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Community Art in Martinsville, Indiana
The Morgan County (IN) Historic Preservation Society,
together with Kathryn Maxwell, an art instructor at Martinsville West Middle
School, developed and implemented an eighth grade art curriculum based on the
study of architecture and its application in the real world. Funding for
"Designing Place" was provided by an Historic Preservation Education Grant, a
joint effort of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana (HLFI) and the Indiana
Humanities Council, (IHC) and a community arts grant from the Indiana Arts Commission
(through the Central Indiana Community Foundation).
Fourteen art honors students learned to identify historic
architectural styles by their distinguishing features and gained an
understanding of the complex social and historical impulses that created new
fashions in the built environment. Focus was on Martinsville examples. Guest
presenters demonstrated how what is learned in school can be successfully
transferred to the real work experience.
Students experienced this firsthand by contributing their
new knowledge and artistic skills to two community arts-based projects. They
created artwork for street signs that designate three historic districts in
Martinsville. The
artwork of Chelsea Kouns, now a freshman at
Martinsville High School, was selected for use on the signs. Using the students'
drawings in two-point perspective, MCHPS also developed and created educational
panels that rotate between various locations-- schools, banks, the public
library, the 4-H fair and other festivals—in Morgan County.
During the first week of the course, students were
introduced to historic architectural styles ranging from Federal to Modern.
They viewed slides, watched a video about Frank Lloyd Wright, learned about
ancient classical Greek and Roman antecedents and “played” with the contents of
HLFI’s Traveling Trunk, a collection of educational materials.
In week two, students began to work on the basics of
perspective drawing. They looked at historic photographs of Martinsville
buildings and selected their favorites to draw. The old Indiana Theater, now
Super Sports, with its clean geometric lines and starkly contrasting
architectural glass, was the students’ favorite building. Second was the
Italianate style Morgan County Courthouse.
Drawing continued through weeks three and four. Lou Ann
Downing, a graduate of Ball State University , visited the class to talk
about her work and how to make a career out of a love for architecture. She
showed the students blueprints, mock ups, watercolor renderings and fabrics she
has used in her commissions. “Louann was very well received,” Kathryn says.
“The students were very interested and had lots of questions. She did a great
job showing them what her career is like.”
The students also went on a three-hour field trip around
Martinsville led by Joanne Stuttgen. Students went on a scavenger hunt in
search of architectural elements such as an oculus, Ionic column and campanile.
They also went to Martinsville’s three historic districts where they discussed
appropriate paint colors, individual house histories and issues of general
maintenance.
The fifth and sixth weeks were spent back in the classroom
doing more drawings, which will be used in the educational displays. They also
created artwork for the historic district signs. The sign design will be unveiled to
the public when it is ready. There is still much work to do, including
additional fund raising for the signs. All in all, the course has been a lot
fun for both teacher and students. “Art honors kids are self-motivated,”
Kathryn says. “That’s one of the best things about it.”
"Designing Place" provided students with their first
exposure to the study of architecture. Several students are now considering the
possibility of a career in architecture, interior design or historic
preservation. (Click
here for a listing of college programs.) People who
view the students' artwork, on both the display panels and the historic district
signs, are amazed at its quality.
The development, creation and installation of the historic
district signs is the result of a successful collaboration between individuals,
MCHPS and the Martinsville city administration. With MCHPS taking the lead, the
City Council agreed to fund half the cost of the new signs and install them at
no additional cost using city employees. The Council's better understanding of
the mission of MCHPS and the strength and talents of its members has led to
important dialogues related to historic preservation, including issues of zoning
and use, rehabilitation of City Hall, and the significance and future of
derelict historic properties.
Another important collaboration is that between MCHPS and
school administrators, principals and teachers. Several have endorsed MCHPS's
efforts by providing letters of support for grant applications, allowing us to
display the educational panels and showing interest in repeating the course in
their own schools and classrooms.
A 2005-06 Historic Preservation Education Grant and a community arts grant
from the Community Foundation of Morgan County allowed us to develop this
website so the course could be shared with and replicated by other teachers in
the Martinsville school corporation. We hope it will also serve as a model for
similar projects in other communities.
The educational display panels debuted at the annual Fine
Arts Exhibition sponsored by the Metropolitan School Corporation of
Martinsville, Martinsville High School, April 7, 2005.
Chelsea Kouns and Kathryn Maxwell
Joanne Stuttgen, project director, (right) presenting books
to the art honors students who participated in the 2004-05 "Designing Place"
class. Kathryn Maxwell is at left. See
Resources for a list of
recommended books.
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