Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Thursday, April 23, 2009

Gallery (click any photo to view the gallery)

Sisters Katie and Sammie Peterson made the model of Triangle Park on their own. "It's really cool when a lesson can extend to their home life," said Jeffery Hale, their art teacher at Harrison Elementary School.

Sammie and Katie Peterson live downtown and can walk most everywhere they need to go. So when their art teacher proposed making a model of the city, the sisters were already familiar with many of the tall buildings, churches and old homes in the heart of Lexington.

The room-size model of downtown is the centerpiece of Harrison Elementary’s exhibit in the new art gallery at the Explorium children’s museum right around the corner from the school. That’s where Sammie and Katie and other Harrison students will show their parents their handiwork Saturday night at the Kid at HeART fundraiser.

“They’re going to be so proud,” said 10½-year-old Sammie.

“My mom will probably just squeeze us,” 9-year-old Katie added.

Sammie was among the fourth- and fifth-graders who studied architecture and design, drew pictures based on photographs, and built the three-dimensional buildings using cardboard boxes, tempura paint and colorful bits of construction paper.

Katie, a third-grader, also wanted to help. So at home, the sisters together made a model of Triangle Park.

“It really has a lot of trees, but we ran out of glue,” Katie said.

Art teacher Jeffery Hale secured a $1,000 grant from the Blue Grass Community Foundation for the city project.

“Our mission (at Harrison) is to create a model community, a model school and model students,” he said. “When I wrote the grant, my goal was to reinforce basic social studies concepts.”

The Kid at HeART fundraiser is for the Explorium’s art outreach program, with proceeds designated for Harrison. “We’re real big about advocacy and wanting to be involved in our community,” said Michael Gilmore, the executive director.

Harrison students in grades 2-5 contributed nearly 300 pieces of art for the event.

“We think their work definitely has worth,” Gilmore said. “From that experience, it might inspire greater creativity on their part.”

Several members of the community have purchased the $15 tickets and donated them for students and teachers. In addition to the model city, visitors will see paper Chinese lanterns hanging in the front window, artwork featuring yarn and other textured media, and narrative drawings such as Sammie’s trip to the hospital with a broken pinkie.

The kids plan to take home their 3-D buildings after Saturday’s event, but the rest of their art will remain on display through the summer, along with a few more pieces Hale will add after the fundraiser.

In the coming weeks, he plans to take his older classes to the gallery during the school day. “I’ll review the core content using their own artwork,” Hale said.

“Because we’re so close, it’s such a great opportunity for our students to be able to walk to the museum,” he added. “Research shows children learn when they’re exposed to the arts. We’re a school on the move.”

Did you know?

Harrison Elementary received more than $700,000 in additional funding this year to help lower the student-teacher ratio and accelerate the learning of students who were below grade level. The money also made it possible to extend the school day by 45 minutes and to provide chess, drama, art, chorus, piano, violin and Spanish classes. After-school opportunities in the arts are also available through the added funding.

If you go

Kid at HeART

What: A benefit for the Explorium of Lexington and Harrison Elementary School

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday April 25

Where: Victorian Square Atrium

Highlights: Tours of the new Children’s Art Gallery, featuring artwork by Harrison Elementary students, and the Open Art Studio; hands-on, interactive exhibits; drinks, appetizers and music.

Tickets: $15. Call (859) 258-3253 for reservations or buy tickets during regular business hours at the Explorium, 440 W. Short St. Tickets will also be available at the door. Proceeds will go to the Explorium’s art outreach program, earmarked for Harrison Elementary School.