By Rickey Polidore, Jr.

As the Visual Arts Instructor at Lovett Elementary, Charlotte Gifford-Weaver contacted me to informed me that she was in possession of a van that belonged to an artist friend of hers, Mrs. Winifred Center, who taught Visual Art at Fondren Middle School years ago. It was the wish of Mrs. Center that after her death her old Astro Van be transformed into an Art Car for the artistic educational enjoyment of the children who would work to create it.

The students of Lovett Elementary transformed that van into an Owl made of recycled CD’s graciously donated by one of its wonderful parents, Steve Martin. All students, Kindergarten through 5th grade, spent the year building the exterior of the owl’s feathers in the classroom. Scientific methods and mathematical concepts were stressed as experiments were held in order to determine which materials would work best in outside elements.

Also, a template was made to scale so that parts could be built inside of the school and then layered onto the vehicle while parked outside. The measuring of the vehicle, science experiments, and the testing of different media were just as important for the kids as the artistic experience itself, with the hope that they might gain understanding of the real life applications of the concepts they learn in core curricular classes every day.

My gratitude goes out to Mrs. Center and her wonderful daughter, Liz Wilson. It extends also to Mrs. Charlotte Gifford-Weaver for making the union possible, Lovett PTO for all that they do, and for the campus as well as its students for the vision and hard work.

Come and cheer on entry #169, Disc is Owl We Do It!, in this year’s parade on May 10th from 2 to 4pm along Allen Parkway!