Holly Weitknecht and Tara Gray, both art educators at Northampton Area High School, hosted the annual art exhibit at the school April 28, featuring both digital and fine arts creations collected this year from their students. This year’s exhibit was unlike all the others due to the unveiling of two large mosaics created by Weitknecht and her students through the help of professional artist Kim Hogan and the Artist in Residence program.

Artist in Residence offers an opportunity for artists to work or live outside their studio in order to allow for artistic creativity and development. Schools are often great candidates for this program because it’s mutually beneficial and educational to the artist and students.

Weitknecht applied for and received a grant to participate in this program, and together with Hogan, they decided to create two “sister” mosaics, connected through their symbolism and meaning, with Weitknecht’s students.

One mosaic will be installed at the high school, and the other will be shared within the community.

Northampton Area Public Library Director Susan Sentz expressed interest in showcasing the mosaic at the entrance to the children’s section in the library. Together with Weitknecht, they made preparations to secure proper permissions and established installation plans for the mosaic once it was completed.

“I was hoping the experience would bring something special to my students,” Weitknecht said. “Art teaches us how to think beyond easy answers, how to process information and gifts us with creating from those ideas. These mosaics were a way to share that gift with those involved and inspire those who come to see them.”

Hogan and Weitknecht met Jan. 21 to discuss logistics; they began in class Feb. 24; and the team just finished the last mosaic with Hogan’s help April 27, just in time for the art exhibit the next day.

Hogan first educated the class on the creation of mosaics. Hogan, Weitknecht and the students drafted several initial ideas and drawings for the themes, and these ideas were narrowed down further the following week. Once the layouts were finalized, Hogan and a small group of students carefully drew the base designs onto the large panels, and then the rest of Weitknecht’s class joined in with each student adding a piece to the project.

One of the hurdles of creating the two mosaics was the large amount of space needed to house the panels in the classroom.

Creating a mosaic is an intricate and delicate undertaking, and, in this case, it was done twice for the creation of two separate yet symbolically connected mosaics.

“The glass for a mosaic is cut with special tools laid into place, with attention to direction and flow, and then glued in place. We worked in areas building touchy tones in the faces, with students shaping and laying in the glass for the figures. After the glass is fully adhered, we grouted the mosaics using different-colored grout for various areas. Lastly, a sealant is added to protect the work,” Weitknecht said.

Much thought went into the meaning behind the mosaics. The mosaic, which will be installed in the high school near the auditorium, features the palm of a hand holding a moon with a young girl and boy. There are “wishes” swirling around the children, symbolizing the creativity that sparks in youth, and they grow and spread from one child to the next. The moon symbolizes how children are watched over, supported and cared for by their parents, teachers and community. The swirling streams connect to the other mosaic for the library, which features whimsical and wispy swirling surrounding a tree woman perched upon an open book. The ideas that “swirl” out of the book symbolize creativity and empowering inspiration, which takes root and carries us through our lives.

Additionally, with even more thought and consideration, the mosaics feature something special hidden within the artistry.

“The students, Kim and I took the opportunity to write our own hopes and wishes for the people in our community,” Weitknecht said. “These hopes are written under the opaque glass, unseen and forever sealed in the mosaics, to remain as private thoughts and wishes but yet still quietly shared through our art.

“In a time in which creativity and arts are dwindling in education, this was an opportunity to feel how rich our human possibilities are - if only we step out and make them happen,” Weitknecht said.

The project originally was set to take two or three weeks from beginning to end but instead took two months. Hogan shared how some of the students became very involved in the project, even giving up their free periods or lunchtimes just to work on it.

“The project took us on a much more in-depth journey than any of us anticipated,” Hogan said. “It was a gift to me to get to know these students, and if it had been done sooner, I might not have had that opportunity. Working with Holly was also a gift that came out of this project. She is an excellent teacher. The project would not have been done without her passion and driving force behind it.”

And as for the quality of the project, Hogan shares, “It leaves me speechless.”