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Essex Elementary School Students Work with Artist Rashmi Talpade to Create Townscape Project

More than 250 photos in total were received as part of the Essex Elementary School Foundation (EESF) call for photo submissions for the Essex Townscape Photo Collage project at Essex Elementary School (EES).

Each grade level had a hands-on experience in the more than 25 hours of in-school collaboration time to help create the photo collage with the guidance of artist Rashmi Talpade.

The school received a variety of images including children ice skating, summer pictures of children walking around in the woods, and historic photographs taken in the early 20th century, which added an interesting dimension to the collage.

Talpade worked with the students to help them choose the photos, cut out the key image, and then select and adhere the placement in the collage.

“We are sending a big thank you to our community for helping to put this historic project together,” said EESF President Bill Jacaruso. “Our foundation and members very much appreciate the effort made by so many to create such a beautiful work of art for the elementary school.”

The Essex Townscape is on display in the EES Art Gallery. Teachers are currently working on various ideas on how best to use the Townscape for school projects.

“Rashmi Talpade, our artist, was a dream to work with. Her professionalism, patience and talent are to be commended. This was an all-around positive and valuable experience!” said EES Principal Jennifer Tousignant.

Since its inception in 1996, EESF’s primary goal has been to create a significant endowment that can support the school’s strategic vision to engage all students in a rigorous and collaborative educational program. Each year, at least five percent of the EESF endowment is allocated for supplemental enrichment programs and projects proposed by the EES administration that would otherwise not be available through traditional funding by the school system and budget.

Programs funded include the Justus W. Paul World Culture Program, literacy support materials, equipment for musical and physical education, playground improvements, logical thinking games, audio/visual equipment, 3D printer, an iPad lab, and an Engineering with Legos program.

For more information about the Essex Elementary School Foundation, visit www.essexesf.org.