By Ann Nichols
annsnichols@aol.com
Rockets, UFOs, meteor belts, the Milky Way, Saturn and Pluto are just some of the space-themed designs that greet visitors and students as they enter Whitwell Elementary School.
Kimerlen Moore, the school's art instructor, facilitated a project involving 130 students in kindergarten through 4th grade as they carved their own sand blocks with their images of choice. In addition, a special Family Art Night was held in April during which some of the parents helped their children conceptualize and incise their blocks.
Once they were all carved, the blocks were given to Gerald Masse and his traveling foundry. He and his four volunteer assistants poured 2000 degree aluminum into the sand blocks to create aluminum tiles that replicated each student's design. After cooling, Mr. Masse and his crew assembled the tiles into a mural that is permanently installed next to the front doors of the school. Mr. Masse also added a blue patina to some of the tiles so they would be more suggestive of outer space.
Ms. Moore said the children were thrilled to be part of the "Shooting for the Stars" project. Since the mural is constructed from recycled aluminum, the students got to watch the crew cut up old hub caps, rims and melt down engine blocks.
"This is so cool, it makes me want to learn more about science," said Kriss Spiller, one of the students participating. "I didn't know aluminum melted at 2000 degrees."
David Smith, the school's principal, also commented on the excitement of the experience for the students.
"I am so proud of them as they have worked so hard on the mural and I love seeing their excitement when they are showing their individual tiles off to their parents or other students," he said.
Megan Stewart's mother, Heather, mentioned how privileged the students were to be involved in such a project and that, one day, they will realize how rare an opportunity this was.
The project ws made possible by a grant received by Mr. Masse and an art fundraiser Ms. Moore coordinated last year.
"Many times, art and music programs seem to be on the chopping block," said Mr. Smith. "However, if people see what kind of great fine arts programs are going on in our schools, they may not be so hasty to eliminate them."