Neuqua freshmen make pigs fly
If you still harbor any disbelief about the Cubs and Sox both making the playoffs, look no further than Heidi Parkes' art classroom at Neuqua Valley High School's Gold Campus, where pigs actually fly.
During the past two weeks, Parkes' 3D art classes have been making inflatable sculptures from plastic drop cloths and clear packing tape - including the aforementioned pig.
Students in Parkes' other classes created an inflatable 30-foot-wide octopus, television and rocket ship.
Each of the sculptures take up most, if not all, of the classroom when they're inflated.
Parke said the students were discussing artist Kurt Perschke's Red Ball Project in Chicago while tackling their own project.
In his work, Perschke places a 15-foot inflatable red ball around some of most notable landmarks in the cities he visits.
"Is a big red ball art? Is an inflatable pig with wings art?" Parkes asked. "Those are the kinds of questions the students are tackling as we learn about contemporary art."
Katie Mai, 14, of Naperville, worked on the rocket with her class. And it's art as far as she's concerned.
"This is contemporary art. It's art that we're making now," Mai said. "And most importantly, when we're talking about contemporary, we're all alive."
Parkes said students have definitely noticed that most artists they have studied have been dead for many years.
With entire classes working on individual projects, Parkes said students also are learning to work collaboratively.
"Most famous artists have help and collaborate on their ideas with teams," she said. "It's important for the students to get used to that as they continue to grow as artists."
Students Candace Snyder, 14, of Bolingbrook, and Katie Nielsen, 14, of Naperville, said they have enjoyed working together.
"We all discussed the original vision and delegated jobs so we all have something to do," Nielsen said. "We all have a role to play."
The sculptures have been displayed during lunch periods as part of the school's homecoming festivities.