Rossville Middle/High School (RMHS) art students are combining creativity, community support, and a touch of Halloween spirit as they transform large pumpkins into colorful works of art.
The project began over the weekend when Leonard Baxter of M & W Trucking delivered two boxes of pumpkins to the school. The pumpkins were donated by Mike Stahl of Top Banana Farm Market in Kokomo.
Under the guidance of RMHS art teacher Christy Schaefer, students have been busy painting and decorating the pumpkins in preparation for the school’s Haunted Hallway event. The activity has generated plenty of enthusiasm in the art room as students experiment with colors, designs and techniques to give each pumpkin its own personality.
Rather than carving the pumpkins in the traditional manner, students are using paint and other decorative materials to turn them into original pieces of seasonal artwork. The project gives students an opportunity to apply classroom skills to a festive, hands-on assignment that will be displayed for the school community.
The decorated pumpkins will soon become part of the Haunted Hallway, adding student-created artwork to the atmosphere of the annual event.
Students are also exploring the possibility of turning the project into a friendly competition called “Pumpkin Wars.” If the idea moves forward, Haunted Hallway visitors would be invited to vote for their favorite pumpkin by placing pennies on the entry of their choice. Money collected through the contest would be donated to the RMHS art room to help purchase newpaintbrushes.
The proposed contest would allow students to showcase their creativity while helping provide additional supplies for future art projects. It would also give visitors an interactive way to support the school’s art program.
The pumpkin project was made possible through the generosity and cooperation of local community members. Stahl’s donation supplied students with the centerpiece of the project, while Baxter’s delivery ensured the pumpkins made it safely to the RMHS art room.
For Schaefer and her students, the activity is about more than preparing Halloween decorations. It demonstrates how community partnerships can create memorable learning opportunities and give students a chance to see their artwork displayed and enjoyed beyond the classroom.
As the pumpkins receive their finishing touches, anticipation continues to build for their debut in the Haunted Hallway and perhaps for the first RMHS “Pumpkin Wars.”
