|
|
Thursday, May 26, 2005
|
|
Former, current BHS students create artwork for arboretum
Entertainment Editor BAXTER -- At times during the creation of the new Northland Arboretum sculpture, Cala Bahr and Serena Jackson felt like fish out of water. But there's no arguing with the end result, appropriately dubbed Fish Out of Water.
"I'm very pleased with how it turned out," said Jackson. She and Bahr, both 2004 Brainerd High School graduates, led the conceptual team that began hashing out ideas for the sculpture -- a head and tail of a fish appearing to emerge from water -- during their senior year.
Bahr's first sketch, done the old-fashioned way -- on paper -- was a geometric shape that proved too ambitious. The students' original plan was to use copper, but that proved too expensive and time-consuming. Indeed, their first grant request to Youth as Resources was turned down.
"Yeah, well, I came up with that design and it was a little difficult to figure out the scale of it," Bahr said with a laugh before Wednesday's unveiling celebration at the arboretum. Even creating a small model proved daunting.
So Bahr and Jackson got a boost from the current BHS art club, which designed something more economical -- fewer steel rods instead of numerous copper rods. Based on the new model, YAR awarded the team a grant in March.
The completed fish is 5-10 feet high and about 15 feet long, complete with fins (designed to reflect light) and eyes (made out of saw blades). It only cost $600, BHS art club teacher Jennifer Cramer said. The original idea would've cost about $3,000.
"Since the high school offered a welding class, just using scale and welding it was much more economical," Bahr said. "The students could do it all then."
Senior Nate Welliver headed up a team of students from the advanced metal arts class, which put the final weld on the project this spring doing all their work outside of class.
As it sits now behind the main building, the sculpture is hardly out of water (on a rainy day like Wednesday, it's the muddy variety). But the arboretum will soon add a flower pond (from which the fish will appear to emerge) and a walking path. At Wednesday's event, young volunteers created stepping stones out of concrete, seashells and blue and green glass beads.
Bahr is now studying graphic design at Bemidji State University, where she rooms with Jackson, an elementary education major.
"I was really glad I had the opportunity to do (the sculpture) because it does look good on a resume," Bahr said.
JOHN HANSEN can be reached at john.hansen@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5863.
|
|
|
Thinking about a New Job?
These employers want you!
|
|
Schools has an opening fo...
|
|
not a
9-5 person,
how about
11-2, 4-...
|
|
CASH!!
Independent Carrier need...
|
|
position plans sales trai...
|
|
is hiring for the following
...
|
|
|
|
Bids Being Accepted
call...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Today's Best Classifieds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Overcast, 61°
