Instead of spending Friday nights in a lecture hall, Saint Xavier University students are boarding a shuttle bus bound for Chicago’s neighborhoods, where their classroom comes alive in murals, galleries and community spaces.
The course, Chicago Art Scenes, takes learning far from the traditional model. Led by Department Chair and Art Professor Nathan Peck, the class blends research, travel and reflection, challenging students to study art not only through theory but through direct experience in the city’s cultural hubs.
“This class is about connection and creativity,” Peck said. “It’s about giving students a chance to be part of the larger art community in Chicago.”
Revived by Peck two decades after he discovered its outline in the university archives, Chicago Art Scenes is now in its second semester and is already a popular favorite among the university’s art students.
Over 15 weeks, students explore neighborhoods such as Logan Square, Wicker Park, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Bronzeville and Beverly, each Friday night trip offering a new perspective on the city’s creative pulse.
On Friday, Oct. 10, the class visited the Fine Arts Building at 410 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago’s artist haven since 1898. The building hosts painters, musicians, sculptors, yoga studios, puppeteers, therapists, coaches, craftspeople and more. It is also home to the Studebaker Theater, a jewel of Chicago theater, and features historic gems such as original manually-operated elevators and Art Nouveau murals from the late 19th century. The Fine Arts Building serves as a vibrant hub of creative inspiration and diverse artistic expression, giving students a unique firsthand experience of the city’s artistic heritage.
Ava Rivera, 21, of Chicago, said the course has changed how she sees Chicago’s art community.
“I like that this class opens our eyes to places where we could promote our own art,” she said.
On Friday, Oct. 17, students received a member’s preview sneak peek thanks to Peck into Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave.
The exhibit opened the following day, Saturday, Oct. 18, and runs through Feb. 22, 2026. The exhibition traces Ono’s seven-decade career through more than 200 works spanning performance, music, film, photography and installation. It highlights her pioneering role in conceptual art and her involvement with the avant-garde Fluxus movement, as well as collaborations with artists like John Cage, Ornette Coleman and her late husband, John Lennon.
The show features interactive works such as Cut Piece, My Mommy is Beautiful and Wish Tree, inviting visitors to take part in Ono’s vision of peace, imagination and participation that continues to influence the global art scene today.
“For me, it’s about trying to get students to go to all of the cool places in Chicago that they may feel they don’t typically belong,” Peck said.
Anette Vallejo, 23, of Chicago, said she appreciates the class’s unconventional format.
“I like going out and actually seeing the art in Chicago,” she said.
Students prepare for each outing with research, then document their experiences through photographs, video and blog reflections. Their posts compare expectations with reality, weaving together observation and personal response.
“It requires research, travel and discussion,” Peck said. “You can talk about art, but then it becomes a lecture. Versus the real-life experience of going out and studying physical art in Chicago.”
Daniela Valencia, 20, of Chicago, said the hands-on experience helps her connect with what she learns. “It’s fun to be able to get outside of the classroom,” she said.
The work students produce reflects not only the art they’ve encountered but also the growth of their own perspectives. Each reflection, Peck said, shows the power of experiencing art in context — and the impact of learning beyond the walls of a classroom.
