A lot of kids can cut
magazines and glue pieces on a board. And a lot of kids can dump glitter on
this board and swirl it around. Most kids would say they’re experts at this.
But only some can boast a
national gold key for this project.
In 2001, nine Marian
freshmen, with the assistance of Ms. Kathy MacPherson, art teacher, created a
grid of nine squares, three by three, merely using ordinary items like glitter
and magazines.
After winning a gold key,
first place, at the state level competition, they made their way up to
nationals, where this collage won a national gold key award. Aside from the
general excitement of winning, the nine students also received 100 dollars
each.
The contest concluded, their
artwork went on tour, displayed at places like Washington D.C. and New York
City. The artists gave little thought to its safety, assuming a museum or the
nation’s capital would generally be a secure place for a high school art piece,
however, shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, Macpherson received a letter explaining
that unfortunately the collage had been in the World Trade Center during the
attacks and thus could not be returned.
One member of the team
senior Krissie LeClair said, “I thought we lost it for good. My mom was bugging
me saying she really wishes it would come back.
Not much was said about the
lost art project during the rest of their sophomore and junior years. Not much
was said this year until a mysterious package arrived, addressed to MacPherson.
“I never thought it would be
recovered,” MacPherson said.
But, much to her and the
Advanced Art 2 class, their piece had been returned.
Recalling the work spent on
this project, senior Megan Hutchinson said, “I liked how it was a group project
because normally we just do individuals. I also liked that it was a laid back
project.”
Now that the work has been
returned to Marian, Head of School, Miss Elizabeth Kish has sent it to be
repaired, rematted, and refinished. When it returns, they’ve already picked a
location in which it will be displayed.
Standing outside of the main
office, looking at the end of freshman hall, one can see a career poster
display, which will be replaced with the gold key winning art award.
No one knew before what is
possible with a little glitter, magazines, and rhinestones.