United States vs. Canada in Twitter-fuelled art throwdown
CAMBRIDGE — Maybe you picture an artist as someone who works alone in unknowable ways, emerging from seclusion with a piece you can’t fathom.
You would be wrong. Young artists proved it Friday.
Dozens of high school students collaborated openly in a deadline-driven, cross-border artistic throwdown, streamed live online.
So: not weird. Not secluded. Fully on display while in progress. And competitive.
Kids got a kick out of it at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. Also at Martha Layne Collins High School in Kentucky. The schools went head to head, U.S. vs. Canada.
“It brings a different level of intensity to the art,” said St. Benedict student Sydney Standing, 15.
Teams of students were given two hours to craft three sculptures to showcase a theme. Kentucky students chose the essence of America. Cambridge students chose the essence of St. Benedict.
Then they got busy, sculpting with glue guns, scissors, cardboard, wrapping tape and plastic.
It’s been a revelation to Standing that art can be a team effort.
“I had this different image of what art was in my head,” she said. “You don’t have to just be painting by yourself. Art can be so much more.”
“It’s just so amazing to see everything come together,” said Kamal Sambi, 15.
Their job was to help sculpt a tree of life for St. Benedict, using plastic and tape. Lights will make it glow.
Jaimie Milne, 16, helped to craft a three-dimensional cardboard heart, because St. Benedict is the heart of a community.
Art appeals to her because it is not black or white, right or wrong. It is interpretation.
“I’m so connected with art,” she said. “You can’t really mess up.”
Eric Laffin, 15, did not expect art class to be so relaxing. “There’s something soothing about it,” he said. “It’s like an escape, almost.”
But maybe not so relaxing on this day. “It’s a competition,” Laffin said. “We’re hoping to win.”
Art teachers collaborated over Twitter to make the throwdown happen.
“Most of my kids probably won’t go to Canada,” Kentucky teacher Matt Cockrell said.
So this helps connect them to a different country. And it gives artists the kind of performance platform that musicians enjoy.
“I want to give them that opportunity to be seen and be heard,” Cockrell said.
Cambridge teacher Ann Weiler sees a future payoff as students grasp the power of collaboration.
“What is the most important skill that employers are looking for right now?” she said. “It’s creativity. It’s thinking outside the box.”