Julia de Burgos Elementary School of Philadelphia voted by nation as “Best Bell.”
The Philadelphia Arts and Education Partnership (PAEP) and the National Liberty Museum are pleased to announce Julia de Burgos Elementary School’s Bell: The Dollar Bill of Rights as the 2011 Liberty Bell Winner in the Let Art Freedom Ring program. Let Art Freedom Ring is a program of PAEP designed to make art an essential part of every child’s education. Students from eight elementary and middle schools in the Philadelphia region studied the concepts of democracy, civic responsibility and liberty; then, through art-making techniques and with a professional artist mentor, created a 6 foot high, 3-dimensional interpretation of the Liberty Bell. Bells are then judged and displayed online as well as throughout Philadelphia.
This year’s winner, The Dollar Bill of Rights, was created by students under the guidance of artist Andres Gonzales and art teacher Jean Fontaine. The Julia de Burgos team created a bell in homage to the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the U.S. economy, by building a bell out of “dollar bills.”
“The project was not only thought-provoking, but gave them hands-on experience in creating a large, symbolic sculpture,” said art teacher Jean Fontaine. “They learned about the power of art expressing ideas and how, when we work together, we can accomplish a lot. They studied the Bill of Rights, and came to conclusions about our Constitution. I am SO proud of them.’
The second runner-up is Grover Washington, Jr. Middle School’s Bell: Infinities and Indivisibilities. Created under the guidance of artist Ben Volta and teacher Jerry Jackson, this bell has a unique take on chemistry and the world, featuring globes that connect together to form various isomers.
“We are so proud of every one of our students, teachers, and teaching artists,” said Pearl Schaeffer Chief Executive Officer of PAEP, “We want to especially congratulate the Julia de Burgos School and Grover Washington, Jr. Middle School, both who really wowed all of us with their interesting artistic and philosophical takes on democracy and liberty.”
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