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10/17/2019 12:00 AMThe 2018/2019 6th Grade Art Club, under the direction of Essex Elementary School (EES) Art Teacher, Gary Stevens, created a series of artistic and inspirational banners to fill a large, open white space in the EES Media Center which is used by students, staff and the community. With the help of an art grant funded by the Essex Elementary School Foundation, Mr. Stevens took on the task of this “commissioned” work with his art club beginning last spring and culminating with the installation in time for the new school year.
“We studied the space and brainstormed ideas that would be both visually appealing and thematically relevant. We decided to depict children reading in various poses, having their books filling their heads with wonderful ideas. We kept the human figures generic to symbolize that anyone and everyone can reap the rewards of reading,” says Mr. Stevens. “We also kept the figures in black and white to help contrast against the bright swirling ideas they were creating. The art club looked throughout the media center and pulled colors from its design to use as the swirling ideas so the banners would flow into the space and become a part of it. The art club reviewed a list of reading-themed verbs which were then assigned to corresponding banners based on the body language of the depicted reader. The resulting piece provides visual stimulation in the media center that conveys our message while not distracting from the purpose of the space. We hope that our work is met with enjoyment as it enhances its environment for years to come.”
The inspirational artwork was installed in late August. This is one of many grants that the Essex Elementary School Foundation completed for the 2018-2019 school year.
Since its inception in 1996, the Essex Elementary School Foundation’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 5% of the EESF endowment is allocated for supplemental enrichment programs and projects proposed by the Essex Elementary School 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 or to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.essexesf.org.