Sparks literally flew at Tryon Elementary School as students picked up plasma cutters and transformed their own hand-traced designs into steel, contributing to a permanent sculpture that will stand as a testament to the school’s collective spirit for generations to come.
Every student at Tryon Elementary participated in the Public Art and Design Challenge Residency, led by celebrated steel sculptor Bob Doster. Working in art instructor Parker Mullinax’s classes, students used a plasma cutter to cut their own hand-traced designs from steel, experiencing firsthand the intersection of industrial tool work and fine art.
The resulting Legacy Sculpture will be a permanent addition to the school, bearing the mark of every student who passed through Tryon Elementary during this remarkable project.
“This residency is about more than just making a sculpture,” said Cindy Riddle, Grants and Community Partnerships Coordinator for Polk County Schools. “It’s about showing students that art is a powerful way of thinking, feeling, and communicating. By literally leaving their mark on steel, they are learning that they have the power to shape their environment.”
Beyond the physical creation of the sculpture, students were challenged to study public art by analyzing Doster’s existing works and understanding the role of art in public spaces. They also identified areas on their own campus to improve through art and used creative writing to articulate the reasoning behind their artistic choices.
The residency provided elementary students with a rare opportunity to move beyond traditional art supplies and engage with professional-level tools and concepts. The experience combined visual art, critical thinking and written expression into a single transformative project.
The Public Art and Design Challenge Residency was made possible through the generous support of the Don and Peggy Lyons Fund and the Unrestricted Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation.
