Creative Crew
Community Service and Murals
Shown below are most of the activities that were completed throughout the years.
NOVA CHEMICALS MURAL
For our first big task in 1999 we painted a mural about our community for our Partner in Education, NOVA Chemicals, at their plant. That year Creative Crew was an afterschool activity that lasted an hour so these students worked in weekly shifts to finish this twenty foot mural. Their work included both Gordon-Bibb and Benjamin Davis Elementary Schools, the Old State Bank, the Decatur hot air balloon, the river bridge, the Princess Theatre's marquee, Point Mallard's high dive and slide, as well as the state of Alabama with the Tennessee River running through it.
This picture ran as the cover of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce's publication, an insert with the Decatur Daily.
ALABAMA'S PROMISE TABLECLOTH PAINTING
That following year our task was to create a tablecloth per request of then first lady Lori Siegelman, to decorate the tables for a meeting of Alabama's Promise with the then Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell.
The theme was, "What Makes Alabama Beautiful?" So the students brainstormed and decided upon four basic areas; family, nature, history and her cities. After some research the students drew a variety of objects that represented the many different aspects of Alabama's beauty.
WALLACE CENTER MURAL
In the year 2001, the Creative Crew was asked to paint a mural for the residents of Cottage 8 at the Lurleen B. Wallace Center. The Wallace Center, at that time, was a state facility that was the home to many severely and profoundly handicapped people.
Again, the students met afterschool and worked in shifts to finish this beautiful mural. The balloons were picked because the residents so enjoyed the annual balloon race that is held at Point Mallard every year.
This mural not only taught the students painting techniques and how to paint on a large scale, but it helped them to widen their field of vision to include the handicapped in a whole new perspective.
This was truly a service learning activity were the students gave of themselves and grew from the experience.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB MURALS 2003
This was the first year that our Creative Crew met only in the Fall Semester. So this mural took us an entire Saturday of painting to get it finished.
We were asked to paint at the 3rd Avenue Boys and Girls Club here in Decatur because it just needed a boost of color to make it more exciting and more inviting to the children that come here to play.
We had looked at several different ideas and then came across the work of Keith Haring, full of color and motion! Well, we were hooked! We designed a few things on our own and revelled in the weird shapes we could create with color.
A good time was had by all! My students are so much a reflection of myself... and couldn't help but get covered in paint.
This was our last year at our beloved school. We thought it fitting to give the 'ol' girl' a new look before we left. We started with designing murals to be painted on the walls opposing the library. These designs focused on reading and the imagination.
We next tackled the gym...
Our gymnasium was most unique because it had the old style wooden, three layered bleachers, and a second floor balcony. Coach Johnny Albert, our fabulous P.E. teacher, and his wonderful side kick Mrs. Harriett Byrd had requested that we paint the gym and spruce her up a bit.
Well, since we already loved Keith Haring's work and the effect it has on ANY room is really eye opening, we decided to go with him. We created new characters, we covered all the walls and even worked on the balcony - painting the doors and windows! It took us several Friday afternoons but we took great pride in brightening up our last year at Gordon-Bibb.
Still trying to locate the files!
LURLEEN B. WALLACE CENTER'S GYM MURALS
The year 2005 brought us to our temporary facility, the Lurleen B. Wallace Center, while our new location, Leon Sheffield Elementary is getting renovated. The Wallace Center has been an interesting experience for us all, not only the packing and unpacking, but the brush with nature on a daily basis. This facility had been closed for approximately two years and the look and feel of the buildings, well, was bland and empty.
After we finished with the gym we definately left our mark of the excitement and color of children on this place forever!
LEON SHEFFIELD MAGNET'S GYM 2006
(see 2006 activities for more pics)
We finally have our new permanent home! The newly renovated building and additional wing for the magnet program is just great but in need of a little flash. The full gym with beautifully refinished floors cried out for color so the new Crew came up with some new Haring-esque characters to fill the walls.
Coach Albert also wanted the Presidential Physical Fitness Award design and a field goal for football season painted on the walls -- we were on a mission!
COMMERCE CITY AT LSME
2006
Dr. Sittason had five wooden buildings built to create a miniature city. Each building is integral in teaching students to handle money, buy & sell goods, and, basically, teach job responsibilities. These buildings were:
Post Office, Library, Bank, School Supplies, and Newspaper.
The buildings were stained... by my students. If that doesn't make you chuckle I don't know what would. It was an adventure, to say the least! The rubber gloves helped ... for the first 5-10 minutes, but the students had a grand time and felt like they had contributed to the school.
Visit 2006 Activities for more pictures!
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB,
6TH STREET 2006
Our service project for the community this year was to brighten up the club with painted murals. The Crew met on a Saturday and worked for 5 hours to create these colorful images. We just can't get enough of the Haring-esque characters!
Visit 2006 Activities for more pictures!
CLICK MONA TO RETURN TO THE CREATIVE CREW MAIN.
