Hiatt students working to leave mark on school
Artist in residence Concetta Morales, right, works with Hiatt Middle School sixth-grader Kira Kennedy, 11, last week as the student removes excess grout from a section of a mural the students are creating. The mural, which reads "Amos Hiatt," will be installed above the stage in the newly renovated school auditorium. / JANET KLOCKENGA/The Register
Written by
JANET KLOCKENGA
At Hiatt Middle School, the art room this school year has been
attracting students who hope to add their personal imprint to a large
piece of artwork that will grace the newly renovated auditorium.
Last week, work was progressing rapidly on a six-panel mosaic mural that Hiatt may install late this spring.
Concetta Morales of Des Moines, the artist-in-residence at the school this year, is directing students on the project. The 4-by-4-foot panels, each weighing 50 to 75 pounds, make up the mural, which reads “Amos Hiatt,” for whom the school is named.
Principal Joy Wiebers said the creation of the mural was made possible because some money remained from a $23,000 grant from Lowe’s for last year’s auditorium renovation.
Morales has worked in several metro-area schools as an artist-in-residence through the Iowa Arts Council. She has helped students create the mural from directing initial sketches drawn to scale to polishing grouted tiled work.
“They’ve done it all, from cutting tiles to sorting them to tile finishing, gluing and grouting,” Morales said. “They’re working with an ancient traditional material. They’re working with professional tools, and they’re seeing something from beginning to end.
“They went from making a sign to the fine art end of it. Their imagination has really kicked in.’
Virginia Rogers is the art teacher at Hiatt, 1214 E. 15th St.
“It’s been really rewarding to see them work on it,” Rogers said. “They’re creating something lasting.”
Last week, work was progressing rapidly on a six-panel mosaic mural that Hiatt may install late this spring.
Concetta Morales of Des Moines, the artist-in-residence at the school this year, is directing students on the project. The 4-by-4-foot panels, each weighing 50 to 75 pounds, make up the mural, which reads “Amos Hiatt,” for whom the school is named.
Principal Joy Wiebers said the creation of the mural was made possible because some money remained from a $23,000 grant from Lowe’s for last year’s auditorium renovation.
Morales has worked in several metro-area schools as an artist-in-residence through the Iowa Arts Council. She has helped students create the mural from directing initial sketches drawn to scale to polishing grouted tiled work.
“They’ve done it all, from cutting tiles to sorting them to tile finishing, gluing and grouting,” Morales said. “They’re working with an ancient traditional material. They’re working with professional tools, and they’re seeing something from beginning to end.
“They went from making a sign to the fine art end of it. Their imagination has really kicked in.’
Virginia Rogers is the art teacher at Hiatt, 1214 E. 15th St.
“It’s been really rewarding to see them work on it,” Rogers said. “They’re creating something lasting.”
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