In spring 2023, I collaborated with ECES art teacher Jennifer Ramey to create a water-themed installation for the school’s cafeteria. The new combined elementary/middle school was in its inaugural school year and was named one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2022! (Read more about the building in Architectural Record, too!) I worked with every 2nd grade student during their art class to create metal tooled aluminum fish or water droplet for our collaborative mobiles. I also worked more closely with Mrs. Allen-Boyle’s 2nd grade classroom to help assemble the mobiles and to create an installation along the second floor railing above the cafeteria. The installation utilized repurposed wood, baling twine, and steel can lids. The cardboard bases for the water droplets and fish were laser cut from recycled cardboard boxes in the school’s library!

Special thanks to Jeff Wacker of ArtsPath at IUP (the regional partner for Butler County and the PA Council on the Arts), school principal Lauri Pendred, and Tommy from the district’s facilities department—couldn’t have asked for a better art installer!

Thanks also to the Butler Eagle for their coverage of the project, to Justin Guido for his photographs of our kiln-room artist-in-residence work space, and to students Franny, Josie, Jonah, and Jack for participating in our workday photoshoot!