Students from Cimino Elementary School visited Bloomingdale High School in March and were greeted with a surprise of monstrous proportion.
Months before, Bloomingdale chief art teacher Pamela Reeves collaborated with Cimino second grade teacher Mary Anne Gonsalves on a creative project all about making monsters. The second grade class drew friendly monsters and wrote descriptive words about them. The monster pictures and descriptions were given to Bloomingdale’s art department. Art students recreated the monsters in 2D drawings and wrote a small story using the second graders’ descriptions. Bloomingdale’s ceramics class created figurines of the monsters. During the Monster Exchange, the second graders were surprised by a framed picture of their monster, the figurines and high school students reading a story based on their monster.
Reeves said the project was a big undertaking, but the greatest reward was seeing the reactions from both the elementary students and high school students. At the Monster Exchange, Reeves thanked and commended the second-grade students for their creativity and imagination.
“These monsters started with your imagination and our high school students had so much fun bringing them to life for you,” she told the students.
“It is heartwarming to witness the impact art can have on our young people. Arts bring people together; building community and remind us that creativity has no age limit,” Reeves said.
The high school students worked on the project for weeks. Reeves said that she was proud of all of her students. She commended junior Madison Tavarez, president of the art club, for the time and energy she spent ensuring the event was successful.
“This event means a lot to me because it shows how art can connect different age groups and bring creativity to life. My favorite part is seeing the original second-grade drawings next to the finished artwork and sculptures. It’s amazing to see how the high school students interpreted the monsters and brought them to life in a completely different way,” Tavarez said.
The second graders received a monster backpack for their monster items and could visit three activities centers. Bloomingdale’s Culinary department provided appetizers and refreshments.
For more information about Bloomingdale High School’s art department, email Pamela Reeves at pamela.reeves@hcps.net.
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