Tech/Appalachian Center artists visit Bobby Ray

By MARGARET HOBBS Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

It?s all in the design, as third-grade student, Breanna Forth finds, as she works on a collage on the cover of her book. She and almost 500 Bobby Ray Memorial students took part in the two-day craft session.

Bobby Ray Memorial students had the unique opportunity to make their own books, marble paper and watch a flame worker make glass beads at their school last week. Various artists from Tennessee Tech University/Appalachian Center for Craft visited the school to educate and enlighten students with their talents, made possible through the Arts Build Communities Program.

?We had the sessions last year, and they were great,? said principal Beverly Ramsey. ?The students are expanding their horizons through art techniques they do not see in their daily lives.?

Ten year glass-blowing veteran, Michael Hernandez impressed the students as he demonstrated flame work, making small glass beads. He made very detailed beads into the shape of a hamburger, a peach, a drinking cup, an apple, and other creative designs.

Students got to get their hands dirty in the marbling class. They dipped sheets of paper into a special liquid mixture, laced with assorted paint colors. As the paper is removed, unique, colorful designs stay on the paper. ?No two are alike, and they can be creative and receive immediate results from this project,? said marbling instructor Gail Gentry.

A favorite for the students was the bookmaking session, where paper maker Claudia Lee turned the children?s creativity on as they designed their own book.

Younger students received pre-folded books, where they got to collage the cover, while the middle age group actually folded the book, sewed pages into it and then decorated the cover.

The fifth-graders made origami books, where they folded and pasted their book together.

Lee said, ?This activity teaches creativity, problem solving and gives them a sense of satisfaction when completed. They are so cute, some of them are talking about giving their books to others as gifts.?

The Arts Build Communities program is funded by the Tennessee General assembly and administered in cooperation with the Tennessee Arts Commission and The community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.