Greenville Elementary uses art to inspire kindness
Earlier this year, Greenville Elementary students had the opportunity to participate in an art project that taught them about more than just colors and creativity. Greenville’s art specialist, Kara Swenson, set out to teach her students about the power of lifting up one another through an interactive art piece titled “What uplifts you?” The piece features two beautiful wings that are made up of hundreds of individual feathers, designed by Greenville Elementary students. Much like themselves, each feather is unique and different in its own way.
Before beginning the project, Swenson asked her students what “uplifted” them. She received answers ranging from airplanes and helicopters to friends and families. Eventually, the students began to respond with deep answers describing how they feel uplifted through kind words and when others are there for them. Students spoke about the importance of simply saying hello to someone because you never know what kind of difference that could make in their day.
“I wanted all the students to know that they are an important part of the school,” said Swenson as she described her intentions with the art project. “My hope is that as they see these wings and interact with them they will remember how important it is for each of them to uplift one another.” Swenson has invited parents to ask their students about what they learned through the project and to come and take a picture in front of the wings so they will always remember the importance of lifting others up.