Waynesburg Central students show their vision through recycled window project

WAYNESBURG - The directions were simple: Here's a window, here's an art book. Paint what interests you.

Students in the advanced art class at Waynesburg Central High School took their cue and responded in a big way. Using their imaginations, not to mention suggestions from some rather unorthodox sources, they created thought-provoking, inspirational works of art.

"It was my favorite project," said Jessica Rogers, who used a peace sign as the backdrop for her colorful piece. "I liked doing it. I never did anything like this before."

The repurposed art project, "Windows of Opportunity," was a collaborative effort conceived by Sandi Kern, manager of Washington County Habitat for Humanity's ReStore at Renovation Station, and Adrienne Day, a student teacher at Waynesburg. The purpose of the project, in addition to teaching students about recycled and repurposed art, was to encourage students to become more involved in their communities and to cultivate a sense of respect and responsibility as individual artists.

"I love to paint on old windows. To me it's very Zen," said Kern, who donated the windows from Renovation Station for the project. "I like to try to find ways to help different nonprofits. I love collaborative efforts. It broadens your exposure and makes a bigger impact in the community.

"This way, the kids can show off something. A lot of them are applying to art school. It helps us, it helps them and it helps the environment. It completes the circle for a lot of these materials. It's definitely a trash-to-treasure story."

And that's exactly what Day hoped to achieve. Day previously worked full time at Washington Community Arts and Cultural Center, borrowing some ideas - at least in the beginning - from director and founder Sandee Umbach, and she has brainstormed on more than one occasion with Kern, whom Day called the "visionary" of this project.

"Repurposed art is the most common art," Day said. "It was a great adventure for the art students. This is an amazing school, and the kids are so talented."

The students' finished pieces will be auctioned later this summer at the grand opening of the ReStore's new location on East Maiden Street in Washington, site of the former Maiden Street Foodland near the entrance to Washington Park. Kern said she hopes the grand opening will coincide with the city's bicentennial celebration. Proceeds from the auction will be evenly distributed between Renovation Station and the high school's art club.

Waynesburg art teacher Joe Kuhns said the project was a "fantastic" idea, and he could almost see the "wheels start to spin" in the students' minds as they processed Day's assignment. Still, "I didn't know what to expect," he said.

Neither did Day.

But in no way was she disappointed.

"I was really surprised by their work," she said. "A lot of kids went back to art history, and some painted in their own style. They really made it meaningful to them."

Even though Day taught at Waynesburg for just seven weeks, she made quite an impact on the students.

Brittany Koval, for instance, may buy back her painting at the auction.

And nobody could blame her. Her window features an anchor flanked by the words love and stability, and rosary beads are intertwined around the anchor in lieu of a chain. It's a tribute to her older sister, Kelli, and resembles the siblings' matching tattoos.

"Getting the tattoos was a bonding experience for us. We're each other's anchor," said Brittany, who sought advice for the painting from her tattoo artist.

Love and stability are painted in bright, bold paint, because, Brittany said, "We wanted it girlie. We didn't want the anchor to be dominant."

Kristen Tustin's inspiration came from a Renaissance painting of two angels that hangs in the family's bathroom. However, it was a bit challenging for her: Tustin never before embarked on a full-scale painting project.

"I just draw with paper and pencil. I usually don't do anything in color," she said. "It was a little frustrating at times. I couldn't get the colors to match. There are a million different colors on the face."

Regardless, the painting is stunning.

"The project itself was cool," Tustin said, "but the picture I chose was a challenge."

Erin Rishell's piece is a work in progress. She's using pencil eraser tips as her paint brush, dotting the window with paint to create a tropical scene.

"I just thought it would be cool to do," said Rishell, who serves as president of the art club. "Repurposed art is not as easy as I thought. You have to put a lot of effort into it to make something cool. But it's nice to know we're giving back to the community."

Kern has yet to see the finished pieces, but she hopes to make "Windows of Opportunity" an ongoing project with the help of more schools in Washington and Greene counties or artists in the community.

"What a great program for the students. They really took to it," Kern said. "It's such a rewarding thing."