Elementary holds second art walk; includes plant sale to raise funds for EATS

The turnout was so nice, they did it twice.

Due to the popularity of the Evergreen Elementary art walk held on Dec. 1, the school's social-emotional learning teacher Tawney Crowley worked with staff and students to hold another May 17.

Along with art exhibits covering tables, lining walls and hanging from the ceiling, Tracey Martin, the Evergreen Agricultural Testing Site (EATS) garden instructor, was selling plants from the garden to raise funds to keep the project going.

"We have tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, dill, brussels sprouts, basil, parsley, house plants," Martin said.

The garden, like the artwork, ties into the social-emotional learning aspect being taught through the art projects. Martin has equated the garden to friendships for the students that help grow the plants. "You have to water them, fertilize them, give them space to take care of them," she said. "If you just leave them alone, what's going to happen? If you neglect them, they're going to die."

Most of the art on display was from a class lesson or prompted by a U.S. Forest Service staffer who directed the students on how to create bird-related art for Birdfest. Cranes, geese and other types of fowl were displayed throughout the halls of the school.

"We had the bird festival and a lady taught them how to do (snow goose silhouettes)," said fourth grade teacher Brian Merritt. "It was nice because we talked about snow goose migration and how it applied to Wrangell, then they got to make the silhouettes with sponges by dabbing it. It's amazing. It's about three hours' worth of work."

Natalya Jabusch, mother of fifth grader Jimmy Jabusch, walked with her son throughout the halls, looking for his artwork. "He's very artistically inclined," she said of her son's abilities. "This is our second time. They did it before a while ago. I think it's awesome."

But with all the floating hot-air balloons, jellyfish and whale tails, one display caused plenty of stir and murmurs. The high school art class Vans Custom Culture shoes were on display near the end of the walk. Art teacher Tasha Morse stood by to answer any questions about the shoes and the contest. And, no, she assured those asking, she still hadn't been informed if Wrangell was the winner of the $50,000 grand prize.

"I can't concentrate on my job right now," Morse said. "It's the not knowing and the possibility that it's still out there. We've gone this for, now I have to know."

Ultimately, Wrangell was not picked as the grand prize winner, but still won $15,000 as a runner-up. Moanalua High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, was chosen as the winner.