By JESSICA BRICKER
Bluffton High School art students are sharing how downtown revitalization efforts have impacted them through a new art display on Market Street.
Students of art teacher Vicki Van Matre teamed up with Audry Dudley of Bluffton NOW to create stained glass pieces that represent the city’s past and present.
Dudley said Bluffton NOW members noticed unused window space in the downtown area and they began thinking about how they could make those storefronts more visually appealing. They paired that with the question: “How do we get youth more involved?”
Bluffton NOW previously partnered with Van Matre when the downtown mural projects were going on, connecting her students with the mural artists. Dudley began talking with the art students about the organization’s efforts to improve downtown and what the organization does.
“That’s when the ‘Windows of Opportunity’ kind of became a thing, because those are windows of opportunity that we can utilize in the meantime,” Dudley said of the empty storefronts and the project’s name.
Van Matre said it was a neat project that lent itself to experimentation and hands-on, real world learning experiences. There was a lot of back and forth communication with Dudley and narrowing down conceptual ideas into something that was feasible for the space and resources available.
“I thought it was a great opportunity for the kids to work with Bluffton NOW and be a part of trying to revitalize downtown,” Van Matre said.
It gave the students a chance to learn they aren’t too young to get involved, she added. It also showed them the process of how big ideas can come to life in even the smallest of ways.
“Anytime that you can give these kids a voice, I think it’s good for them,” she said.
Dudley credited Van Matre’s willingness to take on a project that applied to the curriculum but was outside the classroom’s comfort zone.
“It was outside-of-the-box thinking and abstract. ‘How do we make this happen? How do we put our plans into action?’ She made it work for her curriculum and I think we really enjoyed the students being a part of what Bluffton NOW was trying to do,” Dudley said.
Part of the display involves first-hand experiences from the students, who shared what they learned and what downtown revitalization means to them. Their words accompany their artwork in the window display.
“Revitalization of Bluffton makes me more appreciative of the community,” 16-year-old Sareyna Jackson said. “It makes me enjoy being in town and looking around more.”
Annika Linderwell, 16, added: “I believe that the revitalization of Bluffton brings new life to the community. Especially after what all we’ve been through these past few years. I feel like the changes give the feeling of positivity, hope and support to all who live here.”
To help inspire their work, the class took a field trip to the Wells County Historical Museum to gather information on the community’s history, which Van Matre said the students enjoyed. After doing a project like this, she said she would enjoy doing more projects that interact with the community in the future.
People have noticed the display as they walk around downtown. Dudley has seen pictures on Facebook of people enjoying the project, which will be displayed until at least the end of May.
But ongoing revitalization efforts have a longer lasting impact.
“The renovations in the community not only interest and attract more people to the town, but also makes everything look better as a whole,” 15-year-old Jaelynn Pemberton said. “As a teen, seeing more shops open and the community becoming more lively is a beautiful thing, and I am excited to see how it develops in the future.”
jessica@news-banner.com
More from the students ….
“Make Bluffton a better place to live, be nice, and be respectful to each other’s differences. It can only help.” — Nora Kadlec, 17
“As a young resident of Bluffton, the revitalization of Bluffton brings new joy and experiences for the community. I love being able to walk past the old buildings, new shops and murals. I think the art around Bluffton gives our town a beautiful touch and uniqueness.” — Keturah Bradford
“The revitalization of Bluffton has greatly improved the city. For me personally, it has gotten me to walk around more because of my desire to see the changes, murals and displays.” — Rehgyn Brooks, 16
