Harllee Middle Unites Art, Environment In Project

A Bradenton middle school is spruced up thanks to a visual art program and volunteers.

Harllee Middle School unveiled on Feb. 22 a beautiful outdoor scene featuring a permanent outdoor waterfall, the school's mascot painted as a mural, mosaic garden benches, a Pennies for Peace collection barrel and a peace garden, according to Brenda Smoak, National Very Special Arts (VSA) Teaching Artist Fellow and Teaching Artist.

"Through this hands-on artist residency students have learned math, science, language arts, visual arts, 21st Century life skills and reinforced their commitment to stop bullying at their school and in their community," according to Smoak.

Harllee students filmed the project, acted as reporters and historians, and the Junior ROTC and drum line performed at the ribbon cutting, according to Smoak. 

Smoak helped with two other area schools in 2012 with similar projects through a John F. Kennedy Center called “Building Bridges in the School and Community”, awarded to the Van Wezel in Sarasota.

Smoak's EcoScapes team also included Bradenton Patch bloggers  in Myakka, mosaic artwork specialist and teaching artist Krista McCampbell and 20 teachers from Harllee Midddle.

Thanks to Backyard Getaway for posting the photos of the project in Pics and Clips and compiling the slideshow above.