Students to do Art Interpretations of 8 Arch Bridge

Holliston High School Seniors have the opportunity to undertake an independent project during one semester of the school year. Samantha Tate (Sammy), a talented student who is hoping to pursue art as a career, volunteered to do a project with school students in the lower three schools around the theme of the 8-Arch Bridge.
As Sammy’s mentor for this project, she and I met to discuss ideas that the 8-Arch Committee had been discussing about having local artists do their own interpretations of the bridge. Sammy wanted to take the idea to younger students to see what they might create. “I knew I wanted to do a project around art. I’m a big fan of old structures, and I am psyched by the old bridge. It reminds us of history; I’m excited because it is handmade like a masterpiece. It’s a work of art,” she told me.
Her first step was to contact the art teachers to see if they would be interested in having their students participate. She created a presentation with slides and history to use as a tool in meeting with teachers.
“The response has been very good,“ says Sammy, “I’m really excited. Middle School art teacher Mrs. Hebert said that the bridge was a good subject for her to incorporate lessons on perspective and depth.”
Samantha thinks she will need to spend a few days at the Middle School on the project and maybe a little longer with the elementary kids. Scheduling is proving to be a bit difficult but everyone is pulling it together.
According to Sammy, the biggest challenge has been organizing the project. “I had to learn how to write professional emails. And independent study is new; I have never had to organize this much, but it’s good practice for college.”
“I also found it a challenge to do the presentation for the teachers. Presenting to Mrs. Hebert really felt like a window into what it’s like to be an art teacher,” according to Sammy who says she might like to teach some day.
Fiske’s General Store has been selling posters to raise funds for the 8-Arch Bridge Restoration project. This month, new business D. Brooks Landscapes will also be donating 5% of its first month’s sales to the project as well.