A group of Logan County elementary school students have been building their expertise on a variety of endangered species throughout the year, and this week, they are turning some of their favorite animals into large-scale works of art through a camp offered at Jubilee Mennonite Church with the help of a visiting artist.
Friday evening, the youngsters host a public “Here Today” Endangered Species Art Show featuring their plywood creations at 6:30 p.m. at the church, 169 N. County Road 32, Bellefontaine, to share their newfound knowledge with the community and stories about the animal and plant life.
A familiar face to Logan County through previous Lo Co Art projects, artist Sam Bartlett from Bloomington, Ind., is working alongside the youths throughout this week to bring the animals to life, including getting creative with the kids to act out various antics and characteristics of the animals before settling into their artwork.
“We’re creating a spectacle you might say, with this project, and these animals are worthy of that,” he said Wednesday while holding a saw in hand to assist with cutting out the plywood pieces. “The idea behind the project and the chance to bring awareness to these endangered creatures drew me in and I’m excited to be here.
“We’re keeping most of the animal designs pretty simple, but recognizable enough to know what they are. Anytime you’re working on a project involving animals, I think the kids naturally have a fondness for that.”
Church member Karla Kauffman, who designed the project, said there are six Logan County species included in the show that are on the endangered species list: Indiana bat, spotted turtle, monarch butterfly, rayed bean mussel, rose pogonia orchid and swamp metalmark butterfly.
Four of these species are threatened due to loss of their wetlands habitat. Monarchs have lost much of the milkweed they used to find in fields. Indiana bat is threatened by a disease and invasion of their winter caves, Kauffman noted.
Some of the other endangered species included in the art show include ones from around the world, from bluefin tuna to wallaby, erect-crested penguin, Chinese pangolin and Serbian spruce.
The area resident said she was inspired to create this art and educational effort after hearing a detailed report on endangered species in 2019.
“I heard a report saying that perhaps a million species will go extinct in the coming decades. Jubilee supported my proposal to turn that information into something for the community. The ‘Here Today’ project expresses our concern for our non-human neighbors around the world.
“First Christian Church has been our partner, and we would love to talk with other congregations about ways to care for creation.”
Since January, area elementary students enrolled in the program had the chance to take home a packet each month featuring endangered animals and plants from each continent, detailing more information about the various species and why they are endangered, and also ways that the students can help. For the young artists, the packets also broke down how to draw certain creatures as well.
Following several months spent reading and learning about each species, the pupils could pick a favorite animal to focus on at the camp and to create the plywood pieces.
Benjamin Logan Middle School fifth-grader J.D. Forsythe said he favored the erect-crested penguins and enjoyed drawing them this week.
Indian Lake Elementary third-grader Abby Reed related that she was enjoying learning more about the Indiana bat and painting the creature alongside her friend, ILES second-grader Ella Klauer.
Gil Howell, a fellow ILES third-grader, said he was loving everything about the camp, “especially getting the chance to paint.”
Kauffman said elementary art teachers assisted her with reaching out to students who might enjoy the Here Today project. Several homeschooled pupils also have been a part of the collaborative effort.
The project designer has been excited with the way that creating the artwork has connected with the students.
“It’s been a combination of science and geography while learning about the animals this year, and now adding in the hands-on element in designing and painting their own animals I think is really the magic formula for the kids.
“We’re hoping to spark conversations Friday night, and we’ll be excited to see where the project leads us in future years.”
Following the art show Friday evening, the Here Today pieces will be posted at Jubilee Mennonite Church and First Christian Church, 215 E. Sandusky Ave., Bellefontaine, throughout July for the public to view.
The project is funded by the Columbus Foundation and Mennonite Creation Care Network. Call Kauffman at (937) 844-7628 for more information.