Scratchboard
design by Eli.
them how foundations work. Our
students started their own arts foundation, which will begin reviewing
funding proposals and making arts-education grants this fall. According
to the Mandel Center, this may be
the only elementary student-run
foundation in the state of Ohio.
Students loved learning about
foundations and asked lots of questions. In personal narratives, many
students expressed excitement that
they were helping other students
through grant-making.
Local and National Acclaim
This project captured significant
public attention. The Chamber of
Commerce had the students speak
at one of their breakfast meetings,
and a city magazine covered the art
show. Local PBS station WVIZ ran a
story, segments of which were aired
on ZOOM, a nationally distributed
public television series for school-age children.
In 2006 Grant Elementary hosted
one of over 100 international exhibitions in honor of Viktor’s hundredth
birthday. The display featured a
“Tot Rod” pedal car and dinnerware
designed by Viktor, as well as the
children’s cards, letters, and art
projects. Viktor even enjoyed a
hundredth-birthday party at Grant.
What have the children gotten out
of this experience so far, besides the
art and design exposure? Respect,
especially for art and elderly people.
They’ve improved skills in reading
and writing, current events, math,
and business, and learned from Vik-
tor’s lighthearted approach to life as
well.
Dina Bluemel is an art teacher at Grant
Elementary School in Lakewood, Ohio.
nadineb@apk.net
NATIONAL STANDARD
Students will invent, select, evaluate, and use subjects, themes, symbols, problems, and ideas to create
works of art.
WEB LINK
www.viktorschreckengost.org
www.lkwdpl.org/schools/elempath/
discovery
Viktor Schreckengost
is becoming known
as an “American da
Vinci.” He received
the National Medal of
Arts in 2006 and was
honored by President
and Laura Bush in a
ceremony in the White
House Oval Office.
Materials
• scrap paper and crayons for
practicing designs and lettering
• black scratch board paper
• wooden stylus and toothpicks
• template of Jazz Bowl shape
(side view), sized just smaller
than scratch board paper
