Sneak Peek!

All of my classes have been working on a series of sculptures for our school. In the front of the school are 6 alcoves where the windows for the classrooms on the front of the building are. We have tried planting all sorts of things there, plants, bushes, etc. but we can't get anything to grow due to the lack of easy access to water. So after some research, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I found the website of Michelle and Nathan Stitzlein http://www.artgrange.com/ and found some amazing pictures of bottlecap murals that Michelle has done with a variety of schools. I decided that bottlecap flowers might just be the thing we need for the alcoves. So at the beginning of the school year I sent a letter home to all parents asking them to save plastic lids. All year long the students brought them in (they are still coming in even after we are almost finished! Ted (Mr. E of Art with Mr. E) I have a bunch of caps for your next project! LOL! Anyway... we finally had enough to start. I bought four sheets of plywood and drew out flowers and leaves. Our school nurse graciously volunteered her husband to come and cut them out. Then I had a couple of helpers come in over the weekend to prime the wood.

While they were doing that, one of my loyal minions started sorting the bottlecaps by color. (Please note that I have parent permission to post these pics of the students).

Finally everything was primed and we started painting the shapes the approximate colors that we were going to use.

My kindergarteners and first graders finished sorting caps, and the third graders painted the shapes. The second and fourth graders then started gluing the caps on. I had them use tacky glue, since I needed the glue to hold the caps on until I could get around to attaching them with screws. Lots and lots of screws... like 13 pounds of screws...

We are now finished with this, and I just have to get the wood for the "stems" we are going to use 2x2's and cement them into coffee cans. After the cement is set up, the wood is primed and painted, some volunteers will come and dig holes to "plant" the stems. Finally, we will attach the flowers and leaves to the stems. I am hoping that this will be done when we get back from spring break.

I have an idea...

Outside of my school, there is this area that is unused. It is a pentagon-ish shape surrounded by sidewalk and covered walkway. There are some bushes and trees growing there, as well as weeds. In different years, people have tried to plant flowers and other greenery, but unfortunately, it is very hard to find someone who can consistently take of the plants, so they always die. The grass grows really tall and the children run through the area in the morning. I was planning today for my 4th graders. I am planning a unit using the artist Joe Sam, who paints as well as creates sculptures.

Seeing his sculptures, it got me to thinking about turning this unused space into our own sculpture garden. We already have one sculpture there, the Chihuly inspired chandelier, which I keep putting off taking down.

So I am considering proposing this to my principal. I really want the related arts that we offer at Lakeview to be the main focus, since we are so often left out. I have been researching ideas, and have gotten some good ones, like this sculpture created from sports equipment

So what do you think? Any ideas or suggestions for possible sculptures?