part of a Kokomo Experience and You (KEY) program that includes classes in NMAT, English, and Spanish. Faculty leaders included Jim Coby, associate professor of English, Michael Koerner, associate professor of new media, and J.R. Pico, teaching professor in Spanish and humanities.

Pico said he chose New Mexico as a domestic destination so students could learn about Hispanic culture, use their knowledge of Spanish, and visit a new location.

“This KEY trip was a total success, and life-changing for most students, especially the ones who had never flown before, or hadn’t traveled outside Indiana or the Midwest,” he said. “They learned so much about Hispanic culture and how many indigenous communities live and how they have survived after centuries.”

Koerner said New Mexico combined aspects of all three classes that traveled together.

“The rich cultural heritage influence via language, literature, food, architecture, and art of the New Mexico and American Southwest region was an ideal context for exploring pluralistically how our differences make us stronger,” he said.

The trip included touring the Indian Pueblo Museum, the Albuquerque Museum, and the University of New Mexico in the state capitol, then a double decker train ride to Santa Fe, where they visited Meow Wolf and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and where English students met with a local poet.

The flight and Meow Wolf, which is a large-scale, immersive, interactive art installation that combines sculpture, painting, digital art, and narrative storytelling, were incredibly impactful for Halter.

“I’ve always dreamed of traveling, but it felt a bit out of reach, and traveling alone seemed very scary,” they said. “Having the opportunity to go somewhere far away not with my family showed me that I can do it. It’s not a pipe dream, it’s actually plausible.”

Like Halter, Quinn Jackson had never flown before.

“Participating in this trip changed my student experience massively,” the Kokomo resident said. “The exposure to an environment so starkly different from what I am familiar with is something that has deeply impacted me on a personal level. It has given me the motivation to travel more so I can continue to expand my perspective.”

He and Halter both said one of the best parts of the trip was the opportunity to build relationships with students outside their majors. During some free time, one group planned to ride the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, which goes from the city to the crest of the Sandia Mountains. Others heard of the plan and decided to join in — and eventually the entire group participated.

“It made us feel like a whole group, rather than three classes that went on this trip together,” Halter said.

Coby’s goal was for students to learn about other cultures and ways of thinking, and to see the variety of cultures that define the United States, and how those cultures are reflected in the literature, art, food, and music of the U.S. Southwest.

He said every person on the trip took away something unique.

“Students and faculty enjoyed a number of amazing opportunities,” he said. “One student had never seen mountains before, and we were able to take a tram to the top of a mountain. Several students expressed how much they loved the art experience of Meow Wolf. Flying on a plane was an event for a number of students. For myself, I was able to eat some really fantastic food and ran my fastest half marathon time.

Ultimately, it was probably most impactful getting to spend so much time with one another. We were able to witness students who were strangers becoming great friends.”

The trip was offered as part of the IU Kokomo Experience and You program, which offers transformative learning opportunities through a wide variety of hands-on experiences – from faculty-mentored research, internships, and retreats to overseas study, domestic field trips, and project-based learning.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.