(Sept. 21, 2017) About 250 students in 10 art classes at Berlin Intermediate School participated in their own twist of the “Kindness Rocks” phenomenon last week, Sept. 11-12.
Fourth, fifth and sixth graders in Stefanie McElhinny’s art classes painted their own rocks, with themes such as characters hugging or dancing, intended to “rock the school with kindness.”
“The lesson was based off artist Keith Haring, who is considered a pop artist, and his art spreads messages through primitive characters and promotes peace, love, happiness and joy,” McElhinny said. “The picture messages focus on communication and symbolism through images.”
Before the project began, McElhinny explained the background, influences and artwork of Haring to her students. In addition, Alexis Southward, of Little Dreamers Wellness Center in Berlin, helped introduce the task, focused on line, shape and color.
Southward also talked to students on Monday about the “Kindness Rocks” initiative at Little Dreamers and demonstrated how to paint the rocks. Little Dreamers purchased and donated the rocks for students at Berlin Intermediate School.
“I always display their work before they get it back,” McElhinny said. “The rocks will be on display in an indoor rock garden for a month or two, and then they will get them back to place all around town in Ocean City, Berlin and Ocean Pines.”
In the front of school, McElhinny plans to display the artistic rocks in an indoor garden within the next three weeks.
“The students loved it and were very excited because it’s not just a local event, but a global one,” McElhinny said. “The project’s mission is to spread love and positive energy through communities by having the artists leave the rocks throughout towns for recipients to find.”
The Kindness Rocks project began as an initiative to spread inspiration and kindness to those who happen to cross paths with the painted rocks.
“These hand-painted stones developed into random acts of kindness, as some of the rocks are prepared with inspirational quotes and encouraging images that brighten up its audience’s day,” McElhinny said. “The objective is to make a positive impact on our school community and create a connectedness through kindness, [and] peaceful and loving images.”
Fourth, fifth and sixth graders in Stefanie McElhinny’s art classes painted their own rocks, with themes such as characters hugging or dancing, intended to “rock the school with kindness.”
“The lesson was based off artist Keith Haring, who is considered a pop artist, and his art spreads messages through primitive characters and promotes peace, love, happiness and joy,” McElhinny said. “The picture messages focus on communication and symbolism through images.”
Before the project began, McElhinny explained the background, influences and artwork of Haring to her students. In addition, Alexis Southward, of Little Dreamers Wellness Center in Berlin, helped introduce the task, focused on line, shape and color.
Southward also talked to students on Monday about the “Kindness Rocks” initiative at Little Dreamers and demonstrated how to paint the rocks. Little Dreamers purchased and donated the rocks for students at Berlin Intermediate School.
“I always display their work before they get it back,” McElhinny said. “The rocks will be on display in an indoor rock garden for a month or two, and then they will get them back to place all around town in Ocean City, Berlin and Ocean Pines.”
In the front of school, McElhinny plans to display the artistic rocks in an indoor garden within the next three weeks.
“The students loved it and were very excited because it’s not just a local event, but a global one,” McElhinny said. “The project’s mission is to spread love and positive energy through communities by having the artists leave the rocks throughout towns for recipients to find.”
The Kindness Rocks project began as an initiative to spread inspiration and kindness to those who happen to cross paths with the painted rocks.
“These hand-painted stones developed into random acts of kindness, as some of the rocks are prepared with inspirational quotes and encouraging images that brighten up its audience’s day,” McElhinny said. “The objective is to make a positive impact on our school community and create a connectedness through kindness, [and] peaceful and loving images.”