Leaving a Legacy at South Middle School, One Painting at a Time

They are the color coordinating, creative crew at South Middle School. They are the Art Leaders.

“Art Leaders is a place where you can connect with others who also like art,” says 7th grader Elyse Hepler. 

“We are always looking for ways to let kids lead,” says South Middle School Art Teacher Hannah Ludwig. “We put this (Art Leaders) during their advisory time and they just took off from there and they started making art for people in the building.”

“They can put it up in the room and make it brighter and more welcoming for the students” adds 7th grader Sreenithya Dasari.

This group has made everything. Spider-Man, rainbow clocks, inspiring messages, boards for bags in PE and Boris, the six-foot fish.

“Some of the students came up with the idea and I jumped in,” says Hepler. “It took a while because she was gigantic.”

At South Middle School, paintings and pride go hand in hand. 

“It makes me feel pretty happy,” says 7th grader Esther Ntumba. “I’m glad they like my art enough to hang it up and let other people see it. It just makes me feel appreciated.” 

“Especially with this age, they want to be surrounded by inspiration all the time and my Art Leaders are working to help that,” adds Ludwig.

For a couple of hours each week, these students are working hard together, creating art and friendships.

“It’s not going to be art for yourself,” says Hepler. “It’s going to be art to help others and to welcome others.”

There’s a long list of projects that the Art Leaders have on tap.

“Right now I’m working on the painting American Gothic, with one of my teacher’s dog on it,” shares Ntumba.

There’s also a big project, that’s not going to be announced just yet. 

“We are working on a surprise, it’s a secret,” says Dasari. 

“There’s a club of teachers that get together after school,” adds Hepler. “I’m not going to say which one, we are making something special for them.”