December 01, 2005
December 1, 2005
LANSING – During this holiday season, decorative art made by students from across Michigan will be on display at the Governor’s Lansing Residence and Ceremonial Office in the state Capitol. The artwork, contributed by 531 students from 35 schools across the state, depicts traditional symbols of learning, reflecting the theme: “ABC’s of Michigan – Many Ways of Learning.” Students from 22 participating schools – some from as far away as Brimley in the Upper Peninsula – toured the Governor’s Residence on November 30 to see their work showcased.
“I am committed to educating Michigan’s children, and I am proud to display the fine work, creative spirit, and innovative thinking of these students in my home and Ceremonial Office,” Granholm said. “These holiday decorations reflect the spirit of the season and the bright and creative minds of Michigan’s children.”
“The ABC’s of Michigan” project was designed to provide students from kindergarten through high school with a unique opportunity to develop their creativity, while reflecting on the many ways they learn. The project also highlighted the link between art and real-world skills. Students learned to use their creativity to express an idea, while still adhering to specific guidelines regarding specific size, theme, and placement.
Each of the participating elementary and middle schools submitted 21 small decorations and 2 large decorations that explore a letter in the alphabet using a variety of materials, including paper, photographs, wood and clay. The small decorations hang on a Michigan concolor fir tree donated by Slocum Brothers Tree Farm in Hart and on garlands hung throughout the residence, some made by students. The larger decorations hang in the windows. A wreath donated by Peterson’s Riverview Nursery in Allegan hangs on the entry door. High school students contributed larger, 3-dimensional pieces of art.
The “ABCs of Michigan” project was made possible through a unique partnership between the Governor’s Office, Michigan public schools, teachers, artist in residence programs, and the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). MDE worked with ArtServe Michigan and the Michigan Art Education Association to invite 55 schools to participate in the program. The department provided sample activities and project curriculum guidelines to each school to serve as springboards for teachers to create learning activities that corresponded with the theme of “Many Ways of Learning.”
The artwork will be displayed through the end of December and will then become part of the Residence archives. Photos of the ornaments and decorations will be available by December 7 at www.michigan.gov/gov The following schools contributed decorative art to the project:
• Academy of the Americas, Detroit Public Schools
• Baldwin High School, Baldwin Public Schools
• Barber Focus School of Math, Science & Technology, Highland Park Schools
• Brimley Area Schools, Brimley
• Bryant Middle School, Dearborn Public Schools
• Calumet High School, Calumet Public Schools
• CLK Elementary School , Calumet Public Schools
• Community Partnerships Program, College for Creative Studies, Benton Harbor Public Schools
• Coopersville Junior High School, Coopersville Area Public Schools
• Corunna High School, Corunna Public Schools
• Corunna Middle School, Corunna Public Schools
• Creative Arts/Gifted & Talented Academy, Benton Harbor Public Schools
• Dearborn High School, Dearborn Public Schools
• Detroit City High School, Detroit Public Schools
• Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Detroit Public Schools
• Durand High School, Durand Area Schools
• Elsa Meyer Elementary, Corunna Public Schools
• Erickson Elementary School, Ypsilanti Public Schools
• Floyd M. Jewett Elementary, Mesick Consolidated Schools
• Greenfield Union Pk-8, Detroit Public Schools
• Keweenaw Krayons, Mohawk
• Kelloggsville Middle School, Kelloggsville Public Schools
• Louise Peacock Elementary, Corunna Public Schools
• Luther Elementary/Pine River Area School, Pine River Area Schools
• Maple Lane Elementary, Macomb Intermediate School District
• Michigan School For The Deaf, Michigan Department of Education in Flint
• Nellie Reed Elementary, Corunna Public Schools
• North-East Education Center, Muskegon County
• Pleasant View Magnet School, Lansing Public Schools
• River Oaks Elementary, Dearborn Public Schools
• Rogers Lane Elementary, Wyoming Public Schools
• Taft Elementary, Wyoming Public Schools
• Vowles Elementary, Mt. Pleasant Public Schools
• Watersmeet Township School District
• Wyoming Park High School, Wyoming Public Schools
