Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Students display art within community

Monday, December 7, 2015
Teresa Badamo holds her papier-mâché sparrow during the installation of artwork at the Discovery Playhouse.
Submitted photo

This semester, art education majors from Southeast Missouri State University completed a special project for the Discovery Playhouse in Cape Girardeau and donated pieces of original art to be displayed at the children's museum.

Students in AR 270 were given an assignment by Southeast professor Carol Horst to create pieces of three dimensional papier-mâché art to hang from the ceiling at Discovery Playhouse. As a group, the students decided on the theme of flight, and worked to incorporate bright colors into their pieces to engage children and visitors.

After visiting Discovery Playhouse to get a feel for the environment and the styles that would best work with their assignment, students created unique pieces to be shown as a collection. Students worked on their pieces for several weeks before they were installed last month.

Because the Discovery Playhouse is designed for children, the assignment asked that the pieces be intriguing for the children who visit to help inspire their imaginations.

Brandon Francis, who was involved in the assignment, drew his inspirations from the colors and memories of his childhood.

"My inspiration was essentially the idea of a bright color," Francis said. "I remember growing up and I always loved watching the cardinals around the birdfeeders. I was always able to identify them because of the intense red coloring. The space used was for the younger children, and I wanted the kids to be able to recognize something they would see in their everyday life, like I did growing up."

Other students shared similar inspirations, looking back to their childhoods to help them create pieces that would be exciting and intriguing for the children who visit the museum. Sophomore Teresa Badamo used her experience from a school project to help create her sparrow.

"The inspiration for my piece actually came from a fifth grade report I did on sparrows. I've always been intrigued by them, and when this project came along I immediately knew what to make," Badamo said.

For many of the students, this project is the first time their work has been on display and, for most, it has been an exciting experience.

Francis said having their work donated to a children's museum made the project more meaningful than just a school assignment.

"It feels amazing to be on display," Francis said. "I really feel honored to be a part of such a talented group who came together for such a positive purpose in our community."

Badamo agreed, adding that children are less judgmental than adults, and having made the artwork specifically for children helped to lessen the pressure.

"It's weird for me to think my art is on display, but it's comforting to know that the kids that see it will like it no matter what," Badamo said.

For junior Megan Hermann, having her butterfly piece on display was validation for her choice of a major and future career.

"Having your work displayed is a really great feeling that I cannot describe," Hermann said. "I have always loved when people ask me to do or create something for them just because. Having it displayed is the icing on the cake. It makes me feel my choices of a career are right on track. I am doing something that I love, and being successful in that is the best feeling in the world."

The artwork is currently on display at the Discovery Playhouse, and students hinted that more projects are coming soon.

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