12/09/2024

Art united an entire class at Grand Island Senior High, as students were to create one large mural together — they just didn’t know it.

 

Students in Kasey Lammers’ newcomers art class were given a white square of paper with specific instructions on what to draw, using a specific color palette. The Newcomers Program helps students who recently arrived in the country gain English language skills to transition into a traditional classroom. For the art project in Mr. Lammers’ class, each student had a small example to work off of.

 

“They were all confused, looking at it, just this random square,” Ruth Hormachea, bilingual para, said. “But then when they were done, [with the individual squares], we put them all together.”

 

Sophomore Luis Maren and Senior Miguel Ramirez said this project was new to them, but really enjoyed it.

 

“I liked this project, and I especially liked the face that the character has,” Maren said.

 

Ramirez had a clue in solving the puzzle of the masterpiece.

 

“I knew I got the eye [for his square piece], and I immediately thought it was something to do with Dragon Ball Z,” Ramirez said. “I immediately told the teacher, and they were like ‘how did you know?’”

 

Miguel was right – the masterpiece of all the squares made together was a mural of Son Goku from Dragon Ball Z.

 

Lammers said when he was putting the project together, he knew that a lot of his students were interested in anime. So, he decided to make it part of the art project.

 

“I thought it was a fantastic way for kids to relate to art,” Lammers said. 

 

He said the “secret” project was also such a good way for his students to interact.

 

“They were curious about, ‘oh, what is this piece?’, or ‘which one does it go to?’. And then a lot of kids just help each other anyways, like with mixing colors,” Lammers added. “It's this one big secret image, so they're curious to find out what it is. But then, it's just something that is ours. It's nice to see just one thing that we can say, ‘hey, we made this together’.”

 

Both Ramirez and Maren said they learn so much in class, and they take their skills beyond the classroom.

 

“I like this class and how they teach me how to draw,” Ramirez said. “I like all the different shapes, the pencils, the colors, everything.”

 

Maren said art is his favorite class, and mentioned he enjoys making the alebrije sculptures they’ve been working on recently. He said he’s been able to continue honing his art skills at home.

 

“This is how I learn to do things,” Maren added. “When I want to do something, I remember what I’ve been told and from what I’ve learned in school, then I can continue doing it,” he said.

 

Hormachea echoed Lammers’ statements about the satisfaction of making one art piece together as a class – art is universal and brings people together.

 

“They don't need to speak English or Spanish, or whatever language, to all pitch in and form this art,” she said. 

 

Lammers said he can be challenged with language, but he is still able to communicate effectively by using more gestures in the classroom, and of course, by using art.

 

“Art is a visual language that we can all speak,” Lammers said. “It's something that everybody can partake in.”

 

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