Newsletter of the Boston's Women's Heritage Trail (BWHT) -- Summer 2001
Boston Public School Student Artists Honor Women| With the installation of the Women’s Memorial coming next spring, BWHT board members wanted to form a link between the Memorial and the Boston Public Schools. An art contest was suggested as a way not only to educate students about the Memorial, but also make students active participants in the memorializing of women from history. As the contest evolved, it was determined that it would be for three-dimensional projects, a new challenge for many students. Also, an awards ceremony was planned to honor the students and teachers from the participating schools. Sara Masucci, a student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, directed the project. Her report is below. |
The
slide show provided students with information about the three women the
Memorial commemorates and about women from Boston’s history. Students were
enthusiastic and excited about the prospect of not only creating a sculpture,
but also honoring a woman they felt was important and perhaps unknown. Students
chose a range of women from Molly Pitcher to Sojourner Truth to Billie Holiday;
others chose to represent groups of women, including members of the All-American
Girls’ Baseball League and the music industry. Three groups of students from McKinley Technical High School, Lewis Middle School, and Project Life, a Mission Hill after-school program, ultimately entered the contest. Twenty pieces of art were placed on display in the Mayor’s Gallery in City Hall at the end of March. Along with their art, students wrote short statements about the pieces they created. The power of these statements added greatly to the event. One Lewis Middle School student, who created a model for an outdoor sculpture, wrote that she chose her subjects “to represent women who have spoken out on behalf of others and themselves so that everyone could have equal rights.” One wrote that her sculpture was meant to “show the world that women can play sports,” while another, who created a collage to represent ethnic diversity, wanted to show “women who are role models to a lot of young girls.” Not only were these students willing to put their artistic projects on display, they were also willing to share their personal inspiration for their creations.
To celebrate the achievement of these students and teachers, a reception
and awards ceremony, organized by the BWHT and the Boston Women’s Commission,
was held on Thursday, April 12, 2001. Members of the BWHT board, local artists,
and members of the community joined students, parents, teachers, and principals
from the participating schools. Special guests included Mayor Thomas M.
Menino, Superintendent Thomas Payzant, and Women’s Memorial Sculptor Meredith
Bergmann, who spoke about the Memorial project and art careers. 
Board
member Marie Turley emceed the event. Six students were recognized for their
pieces and presented with prizes by the Mayor. The evening was a huge success
and was a special opportunity for Boston Public School students to be recognized
as contributors to the process of educating people about women’s history.
www.bostonyouthzone.com/teenzone/
artgallery/fineartgallery.asp
 
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