Kelloggsville students’ art project hit home in a real way.
The cardboard houses they built mean something much larger than paint and cool designs. They mean increased awareness of local homelessness and raising money for families affected in the district.
The “House is a Home” service learning project, led by art teacher Donna Casmere, consists of 100 small and dozens of medium and large houses. Vibrant, whimsical, and ornate, the creative shanties carry messages of strength and hope. Proceeds from their sale will go to homeless Kelloggsville students. According to 2013 state statistics, 49 of the 1,854 homeless students attending Kent County schools are enrolled in Kelloggsville schools.
The projects are on display through May 20 in the Padnos Gallery at Grand Valley State University, 1 N. Campus Drive, in Allendalle. Visit houseisahome.weebly.com.
Future plans are to display them in front of the high school and local businesses and possibly sell them. To purchase one, contact: dcasmere@kvilleps.org or 532-1570.
“It feels like I’m actually reaching out to someone,” said sophomore Jessica Barth, who designed a house featuring a wolf and Chinese letters symbolizing hope, courage, strength and leadership.\\
An educational tool
Casmere, who leads a service-learning project each year, said students chose the theme with the hope that large-scale pieces could impact the community.
“I feel like I am a part of society and an individual can help spread awareness,” said sophomore Linh Le, who created a house with a landscape uniting ocean, sun, sky and mountains,
Casmere said there is no goal set for money to raise in selling the artwork. “We really didn’t expect to raise anything but awareness,” she said.
Student teacher Stephanie Voelck worked with students on the houses as well as smaller pieces for the project including textile bags, dolls and pillows. An educational component included learning facts about homelessness, hearing from a speaker who was homeless, and writing about the issue.
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