Rooted in the Arts

The Arts & Innovation Magnet Program was awarded a Vibrant Communities Grant through the Georgia Council for the Arts! Through the project, titled Rooted in the Arts, students explored the art of Andy Goldsworthy and created sculptures from nature and a sculpture herb garden. With ArtsNOW consultant, Shannon Green, this STEAM Residency allowed students to explore sculpture, nature, and make connections with math and science throughout the process.

This project had two phases. A planning and design phase and an implementation phase. Through the work with ArtsNow Consultant and Artist, Shannon Green, students participated in designing and planning the garden. Using the work of Andy Goldsworthy as inspiration, student teams designed their own art-inspired herb garden sculpture. Using a charrette process, all students worked to create the final design and placement of the sculpture for the garden. Professional development opportunities, as well as curricular connections were woven into this process. From researching the needs of the plants, to the measurements and design using 6th and 7th grade math skills, students and teachers were able to incorporate multiple modalities and cross-curricular concepts. Mrs. Green connected the artists work, garden needs, and social-emotional learning awareness throughout her work with the students and staff.

The second phase of this project had the students working together to create their own living sculpture in the AIM Garden. Students created meaningful, reflective, and useful living sculptures. The elements of the garden sculpture has provided the students a place to tend to and take care of the garden in the future, a place to harvest herbs needed for various culinary projects, and a place to relax and reflect on the stressors of teens and school.

We would like to thank the Georgia Council for the Arts and the State of Georgia Leaders who made this opportunity possible for our students!

Please take a moment to look through the work completed by the students at AIM.