Art with a purpose at SCCMS

• PHOTO: Yarn

RJ Feyereisen and Natasha Artiaga assembled yards of yarn for their hanging artwork.
• PHOTO: Fiber

Fifth-graders (back) Natasha Artiaga, Nathan Sweet, Katy Koerper, Chloe Rogers, Mariah Krongeng, Will Walen, (front) Robyn Phieffer, Vicky Henderson, Deja Caswell-Moriarty and Frank Holter stand in front of their felt masterpiece.
• PHOTO: Videotape

Blake Coleman, Aidan Coffman, Bailey Huot and Frank Holter thread together old videotape.

Talk about it

St. Croix Central Middle School art students are using their creativity to cut down on noise in the school’s atrium.

At the beginning of the school year, Principal Scott Woodington approached art teacher Kim Knutson about whether her students could create art that would absorb some of the noise created in the atrium near the cafeteria.

“I’ve dealt with study halls out in that atrium, and it’s horribly loud. I knew quieting it down would be a good thing,” Knutson said.

Using a variety of fiber products and art techniques — such as felting, crochet, quilting, dying, printing, hand sewing, chording — Knutson’s 11 art classes rose to the challenge.

From wool to yarn, and even old videotapes, students created unique wall hangings to capture noise and catch the attention of art enthusiasts who enter the school.

In addition to using artistic creativity, Knutson says the projects teach students how to work as a team to complete a project with a purpose.

“It’s a way to give back to the school, by making something that the school actually needs,” she said.

While the current wall hangings are a good start to address the noise issue, Knutson says many more art pieces are necessary.

“I think the four pieces that are out there help a little, but there is a lot of wall space. It’s going to take a lot more pieces,” she said. “I’m kicking around ideas for pieces to hang from the ceiling and I’m hoping that will quiet things down even more.”

Knutson hopes the hanging artwork will be on display for years to come.

“Before I retire, I hope to fill up most of the walls out there. Slowly, but surely,” she said with a laugh. “By the time we get done hopefully it will make a difference.”

People should stop and look at the artwork next time they’re at the middle school, Knutson says, “Because it is way cool. It says so much about the kids in this district — that they are so awesome. They’re creative. They’re hard working. They’re not afraid of working on a big project, and they come through.”

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