Sun Valley students imagine ‘what lies beneath’ at Tyler Arboretum
For the past eight years, Sun Valley High School students have been writing stories as part of an innovative community writing initiative called “The Tyler Arboretum Writing Project.” The latest batch of stories from these young writers was just published at the start of the New Year.
The project is the result of a partnership between Sun Valley High School creative writing teacher Paul Carboni, Tyler Arboretum in Media, and Pine Street Carpenters, West Chesterbased remodeling firm.
In 2010, Pine Street Carpenters built a mysterious and ominous door leading underground for Tyler Arboretum as part of the arboretum’s exhibit Nature’s Enchantment. Pine Street’s contribution to the exhibit, called “What Lies Beneath?” was designed to be an interactive writer’s prompt, inspiring visitors to write a story inspired by the cryptic door. For the past eight years, visitors young and old have been doing just that, with their stories collectively published online at tylerarboretumwritingproject.com
Paul Carboni, creative writing teacher at Sun Valley High School, has made “What Lies Beneath?” part of his annual curriculum, and it has become a favorite assignment among his students.
“It’s sometimes difficult to teach writing to diverse personalities,” said Carboni, “but this project is appealing to everyone. This type of writer’s prompt inspires all creative writers to channel their individual writer’s voices as they see fit. Over the years, I’ve found that stories can be written based in reality or fantasy. Nobody is pigeonholed in writing into writing a genre with which he or she is uncomfortable.”
Carboni believes the project is even more relevant today than when it first opened in 2010.
“There’s such fascination today with television shows like ‘Stranger Things’ that came out in 2015, the What Lies Beneath? exhibit, which similarly illustrates an indistinct blur between fantasy and reality, was ahead of its time,” he said.
“As a freshman writing ‘What Lies Beneath?,’ it was intimidating as much as it was exciting,” said DariaRose Mariotti, a senior at Sun Valley. “It gave me the ability to create something truly unique and special. Three years later, as I offer feedback and peer edits to those also in this class, I recognize that the entire process of crafting these stories is rewarding and uplifting.”
Mariotti is among the Sun Valley students whose work has been published on the project’s website, joining well over 100 others who have been inspired by “What Lies Beneath?” Contributions have come from visitors throughout the region, representing all age groups — from preschool aged children to retirees — and from over a dozen towns and cities, including: Montreal, Philadelphia, Aston, Boothwyn, Downingtown, Haverford, Interboro, Lansdowne, Media, Phoenixville, Prospect Park, Schwenksville, Wallingford, West Chester, and Hopewell, NJ.
“We’re thrilled that this exhibit keeps inspiring budding writers,” says Michael Dolan, director of marketing for Pine Street Carpenters, the remodeling firm that conceived the idea for the writing project and built the mysterious door amidst the trees at Tyler Arboretum. “It’s been a wonderful partnership with Sun Valley High School, and we look forward to reading and publishing their students’ imaginative stories each year.”
To participate in “The Tyler Arboretum Writing Project,” and to see a video of the mysterious “What Lies Beneath?” door, visit tylerarboretumwritingproject.com. To see the door in person, visit Tyler Arboretum at 515 Painter Road in Media.