Schools come alive with color and creativity as a result of the national 1 % for Art program

One little percent. It does not seem like much of anything, but it is making a huge difference in the look and feel of local schools.

Like all state and federal buildings, schools have to spend 1 percent of the overall construction or remodel costs on art to decorate the interior. Within the last two years, Talkeetna Elementary, Palmer Junior Middle School, Wasilla Middle School and Swanson Elementary all have benefited from the 1% for Art program. In the next few years, Teeland Middle School, Glacier View School and Larson Elementary will join the list.

"It's great because it gives the schools character that the students take pride in," said Connie Lutz, an art teacher at Colony Middle School and the local facilitator. "The students really identify with the projects and take a lot of pride in them."

Homer artist Paula Dickey recently completed four glass and tile mosaics at PJMS. Students there were actively involved in picking the artist and the project that they wanted for their school.

"We got to decide how our school was going to look. It was fun spending $2,000 on art," said Rachel Gerard, now an eighth-grader.

Each project starts with a simple call for artists. In most cases, a theme and art location are preselected, and artists submit slides of their past work, as well as their ideas for the project. Other than the theme and location, everything else is up to the artist -- including the medium in which the art is presented.

A panel of people -- including a teacher, principal, student and community member -- then meets to select each artist.

"By having a student on the panel, the project becomes very powerful for them," Lutz said. "The rest of the panel is often swayed by the student's vote, because they see the artwork in their school every day, and it is an exciting part of their school."

Dan DeRoux, a Juneau artist who completed a series of alphabet paintings for Swanson Elementary, said the selection process is part of the uniqueness of the program.

"I think it empowers the community because they can give their schools a look that represents a wide variety of viewpoints," DeRoux said. "It is gratifying as an artist to be able to do something you know a majority of the people are going to like and appreciate."

After selected, artists take about a year to a year and half to complete the project, depending on the scope of the project. Larger projects, such as those at Teeland and Larson, for example, take a little longer than school remodels, which are smaller. On some of the projects, all the money is used for the artists' projects, while on others, the money is used to purchase specific pieces. That's the case at Teeland and Larson, where portraits of the Teelands and Ron Larson are being commissioned.

"That way students will know who their school is named for, and the outstanding community achievements and dedication those people had," Lutz said.

The most recent projects were:

Swanson Elementary. DeRoux used the alphabet theme to paint 26 different pictures, each representing a different letter. Within the pictures are a number of things starting with that letter.

"Teachers can use it as a learning tool that way," DeRoux said.

Swanson also got a "Learning Tree" by Steve and Romney Ortland of Anchorage. The tree is as large as the wall, and overlooks an elevator door. Within the trunk is a smiling face, and a clock.

Palmer Junior Middle School. Dickey completed four glass and tile mosaics that span the entire length of one of the school's halls.

"All four of them are really nice," said student Lauren Griese. "They really make the hall bright."

Wasilla Middle School. The school's theme of Iditarod now includes backsplashes of famous lead dogs, thanks to the Ortlands.

Artist Genie Phillips is working on a sled dog piece, which will be etched in a long window. The project is scheduled for March 2002.

Themes for upcoming projects have already been selected. At Glacier View, the Matanuska Glacier and its surrounding terrain will be the subject of the art.

At Teeland Middle School, the theme is undecided but the location is the large "cafetorium."

There is more flexibility at Larson Elementary School, where the only stipulations is that the art be inside the school.

At Meadow Lakes, the theme is, "Wild About Learning!" The art will reflect natural inhabitants of the area. The theme was based on the location and future use of Meadow Lakes' students in outdoor learning programs.