Antioch District 34 art teachers, Cheryl Jerik and Amy Pieniazkiewicz-Grude worked to make the students feel connected to the school community with their inspirational feathers. This art lesson was inspired by street artist Kelsey Montague and her #whatliftsyou social media movement. Kelsey Montague is known all over the world for creating interactive drawings where passersby are able to engage with and take photos within her work.
Students at Hillcrest, Oakland, and W.C. Petty each designed a feather that the teachers later put together into giant wings. Students were asked to fill the wings with images or symbols of things that inspired them. The feathers/wings were displayed at the Antioch Piggly Wiggly where anyone could interact with them and photograph themselves.
The response from the community has been incredible! Students loved seeing their work up in a public space; their families and friends were able to also get in on the art action by taking photos within the displayed wings and posting on social media using the hashtags: #whatliftsyou and #SoarWithD34.