MIDDLETOWN — Artist Lisa Kaplan and photographer Emily Slavens, both parents of students at the Lake County International Charter School (LCICS), recently collaborated with the school”s children on an art project with a global message as part of the EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk at the Middletown County Trailside Park. This 3-feet by 116-feet image of 61 children asks adults to “Consider the Children in Every Decision Made.”
The creative process around the piece was integrated into learning activities at the school. LCICS, a free kindergarten to sixth-grade California public school option, offers a small, nurturing educational environment with a focus on creativity and problem solving in an inquiry and project-based curriculum.
As an authorized International Baccalaureate World school, multi-cultural and global studies and awareness are the heart of the educational program.
The children were eager and prepared to participate in an art project with a global message. From Kaplan”s perspective, “The piece is also response to current and proposed cuts to education. Such cuts will directly impact our children”s knowledge, skills and preparedness for our collective future.”
Kaplan, a credentialed and long-time art educator for adults and children, exposed LCICS students to the work of French artist JR, who won this year”s Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) Prize, “One Wish to Change the World”. JR”s work consists of large-scale solo photo-portraits that express a variety of stories and perspectives on political and human issues.
“I wanted the students to see for themselves the power of portraiture, of a gaze, facial expression or gesture to communicate a message and feeling,” Kaplan said. “How would a group portrait be different than a single portrait? What message would that convey and what are the messages that they (the children) want and feel a need to say to the viewer and to grown-ups right now?”
While not part of the final image, during the creative process the students wrote their own wishes to change the world, ranging from “No more pollution because it is bad for the sea and all of the animals in the sea” to “I wish that one day they would stop cutting down rainforest trees” and “I hope the world is going to be nice and peaceful when I am old.”
Kaplan said that one of her favorites was, “I want the world to be happy. We are all connected; try to be responsible and help.”
Kaplan and Slavens worked with the children in three separate photo shoots in natural locations on different days until they achieved the best possible images to express the purpose of the piece. Group shots were then selected and combined in Photoshop to create one long continuous image.
“The images are amazing,” Slavens said. “All of those beautiful, expressive faces staring straight at the camera in gestures of caring, compassion, cooperation, collaboration and community.”
The piece is listed as the first piece in the Sculpture Walk guide and is attached to the fence at the entrance/exit to the park from the Dry Creek Cutoff parking area.
“Community Nest With Phoenix” is another LCICS contribution to the sculpture walk. Approximately 80 percent of the school”s parents collaborated to weave a nest from various natural materials.
In the nest are ceramic eggs created by the children during the school”s Fun Friday/creative arts activities, under the guidance of ceramicist and parent Michelle Cox. A paper mache phoenix (the school mascot) stands watch over the nest.
The ninth annual EcoArts: Lake County Sculpture Walk is on view until Oct. 7 at the Middletown County Trailside Park, located off Highway 175 on Dry Creek Cutoff, approximately 1.7 miles from Middletown.
For more information about LCICS or to inquire about enrollment, go to www.lcics.org or call the school”s office at 987-3063.
