`Sculpting session molds young minds`

By Laurel Bosshart
Herald News Intern

Democracy reigns at Hermitage Middle School, at least when it concerns aesthetics.

About 32 children taking part in a Valley Arts Guild clay sculpting class voted last week to decide which of their produce was the best.

After five groups of kids completed their sculpting project, all the children in Marianne Hilke’s class voted on the “best project.”

Although all of the projects created by Marianne Hilke’s class were winners in the eyes of their creators, a project called “Jewel Kingdom” took first place.

Brittney Scafede, Sharon, was one of a group of about seven children who worked on the project. Describing the work simply as “fun,” the 12-year-old finished putting last minute touches, such a flag and windows, on the castle.

After deciding to give their project to Ms. Hilke, 10-year-old Francesca Baldarelli, Hermitage, conveyed the feelings of the group when she told Ms. Hilke, “We want to give it to you for teaching us.”

Ms. Hilke, who lived in California for over 20 years before moving to Volant, Pa., said she has been with the Guild for about a year now.

“It’s been quite interesting,” the art teacher said. “The kids can be rambunctious at this age, but I love teaching.”

Although she said her strong suit is painting, she teaches several classes both to children and adults, including drawing and clay sculpting.

There was some rivalry between two groups who were both working on a volcano sculpture, but it was all in good fun.

Although at times shouts of “We’re going to beat you” flew across the room. Katianne Songer, 12, Brookfield, jokingly said that her group — the creators of “Mt. Fundough” — was afraid to leave their project for fear that the other group would “smash their volcano out of jealousy.”

But Nick Debonis, Farrell, assured the Mt. Fundough group that his group — “Mt. St. Helens” — was not going to destroy anything.

He did, however, strenuously add that his group did not copy the idea of the volcano. “It was our idea first,” the 10-year-old said, while the other children nodded in agreement. Each group took their project quite seriously with ideas ranging from “Animals and Dinos,” in which both domestic and prehistoric animals were displayed side-by-side, to “Machines of Death,” in which an electrical chair, noose and guillotine were created.

The 12-year-old creator of “Machines of Death” said that the inspiration for his project came from television.

“I like to watch a lot of violent movies,” Scott Burke, Sharon, explained with a laugh. During the first three days of the class, the children honed in their sculpting skills with play dough, but when Thursday and Friday rolled around, they found themselves using real clay. “The kids created vases, pots and dishes for their final projects,” Ms. Hilke said.

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Updated July 28, 1998
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