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Student's art to have permanent home at Deer Meadow
GREENCASTLE -- Thanks to an Indiana Arts Commission Arts in Education grant, ceramic sea creatures and plants created by students at Deer Meadow Primary will be a permanent part of the school.
"The grant enables us to partner with DePauw University and local artist Marj Peeler to construct a large ceramic mural," explained Amy Robinson, art teacher at Deer Meadow. "The big idea of the mural is the concept of community: Fitting in, standing out and working together."
The theme of the mural is sea life.
"Each grade level will contribute a different element to the whole," Robinson said. "Our second grade students are creating a variety of plants and animals found in and near the water. Our first grade students are creating fish, and our kindergarten students are creating textured pebbles and bubbles."
On a recent morning, Robinson moved about her classroom as second grade students cut out the clay starfish, octopi and turtles they had created.
"This is just so exciting," she said brightly. "I told them there are people who are artists all their lives who never have their work put somewhere it will stay forever."
DePauw student volunteers have also been involved in the project.
"Most of them are students in Meredith Brickell's community arts class at DePauw," Robinson said. "Some are art majors, but most of them are simply interested in the place of art within communities and art's ability to bring people together in new and exciting ways."
After the clay pieces for the mural have been glazed and fired, Peeler will put them on panels. From there, they will be installed in the hallway next to the office at Deer Meadow.
"We are all very excited about this opportunity to show the strength of our diverse community of learners," Robinson said.