Manteo Elementary School

Children and Community

Gathered in front of their brand new relief sculpture - now on permanent display since being unveiled at Manteo Elementary School on Friday, May 1 - children, from left - Aubrey Lanier, Ian Johnston, Fletcher Casey, Vance Daniels, Annie Fitzgerald, Alyssa Johnson, Caz Wheeler, Tripp Phillips, Bennet Burke and Wallace Casey with adults from left - MES Principal Mary Anne Wetzel, Assistant Principal Lisa Colvin, artist Julie Moye and MES art teacher Mari Beth LaRose. This project is supported by a grant from the Dare County Arts Council with funding from the grassroots Arts Program of the NC Arts council, a state agency. IN a week-long artist-in-residency in January, Moye guided each student and staff member to create a clay object which she later glazed and fired to embed in this relief sculpture that so beautifully depicts children, belonging and community at MES. Several of these students shared their ideas about the design which Moye incorporated into the mosaic.

In a project made possible by the Manteo Elementary School PTA and a $1,000 grant from the Dare County Arts Council with funding by the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, each Manteo Elementary student and staff member crafted clay images with local artist Julie Moye in the last week of January 2009. MES art teacher, Mari Beth LaRose coordinated the undertaking that resulted in a tiled relief sculpture that was unveiled on Friday, May 1. As Moye and LaRose finished removing the cover children ran toward the sculpture, eager to find their own contribution embedded in the design.

Manteo Elementary School student Alyssa Johnson stands back to get a full view of the new mosaic that graces the entrance of her school. The artwork, crafted by artist Julie Moye, contains clay pieces that were made by each MES student and staff member. At left, Caz Wheeler thinks he may have found his piece. MES art teacher, Mari Beth LaRose coordinated the undertaking that resulted in this tiled relief sculpture that was unveiled on Friday, May 1. Moye's artist-in-residency inspired project was made possible by the MES PTA and a $1,000 grant from the Dare County Arts Council with funding by the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency.