The Herald-Times
IN SCHOOL
Fairview Elementary students’ tile sculpture to be a lasting contribution
Ivy Tech art center project pairs up youngsters, artist Marcy Neiditz
By April Toler
331-4353 | atoler@heraldt.com
May 28, 2013
When Dawnye Smith set about creating a ceramic tile for a project her school was creating for the B-Line Trail, the sixth-grader decided to make it personal.
So she set about creating two flowers surrounded by the phrase “I love my family,” a special note to the students and teachers Dawnye has spent the last five years with at Fairview Elementary School.
“I came up with it because I’ve been going to Fairview for five years and Fairview is kind of like my family,” she said.
Dawnye’s tile is one of more than 300 created by Fairview kindergartners and sixth-graders as part of a collaboration between the school and the Center for Lifelong Learning Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center.
Throughout the year, the center has been working on various projects with Fairview students, including creating an art piece that now sits west of the Showers Building on the B-Line Trail.
The piece was conceptualized by artist Marcy Neiditz, who helped the students create the tiles. On Thursday, the Fairview artists got a chance to see the finished project during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Following the ceremony, the students scrambled to find their tiles among the display.
“It turned out better than I thought it would,” said sixth-grader Shane Pedro.
For his piece, Shane created a view of his house and the street he lives on. Although excited to see the finished project, Shane was even more excited to show it off to his family.
“My mom and dad and I walk this trail all the time,” he said.
The idea of students being able to walk along the trail and see art work they created was one of the highlights of the project for Jeffery Allen, assistant director for the Center for Lifelong Learning Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center.
The project also created the relationship between Fairview and Ivy Tech that led to work funded by the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County with Fairview preschool that will take place in the 2013-14 school year.
“We’ve now said to the children in our community that what you do matters,” he said.
After seeing all of the children’s smiling faces Thursday, Neiditz said she would like to be a part of more community-based art projects.
“My dream is to have it go beyond kids,” she said. “I think we should all take pride in art in the community and I would like to see this project grow.”
Josiah Rice proudly shows his tile to his parents as he and other Fairview Elementary School students dedicate their sculpture last week on the B-Line Trail in front of the Showers Building. David Snodgress | Herald-Times
Fairview Elementary School students look for the tiles they each made after Thursday’s dedication ceremony for their sculpture on the B-Line Trail in front of the Showers Building. David Snodgress | Herald-Times
Fairview Elementary School students look for the tiles they each made after Thursday’s dedication ceremony for their sculpture on the B-Line Trail in front of the Showers Building. David Snodgress | Herald-Times
Jaylee French peers at the tiles Thursday as Fairview students dedicate their sculpture on the B-Line Trail in front of the Showers Building. David Snodgress | Herald-Times
Copyright: HeraldTimesOnline.com 2013
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
