On March 7th, we had a second opportunity to continue our collaboration with artist Isaiah Zagar!
We completed sketches of some possible designs for the piece at our last meeting. From there, we determined that there are a few elements of Emmaus we want largely represented on the mosaic: the Triangle, a train, the movie theater doors, the Moravian Church, and the Library.
Students at EHS, guided by Regina Oster, Tracy Maley, Lisa Caruso, Ginger Coleman and Katie Gustafson, worked on creating to-scale drawings of these five elements and re-developing them further in both clay and glass. The results are beautiful vignettes representative of the collaboration between us and Zagar, and the style of the final piece.
After Isaiah departed, we were left with a clear direction: to combine the five main elements into one cohesive composition. Working together, we created what will be the final, overarching visual of the piece!
Moving forward, the high school teachers and students will continue to work on those vignettes. At the Elementary schools, teachers will be working with students to create painted tiles of a theme. For example, Shoemaker Elementary will be creating tiles all representing faces.
Finally, we were able to set the dates for the installation of our piece! Beginning June 7th and 8th, we will work with Isaiah to begin the mosaic. Isaiah is then departing for a trip to Mexico, so we will have to wait until June 30th and July 1st to finish the grouting and paint in the lines. We will have the whole wall complete by noon on July 1st!
Finally, we were able to set the dates for the installation of our piece! Beginning June 7th and 8th, we will work with Isaiah to begin the mosaic. Isaiah is then departing for a trip to Mexico, so we will have to wait until June 30th and July 1st to finish the grouting and paint in the lines. We will have the whole wall complete by noon on July 1st!
fundraising
We had a VERY successful fundraiser at the Lower Macungie Community Center the night of March 7th. Almost fifty people attended our Ladies' Drink and Draw Night that was organized by Anne Kukitz and Dave Willett. Each attendee left with a finished painting of poppies in a field, and all proceeds raised are going straight to this project.
Our next fundraiser begins tonight at the Emmaus High School: an Art Raffle! Throughout each showing of the EHS Drama Club's Beauty and the Beast, you will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets (6 for $5) that could win you original artwork by us, the East Penn art teachers! This fundraiser will run from today, Tuesday March 18th until Sunday, March 23rd. We will draw and notify winners by phone on Sunday, March 23rd!
Another ongoing fundraiser are the beautiful Commemorative Tiles. Ceramics teacher Lisa Caruso created only 100 tiles from a single mold commemorating the project, and you can purchase one for $25. The mold will then be broken, so these are limited editions. Check them out below!
Our next fundraiser begins tonight at the Emmaus High School: an Art Raffle! Throughout each showing of the EHS Drama Club's Beauty and the Beast, you will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets (6 for $5) that could win you original artwork by us, the East Penn art teachers! This fundraiser will run from today, Tuesday March 18th until Sunday, March 23rd. We will draw and notify winners by phone on Sunday, March 23rd!
Another ongoing fundraiser are the beautiful Commemorative Tiles. Ceramics teacher Lisa Caruso created only 100 tiles from a single mold commemorating the project, and you can purchase one for $25. The mold will then be broken, so these are limited editions. Check them out below!
Expect more updates soon with work that the elementary schools are putting together, the preparation of the wall with concrete board, and for more fundraising opportunities. If you have tile or other materials to donate, contact us and we'll let you know where you can drop it off!