Spreading Our Wings in the Face of Challenge: A Story of Artistic Collaboration

BTS Art teachers often find themselves facing unique challenges and opportunities in their profession. One such moment unfolded at John Hancock Charter Schools before the arrival  of Governor Cox for the ribbon cutting to open the new Eagle Mountain campus.

Kim Frank, JHCS Board Chair and Utah Charter Network’s Executive Director, and Julie Adamic, the Director of John Hancock Charter Schools, approached me with a remarkable task: to create an all-campus art project in just one-and-a-half weeks. 

Additionally, they requested that one of our students draw the building as a gift for the governor. Needless to say, it was a stressful situation, but with determination and teamwork, we transformed it into a creative success story.

The Vision:

Soon after I received the assignment, inspiration struck. I envisioned an eagle with wings transformed into a flag. I sought the assistance of one of my art teachers, Ali Robinson, to bring this vision to life. Together, we embarked on the journey of creating a campus-wide, collaborative work of art.

The Project:

Our project involved designing four different feathers, with older students painting them in shades of blue and red. Each student designed their feather using acrylic markers in gold, silver, black, or white, while keeping the background color consistent.

 Ali sketched out the eagle, and I painted it onto a sizable canvas. Gluing for many hours, burning many fingers, and creating two sore backs, Ali and I glued almost 800 feathers onto the canvas. We only glued the top part of the feathers to achieve my vision of a more life-like texture.

It was a huge success. When the children saw the eagle, they were amazed at what their one feather helped create. 

Even today, they like to point out their feather. 

When Governor Cox entered the building, he immediately saw the Eagle and said how amazing it was. He even signed it for us.

The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Art Program:

This year marks my eighth year as a visual art teacher and now Art Director through the Beverley Taylor Sorenson (BTS) Art Program at John Hancock Charter Schools. The project showcased the profound impact this art program has had on the students fortunate enough to experience it.

Progressive Art Education:

Our art education at John Hancock Charter School starts with kindergarteners learning to draw landscapes and progressively adding complexity each year. By third grade, they grasp the concept of a foreground, middle ground, and background, while fourth graders explore basic one-point perspective.

A Pleasing Outcome:

Ali Robinson tried to teach the new seventh and eighth graders (who had not had a BTS Art program) how to draw the Eagle Mountain building without any success. Frustrated, I told Julie Adamic that if she and Kim wanted to have a nice drawing, it needed to come from the Pleasant Grove Campus.

 I invited the Pleasant Grove fifth through eighth grade students to each draw the Eagle Mountain building. Out of all the beautiful drawings, only one could be chosen. We had it framed. All the Eagle Mountain Campus sixth, seventh, and eighth graders signed the mat, and we gifted it to the governor.

The Impact of BTS:

John Hancock Charter Schools enjoy an excellent reputation with minimal student or teacher turnover and some of the highest test scores in the nation. Last year the third-grade class of our dearly beloved third-grade teacher, Ms. Karen Decker, had the highest LEA reading scores in the state. In math, we are in the top ten in Utah. 

I truly believe that these scores are high not only because of the amazing teachers and staff at John Hancock Charter School but also because of the BTS Arts program. It fosters collaboration between teachers and art educators like me to enhance students’ learning experiences.

The Power of Both Sides of the Brain:

The great scientist Einstein played the violin or piano if he was stuck on a physics problem, because it stimulated his creativity. We recognize that both sides of the brain, the creative right side and the analytical left side, work best when harmonized. 

For instance, Ms. Decker came to me and said that the students were having a hard time learning symmetry in math class. I had the students create a symmetric piece of art which helped them understand symmetry and helped them be more successful in math.

A Call for Wider Implementation:

I am immensely grateful to be a part of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts program, which has contributed to our students’ success. Every school can incorporate BTS into their curriculum for the betterment of education and the enrichment of young minds.

This project showcased the transformative power of art education and highlighted the immense potential for collaboration between art teachers and the traditional educational system. It is a testament to the lasting impact the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts program can have on students and their academic journeys.

JennyLynn Gomm Diesen
BTS Art Director for John Hancock Charter Schools