The creativity of eight students in the 3D sculpture and ceramics class at Homewood-Flossmoor High School brought to life “Obelisk,” the 12th outdoor sculpture on campus, which was dedicated at a cermony on Tuesday, May 30.
students in his 3D Sculpture and Ceramics class
who created the obelisk are, from left, Bryant
Monteilh, Rachael Rusek, Dyeisha Garrison,
Olivia Ryan, Kacie Schmidt, Ashley Dureke and
Joshua Platz. Lesha Thompson is not pictured.
(Photos by Marilyn Thomas/H-F Chronicle)
The creativity of eight students in the 3D sculpture and ceramics class at Homewood-Flossmoor High School brought to life “Obelisk,” the 12th outdoor sculpture on campus.
12th outdoor sculpture
completed by H-F High
students.
The students gave it their all to complete the project the last week of class so the Art Department could host the official dedication of “Obelisk” on Tuesday, May 30.
District 233 school board members Debbie Berman and Jody Scariano cut the special dedication ribbon and applauded the students for their efforts. Students who worked on the project are Joshua Platz, Lesha Thompson, Dyeisha Garrison, Kathleen Schmidt and Olivia Ryan, Rachel Rusek, Ashley Dureke and Bryant Monteilh.
The sculpture, in an alcove off a main hallway at the school, stands in the center of a small garden of roses and greenery, the finishing touches added by the students.
“This has been an amazing journey,” art teacher Greg Petecki said. “This project displays our tradition of excellence and is another legacy to H-F from our students.”
Petecki said his class started working on the project in November as students were pondering the country’s mood around the presidential election. The symbolism of the obelisk has been used to reflect power and education.
Students carried that message into the 13-foot tall structure built on a treated wood skeleton covered with cement board that was lacquered in mortar used as adhesive for the pieces of reflective glass. The last step was adding grout. It took the students two months to build and cover the structure.
“The fractured mirror mosaic represents the individuality and diversity of our student body,” Ashley told guests at the dedication. “As individuals, we all have varying strengths and ideas, however when challenged to work together, we can achieve something magnificent, strong, and powerful … like the ‘Obelisk.’”
The quarter-inch thick mirrored glass came in sheets that the students shattered. They made a puzzle as they used adhesive to attach the pieces during 50-minute class periods and then applied grout when they had block schedule that gave them 80-minutes to work on the piece, explained junior Rachel.
Bryant said he joined the class because “I love building things,” and he was happy to see how all the pieces came together.
The obelisk was one of several designs the students considered, including an outdoor project, Ashley explained.
“This one was better for the time we had. I really like how it turned out.”
left, and Jody Scariano cut the dedication ribbon for
mirrored obelisk, the newest student-created
sculpture at Homewood-Flossmoor High School.