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Painting and planting at Paul C. Bunn
YOUNGSTOWN
Children’s book illustrator, author and artist Dar James led a nature-inspired afternoon with Paul C. Bunn Elementary students Tuesday.
Students painted then planted garden artwork around their school garden – adding what they thought the garden needed.
Retired teachers helped spruce up the garden while students created their garden art.
Retired teacher Samie Winick said retirees have been maintaining the garden since 2003.
“We’re lucky to have summer school this summer so the kids get to come out and kind of help,” she said.
Winick said she is excited to hang a gallery wall of the students’ art among the various sections of the garden. It will be titled “Bunn in Bloom.”
Winick wasn’t the only one excited about showing off students’ art.
“I love painting,” gushed second-grader Novalee Wood.
James said she’s happy to be working with Paul C. Bunn students and have the opportunity to meet with educators.
James isn’t the only one happy about the student-artist arrangement.
Paul C. Bunn Principal William Baun said he enjoys the fact that James is able to get students involved and engaged in something other than their usual book work.
“The kids realize they can use their talents to learn and use their different intelligences and really get to think out of the box,” he said.
Winick said unique opportunities like this are possible because of the garden, which is largely a result of a partnership with the Men’s Garden Club of Youngstown.
“They’ve been really, really generous with us.”
For information about the summer school program, contact Paul C. Bunn Elementary at 330-744-8963.
To see more of James’s work, visit Darsworld.com.