Sisters students go 'Beyond Brushes'

Elementary school students aren't usually encouraged to sling paint on the playground - so it's pretty fun and exciting when that's their art project.

Eight classes of third and fourth graders painted a wending path across the blacktop at their playground. Each student had an individual square to decorate.

There were paint swirls laid on with sponges, squiggles squeezed from paint bottles and droplets scattered like raindrops and swept around by brooms.

"This is cool!" one student exclaimed, grinning with delight as his square turned into a colorful piece of abstract art.

The project was titled "Beyond Brushes" because it was designed to encourage creativity with a variety of different implements. The style was inspired by the abstract art of glass artist Dale Chihuly, according to project organizer Sandy Melchiori.

Chihuly is considered a boundary-breaking revolutionary artist who uses teams to construct large scale contemporary glass structures. His work is known for color and abstract flower forms. Supplies for the project were donated by local businesses.

Melchiori noted that the donations were vital, as was the support of third grade teacher Craig Benton, who rallied the teachers behind the project and convinced the administration that dozens of children flinging paint around on a playground was actually a good thing.

Melchiori took one square herself to demonstrate the varieties of styles the artists could employ, then turned them loose to follow their inspiration.

As a radio boomed out Creedence Clearwater Revival tunes, young artists called out to their colleagues to borrow a color. One who forgot it was painting day glanced down at his paint-smeared shorts and exclaimed ruefully, "My mom is going to kill me."

Sisters Elementary School brings artists from the community into the school to do projects with students ranging from clay sculptures to painting. The art events are also used to introduce students to different styles of art and influential artists.

"It's amazing when you look at each one and how they do it," said Peggy Benton, who was observing the proceedings. "Quite different. If I could get down there on my hands and knees, I'd get down there and do one. This looks like a lot of fun!"

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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