NRHEG middle-schoolers get practical recognition

NRHEG art teacher Cynthia Gail has taken to acknowledging hard work done by her middle school level students in a new way. She selects pieces based on their level of excellence, then has the designs made into iron-on artwork which she applies to everyday items the students can use and keep.

 

In the case of one project, she not only gives the student an apron with his or her design, but also puts the art on a much smaller apron to be donated to the preschool class for use during potentially messy projects.

 

The subject is famously interesting to young children–dinosaurs. 

 

The art project is an illustrated timeline of geologic history using colored pencils. The assignment is a complex drawing which represents the layers of earth where different fossils are found–but instead of drawing fossils, students include the creatures who were responsible for them. 

 

Each drawing is unique based on the artists’ choices, but extending out from the various geologic layers might be a diplodocus, a tyrannosaurus rex, or a pterodactyl. 

 

Among the students receiving aprons with their designs are Addison Bauleke, Ellie Larson, Mikayla Lewer and Lauren Wakefield.

 

Lewer says she enjoyed the project, and remembers studying a variety of pictures to help her get the drawing to a point where she was satisfied with it.

 

“I think it’s great, it’s an honor,” commented Wakefield of having her work selected. She and her fellow honorees say they enjoy creating art, and agree that small children will like the dinosaurs.

 

In the case of another major project, art teacher Gail asks middle schoolers to create an acrylic painting which shows things iconically related to Minnesota. State symbols including the loon, monarch butterfly, showy lady slipper and walleye are among the options, as are sports teams and well known locations.

 

Selected designs are made into iron-on appliques and placed on a canvas tote bag. Among the students who spoke about their projects were Annie Buffington, Maci Johnson, Clayton Kaplan, Vivienne Schlaak and Tianna Wallace.

 

Buffington’s design included a loon, lady slipper, monarch butterfly, walleye, fireworks, and the “world’s largest” candy store. Doing the project, she said, asked her to think about her home state in a new way, while also providing some chances to try new ways of painting and blending colors.

 

Wallace’s design included a number of state symbols as well as the Mall of America and the state capitol building.

 

Kaplan’s image includes a pig–he explains he shows pigs in 4-H; the image also draws attention to the importance of the swine industry in the state. He said the monarch butterfly on his design created the biggest challenge for him. He also jokes that, having his design selected proves he is art teacher Gail’s “favorite student.”

 

Students say they will enjoy using their tote bags both because they are useful and because they are a reminder of what they’re capable of producing if they apply themselves.

 

Of both projects, Gail said she chose to acquire the aprons, bags, and iron-on designs at her own expense because she wanted to reward the dedication she saw from the students who produced the excellent designs. Some even chose to come to the art room during available time outside class to be sure their work turned out well.

 

“I want kids to know art is important and they should continue working on their skills,” Gail said. “This was one way to help with that.”