SHELBY — Sandy Grau, Horticulture Instructor at Pioneer Career Technical Center, gave an informative presentation to the Board of Education meeting recently.
Grau contacted the Cleveland Museum of Art in 2019 to provide a field trip for her students. The students toured the museum and Grau was offered a fellowship that summer through 2020. Recently, Grau was invited to join the Educator Advisor Group.
All of this led Grau being able to integrate art culture with floral designs with her students. In presenting art to the students, the students were given the assignment of creating floral arrangements in the same design as an art object.
The first assignment was for the students to look at an art object; with pencil and paper and not looking down at what they are drawing, the students were asked to draw the object. After sharing and discussions the students were asked to create a floral display resembling the art object. The exercise proved popular with the students, she said.
Grau brought some of the students’ projects to share with the board and they were eye-catching.
Virtual lessons followed this exercise with students learning about art while working with horticulture. Grau stated her students continue to use online trends for a fresh look at horticulture. The students are encouraged to look at art through colors and shapes and use that to develop floral displays.
Grau reported the Cleveland Museum is interested in connecting with the schools in our area to introduce art to the students. There is no cost to work with the museum and the students reap the rewards.
