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QLMS Award-Winning Art Students

Queens Lake Middle School (QLMS) art students won first place for Youth Art - Middle School category - at An Occasion for the Arts (AOFTA) in Williamsburg this October. Their winning display, “Cellular,” was a group creation of abstract organic “Dots” that the students began making in September to celebrate “International Dot Day.” This day is a global effort inspired by Peter Reynold's children's book, The Dot, which emphasizes creativity and taking chances.

The students were also inspired by contemporary artist, Lea Anderson from New Mexico, well known for her drawings, interpretations, and installations that imitate natural images such as MRI scans and micro-organisms. Art teacher, Debby McClallen, contacted Anderson through her website and asked if the students could use her art as inspiration for their own installations. The students then created their own natural abstractions using cut paper resembling cellular images, some using their own science textbooks and electronic devices to look up microscopic images as references. Ms. Anderson was enthusiastic about the project and photos of the progress were shared via social media. Students enjoyed the real world connection with the artist.

Constructed initially at school by classes to test the overall effect, the cell-like shapes were then installed on the wall of the Williamsburg, Community Building by art teacher, Debby McClallen, students and parent volunteers. The wall display was accompanied by more than one hundred additional hanging organic shapes. Many of the shapes were designed using iPads that were awarded to the art classes from an AOFTA 2013 student art grant. "Cellular" will be installed in the front hallway at QLMS through the month of November.