Ligon Students Work On Habitat For Humanity Project
May 17, 2004 - Ten Ligon Middle School students in art teacher Karen Thorsen's Drawing II class have painted doors that will be auctioned off for Habitat for Humanity.
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Thorsen's students spent five weeks working on the project. Students learned about Habitat for Humanity and its reuse center in Raleigh. Liz Cairns of Habitat for Humanity talked with students about the many activities sponsored by Habitat for Humanity and its philosophy of recycling, reusing and respect for the environment, family and home. Cairns' project , Re-Cre-Art, invited schools to accept three doors from the Habitat for Humanity Reuse Center and paint them incorporating these themes.
"The students were divided into groups of two and brainstormed these themes.," Thorsen said. "Each pair decided on their their individual design. One thought of a natural environment. Another used post cards from family members to show love and concern. A third pair of students illustrated neighborhood and community."
The students had to fit their planned designs onto the doors.
"They had some real challenges," Thorsen said. "Working with this picture plane, seven by three feet with six sections in it made dealing with compositional issues a real challenge."
Students also had to use the colors that were available. Some colors were already mixed and some had to be mixed.
"These weren't colors of their choosing," Thorsen said. "There was a lot of accommodating. Artistically, they got a lot out of it."
The students did some sketches. When the doors arrived, they penciled out their ideas on the doors. Then they went to work, completing their panels and finishing the doors. When finished, students signed their names on their doors.
The doors were displayed in Ligon's cafeteria until May 14 when the work was moved to the Habitat for Humanity Reuse Center. A reception was given by Habitat for Humanity on May 18 and all the students hope that their doors will bring a bidder who is not only an art appreciator but also willing to contribute generously to a worthy cause..
Students participating in the project include eighth graders Sally Fry, Madison Bullard and John Rix, seventh graders Payal Nanavati, Brienne Sykes, Betty Lou Poston; Sean Plummer, Eugene Walsh and Alex Benham; and sixth graders Nikhil Satsangi and Madeline White.
This was one of five service learning projects Thorsen's art students tackled this year.
"I spoke at the national Magnet Schools of America conference on service learning projects through the arts," she said. "I feel the arts are a wonderful venue for this kind of work. It allows students to be truly creative, as well as giving."
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