Houlton Art Bench

The Houlton Art Bench

I want to provide an update on the work that has started on the Houlton Art Bench, which will be located across from the school in the St. Croix River Crossing Loop Trail Trailhead.  While most of the benches have been just that - a bench - ours is going to be a little different!  We are going to create a gathering place, that would hold up to 25 people, with the hopes of providing a space for our Houlton school and community to come together.

Our 4th and 5th grade students, staff, and some parent volunteers met with John Kalmon, the architect that has been hired to lead this project, as well as Anastasia Shartin who represents the Phipps last Thursday to start the project.  Through this process, students will analyze the site, brainstorm ideas for the design, refine the design, identify materials, and eventually build the gathering space they decide on.  The timeline begins with several workshops (2.5 hour work sessions) this fall, with the final product completed by the end of this school year.  

The guiding questions we set for the students this past week were:

1. How can we create a space that teaches people about Houlton and the St. Croix River? (history, geography, culture, natural resources, St. Croix River Crossing)
2. What would a gathering area look like that would invite community activities?

See this link for additional information about the gathering space concept:  Gathering Space

This is an exciting project (and a lot of work!) - and a great opportunity for our students to participate in something that gives back to our community.  We are grateful for the leadership and support of everyone involved - it is going to be amazing when it's done!

Please let me know if you have any questions -

Sue