Seymour Elementary

This collaborative installation was created by students from Seymour Elementary School and inspired by the work of Pablo Picasso and the idea of perspective how the way we see ourselves can be very different from how others experience and see us. Through this project, students explored identity, self-image, and connection through art.

I shared a teaching with the students about Eagle: that although Eagle is strong and powerful enough to turn against the animals that bother or challenge them, Eagle instead chooses to rise above negativity by flying higher. The lesson focused on choosing positive responses, carrying strength with humility, and lifting ourselves above conflict and hardship with a good heart and mind.

Every student contributed to this installation. Each angle reveals silhouettes of student profiles that were created using projected shadows and tracing techniques. Students also explored several other methods of observing and drawing their own profiles, including looking sideways into mirrors, working with partners to help trace one another, and lying down on large sheets of paper to trace the outlines of their faces.

Each student created two works: one personal piece to take home and another smaller contribution that became part of the larger installation an Eagle in flight carrying the incredible students of Seymour together. The pillar within the work symbolizes the strength and responsibility of the older students lifting up and supporting the younger students within their community.

The installation combines a wide range of materials including leather, vinyl, watercolours, permanent marker, cardboard, emergency blankets, lamp shades, and a recycled car grill used to form the Eagle itself. The mix of reclaimed and contemporary materials reflects both creativity and transformation, turning everyday objects into a shared story of resilience, perspective, and community strength.