CNBNEWS.NET : Statues in the Community Garden
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
photos by Patrolman Ken Iepson
Pictured left to right: Tracey Oehlert, Jeff Johnson, Janey Dean on one of the statues, Bryan Simmerman and Marilyn Keating
PRESS RELEASE
GLOUCESTER CITY NJ-On May 20th, 2011, students from the Highland Park Program for Success, Mickie Glassman with members of the Gloucester City Gardening and Beautification Association, and Paul Spaventa, Superintendent of Gloucester City Schools, came together in the community garden on Market Street.
Jeff Johnson puts the first statue in place.
The meeting was to to dedicate two statues that the Highland Park students helped make for the community garden with mentor-artist and longtime Gloucester City resident, Marilyn Keating, and their art teacher, Janey Dean, who is also the founder of Future Artists Now (FAN, www.futureartistsnow.org).
"We worked on these statues during this school year. It was our first in-school Future Artists Now community art project," said Janey Dean. "The students learned so much and loved working with Marilyn Keating. I am so proud of their participation. Together we conceptualized, collaborated and created two tree stump benches with turtles, birds, flowers and other such things, specially designed for the garden."
Superintendent Paul Spaventa commented, " The community garden is wonderful and this artwork is a great addition. It will be here many years as a testimony to their hard work... And I appreciate their efforts and the faculty at the Highland Park Program for Success, especially the art students who have worked on these art projects so diligently. Thank you! I'll ride by every day and see them. It's a wonderful addition to the community."
The students are committed and eager to do more artwork to beautify our community. Future Artists Now invites everyone who wishes to participate in the creation of community art projects to contact Janey Dean at[email protected].
Detailed view of one statue with tile inset by Deanna Struzinski of her song lyrics, adjacent to bird sculpture by Marilyn Keating.