Fairview students explore new art forms

The sound of scratching tools filled Lacey Basgier’s art class at Fairview Elementary as sixth-grade students participated in Wonderlab’s Science of Art Program.

Last week, the students watched a video about the Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum and practiced their designs on paper and heavy foil. Wednesday, students had the opportunity to use scratch blocks to create their art, which will be finished with a metal pour when the class visits Wonderlab on May 3.

Basgier said Wonderlab approached Fairview to partner, and Wonderlab provided the grant, which was given by Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association.

“It’s really great to partner with anybody in the community,” Basgier said.
The scratch blocks cost $30 apiece, so the grant money made this art class possible.  
Basgier and Andrea Oeding, assistant gallery manager and coordinator of Science of Art at Wonderlab, made sure all the students’ designs were correctly drawn backward, and then students were able to practice on a spare scratch board.

“That will hopefully take any nerves out before you start carving,” Oeding said.

The students’ designs varied from hearts with wings and Pokémon to one girl’s sketch in remembrance of her mother.

Oeding said Wonderlab had been hoping to pair with Fairview to help with its Artful Learning Program.

She said the Science of Art program helps students foster connections between science and art and become more creative and innovative.

The big finale of the partnership will be when the students come to Wonderlab to create their final metal masterpieces.

“For me, that will be a really neat part for the students to see the whole process,” she said.

The students will also get to meet the artist from Sculpture Trails.

Oeding said the Science of Art program brings in different artists every month, but they decided to let the students do this particular project so they could participate in a project they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.

“We’re really lucky we were able to get that grant,” Oeding said.