I explained to Annette I wanted all of my students in K-6th grade to create an art piece of the Steam Plant with the smoke stacks lit in pink light and use all 415 pieces of art to create a photomosaic. I was also hoping the Steam Plant would be interested in hanging the 6’ x 4’ piece of art for years to come. It took Avista’ s management about a minute to say yes. I was very excited, but then I had to find the money to create the piece.
Without the Hagan Foundation, East Farms would not have the level of the art that keeps the“ A” in STEAM. East Farms art department has been blessed with grants from the Hagan Foundation for the past three years. Thankfully the grant proposal we submitted for the public art piece was awarded, making the Hagan Foundation’ s generosity for East Farms Art Program four years in a row. In January, 2017, we had the space for the public art piece to hang and the money to make it happen. We introduced the project to the students and they got busy making art, all striving to create images to be used for the final photomosaic.
In the beginning of the project there were concerns about discussing breast cancer with the students; once we started the conversation all concerns melted away. I was shocked by how many students had loved ones that have been affected by breast cancer. Everything changed, suddenly the art project allowed the students to talk about breast cancer and their feelings. The conversations we had in the classroom became profound and life changing. The project became a healing experience for all of us.
20 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE