Smokey Mountain Elementary School sixth- and seventh-grade art students were part of a recent Artists-in-Education project that resulted in a metal sculpture now permanently installed at their school. Students invited parents and friends to view their work, meet the artist-teacher and learn repousse, a technique of hammering copper.The project came about through a collaboration between Cullowhee metalsmith William Rogers and art teacher Jenniffer Dall. Students created designs based on an aspect of their culture and transferred these to copper. Using hammers and punches, the students worked their designs into the material. Rogers assembled the copper pieces to form a patchwork “quilt” to hang in the school.
The artist residency was sponsored by the North Carolina Arts Council. Rogers has completed similar projects at Cherokee High School, Tuscola High School and ArtSpace Charter School.