EDUCATIONAL SPACE ENHANCEMENTS

Art Courtyard – A Special Place for Inspiration, Creation & Reflection

 
Description:
This is an outdoor 90’ x 90’ hands-on, experiential learning space closest to the West Avenue side of the new Elyria High School located outside of the school’s art classrooms. Created by students and faculty, the art courtyard will serve as an interdisciplinary area for creativity and learning. Art students will use their observational, analytic and interpretative skills in this natural outdoor setting to create art and share it with other students and the community.
 
A round fountain will serve as the focal point of a curving, garden setting that features three raised round flower beds, a stamped concrete walking path, spaces for sculptures and topiaries created by art and JVS landscaping students, and an attachable awning system to protect art from weather during student and community art shows. Other unique features include two outdoor gas kilns, work spaces with outdoor sinks, and eight tables to support outdoor ceramic and art classes.               
 
Benefits:
  • Makes learning hands-on and experiential and allows students to learn more about the elements of nature and their impact on art and culture;
  • Reinforces Ohio Academic Content Standards in art and other areas;
  • Creates a venue for constantly changing student exhibitions and community interaction;
  • Expands learning outside the classroom, inspiring still-lives, paintings, sculptures and more with natural light, plants and other living things; 
  • Promotes caring and responsibility for living things, which according to research, carries through to other areas of life;
  • Allow students hands-on experience with a glazing process that that they could not experience without the outdoor Raku kilns;
  • Promotes team work and leadership skills;
  • Can be used across academic disciplines i.e. science, language arts, consumer science. 
 
Projected Cost: $25,000
(Includes: fountain, cement stamped path, landscaping, awning, two Raku kilns, eight tables, shed and gardening tools, 30 portable easels, outdoor gas, electric and water, and installations.)