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Oak Brook, Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills students lend a creative hand
Visitors look over some of the student artwork on display Dec. 12 at Art & Antique Centre of Oak Brook. Proceeds from sales are going to help victims of Hurricane Sandy. | Chuck Fieldman—Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 21, 2013 2:14PM
OAK BROOK — Young artists from Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and Oak Brook let their creative juices flow to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Students from Butler Elementary District 53’s Brook Forest and Butler Junior High schools, and Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Elementary District 181’s Walker and Monroe schools, participated in the Seashells for New Jersey Shores effort.
Using seashells as a theme, students created art and had their pieces displayed Dec. 12 for sale and auction at the Art & Antique Centre of Oak Brook. The $5,700 raised was earmarked for the American Red Cross to help victims of Hurricane Sandy.
“It’s really a cool experience getting to do this,” said Brook Forest fifth-grader Rizwan Zaheer. “It’s around holiday time, and this can help everyone who was wiped out by the hurricane.”
Both Rizwan and fellow fifth-grader Nick Schopp enjoyed seeing the art they created displayed at a real art gallery.
“This is cool being here, but helping is definitely more important,” Nick said.
Brother and sister Jack and Kate Gleason, a fourth-grader and second-grader, respectively, from Walker School in Clarendon Hills, agreed.
“It is cool seeing what we did here, but it’s important because it helps a lot of people out there who need it,” Jack said. Kate shook her head in agreement.
Mike Divelbiss, an art teacher in the Oak Brook district, said being a part of Seashells for New Jersey Shores was a wonderful experience for all participating students.
“It gives kids the opportunity to create artwork, something with their own hands, that they can sell and then donate something to a worthy cause,” Divelbiss said. “And it’s really great for them to be able to see what they created displayed in an art gallery like this.”
Students chose a variety of media to express themselves, greeting cards, ornaments, drawings, wall hangings, tile mosaics, clay and stained glass.
Seashells for New Jersey Shores is a fund-raising collaboration developed by New Jersey elementary art teacher Suzanne Tiedeman, whose school was affected by Hurricane Sandy. Students from across the country are lending a creative hand.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students to reach out and help others,” said Lauren Marino, a District 181 art teacher.
