Timeline

The Gathering Grounds is a proud component of Sonora Middle School’s ongoing Arts Integration Partnership with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, connecting students to American art and their community.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History and the Hunt Family Nature Center for inspiring our students’ designs for The Gathering Grounds.

In May 2025, select students participated in a field trip to the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History to inform and inspire their creative work.

In August 2025, representatives from both organizations visited seventh grade art classes to share presentations that helped students explore the history, culture, and natural beauty of Springdale and the surrounding Ozarks.

September 2025

After researching their ideas, students brought them to life by sketching their designs on graph paper.

October 2025

Art students narrowed 84 initial designs down to 44 semifinalists.

During Fall conferences, Sonora families, faculty, and staff helped select the 15 finalists from the 44 semifinal designs!

Semifinalists

Art students collaborated to create full-scale paper prototypes of the selected designs.

The Prototypes

November 2025

The Gathering Grounds: A Public Art Project that Tells Community Stories

Student prototypes for The Gathering Grounds were displayed throughout the month of November at the Springdale Public Library, giving community members an opportunity to view and celebrate the creative development of the project.

December 2025

Digitizing the Designs

Students in EAST Initiative digitized each mosaic design using Google Sheets. Creating digital versions of the designs not only made tile placement more efficient, but also allowed students to calculate the exact number of tiles needed in each color for every tabletop and bench.

January 2026 - April 2026

Making the Tabletops and Benches

The glass tiles arrived attached to a paper backing. Students carefully soaked the tiles in water to loosen them from the paper before preparing them for the mosaic designs.

Students then placed the tiles into a mounting grid, carefully following their assigned section of the overall design.