Geneva kids form 'living painting' with national artist

Head to toe, fifth-graders at Mill Creek Elementary School lay face-down on the lawn just off the playground.

The rest of the students knelt behind them, touching their heads to the ground.

“Get your sky sight on,” yelled artist Daniel Dancer, perched high above them in the bucket of a Geneva Fire Department snorkel, taking photographs and shooting video.

Almost 400 students, teachers and aides formed a “living painting” of a Viking ship Wednesday under the guidance of Dancer, as part of an Art for the Sky project.

Participants wore blue, black or brown T-shirts, depending on whether they were part of the sea or the boat. Blankets donated by Delnor Hospital made up the sail, and old blue jeans formed part of the sea.

“I was really excited,” fifth-grader Mackenzie Krouse said.

Classmate Lauren Glover said the project taught students to work together, and “to see the world in a different way.”

The school raised money for Dancer's visit through two art sales.

The city of Geneva donated the use of the snorkel truck, even though the school is in an unincorporated area served by the Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District, because the district doesn't have one.

Atlas Crane Service of Batavia was also there, just in case the fire rig was called out for an emergency. Instead, the Atlas crew hoisted a Daily Herald photographer even higher than the snorkel bucket.

Mill Creek art teacher Sarah Brady arranged the visit, after seeing Dancer's work on a blog. Dancer, who estimates he has done about 200 such paintings, spoke to students Wednesday about his work.

He emphasizes the value of collaboration to accomplish projects, the importance of taking a big-picture view of problems, the 3,000-year-old history of sky art, taking care of the Earth and sky, and recognizing that somethings are impermanent and must be enjoyed in the moment.

“The most creative solutions to our problems live in that big-picture view,” he said. “We do not think long-term. We don't do anything for the sky.”

The students gave him four choices. Their first, the school mascot (they are the Eagles), Dancer ruled out, because he doesn't do animals. A sand turtle — they live in a marsh on the grounds — and a narwhal were also suggested.

Of the final choice, the Viking ship, Brady said, “I just love it. It is nice. It's very community.” Geneva is host to the replica of an ancient Viking ship that sailed to Chicago for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

Dancer lives in Hood River, Ore. He began making his pictures about 15 years ago, after a career in photojournalism. He creates a photo and a video for each project.

Dancer admired the work of artist Stan Herd, who makes pictures using tractors and farm fields. Dancer once brought a classroom of children out to portrays the beads in the headdress of picture of an American Indian. Years later, one of the students told him that being a bead was the only thing he remembered of his time in elementary school. “His comment inspired me tos start doing this,” Dancer said.

The school will sell the photograph, and an 8-minute video about the making of it.

“It's the story,” Dancer said. “It's what people remember of the event.”