American Heroes at Powder Springs Elementary
THE ORGANIZATION
Powder Springs Elementary works closely with parents, local businesses, churches, and other organizations to support the students. As a Title I school, Powder Springs Elementary is eligible for funds used to support extra instruction, hire additional staff, and to provide instructional resources and materials. The school's vision is to provide pathways to big dreams.
THE PROJECT
After working with the Cobb County School District on our recent metal flower project and this pop art mural project at Norton Park Elementary School, Paint Love was asked to assist in an arts integration projection with another Cobb County School, Powder Springs Elementary.
The Supervisor of Visual Arts for the Cobb County School District Judith Condon connected Paint Love, with 3rd grade teacher, Amy Myers. Amy had an incredible vision to create a piece of art in the style of Charles Bibbs “Mother of the Civil Rights movement The Legacy of Hope" A piece he was commissioned to create for The Association for the Study of African American Life and History based on the civil rights movement. (You can see the piece he created here.)
Her students had studied American Heroes all year long and as an arts integrated classroom, she wanted to be able to create a unifying work of art to tie together what they had learned in history.
With insight from fellow Paint Love Artist, Lindsay Ryden, Julie & Amy choose to have a little girl portrayed in the work of art to represent the students being the next wave of American heroes. Julie visited Amy’s class and was able to start her portrait in the classroom so the students could see her process and ask her questions about her work.
Julie finished the piece in her studio and brought it back to add on the student’s work. Each student created individual works of art on a chosen American Hero. Julie then carefully cut the art to fit the patchwork quilt. She used every piece of the student’s artwork. There were no scraps left behind. It seemed to fit together seamlessly! In homage to the original work by Charles Bibbs, The students decided to title the piece “The Daughter of Civil Rights; The Journey Continues”.
“My experience working with Paint Love was amazing! The artist working on the project was professional and worked so well with my students. She was able to make our vision for a hero mural come to life. One of the things that I liked best was that my students were honored as artists themselves and their work was shown great respect and value. My students felt empowered due to this recognition. I would have never been able to create something as beautiful as what was produced without the help of this amazing organization. I will use them for many more projects in the future!”
Amy Myers, 3rd Grade Teacher at Powder Springs Elementary
Each patch of the cloak was made of an individual students work.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Support more projects like this for schools in your community by donating or giving supplies or materials. Paint Love plans and coordinates enriching events like this for as little as $5 per student at no cost to the school.