By Shelby Siegfried
for the Register
Art is for everyone at St. Patrick Elementary School in McCook, where students from kindergarten through the eighth grade are sharing their classroom art lessons with the wider community.
Under the guidance of St. Patrick School art and computer teacher, Deonne Hinz, students are getting hands-on experience by collaborating with local art venues. It’s a unique approach that’s turning art projects into a vibrant part of McCook’s community life.
“Art is for everyone,” Hinz said. “When we participate in community events, we show pride in our faith, our school, and our town.”
Hinz said that participating in one community art event became a springboard into many more opportunities in a community that’s becoming increasingly artsy.
Located in southwest Nebraska, McCook has recently blossomed into a flourishing arts and culture scene. The McCook Creative District, featuring historical museums, art galleries, the iconic Fox Theater, Norris Alley outdoor venue, and the much-talked-about community mural, is a testament to the town’s commitment to fostering creativity and collaboration.
In this thriving artistic environment, St. Patrick students have had the opportunity to engage in various community projects. The first was a collaboration on the Community Mural Project “Ethereal Plains,” led by artists Amber Hansen and Darcy Millette. Students had the rare chance to contribute to a public art piece, injecting their ideas and thoughts into the mural.
“It was fun to see our young students help provide input for what they felt the mural should represent by using their imaginations and the best part is that there were many of those ideas included in the finished mural, which was exciting.” Hinz recalled.
This initial collaboration led to more opportunities. The seventh- and eighth-graders took part in designing and painting the front windows at McCook Pinnacle Bank for a “Cancer Awareness Month” business competition.
Hinz reflected on the growth of her students through these projects, noting that such opportunities allow students who “often don’t have the opportunity to show off their talents outside of the school setting” to shine in a public arena.
The school’s participation continued with the Southwest Nebraska Big Give student art exhibition and the Creative Art District walk in November. Here, each student displayed his or her favorite artwork from the year, alongside two significant all-student collaboration pieces titled “Making the Connection” and “We are Better Together but it starts with a Dot.”
Hinz’s approach to teaching encompasses a wide spectrum of media. From traditional arts like drawing and painting, to more diverse forms such as fiber, glass, pottery, printmaking, digital design, and woodwork, her curriculum is designed to offer a comprehensive artistic experience.
“My goal is to help students become creative thinkers and problem solvers in everyday life,” she said. “I want them to see that art is everywhere and that everyone can excel in some form of artistic expression.”
A collaboration with the High Plains Museum during the Christmas season offered another platform for student creativity. Drawing inspiration from the children’s book “Snowmen at Night” by Caralyn Buehner, students created a four-panel mural depicting imaginative snowy scenes of what a snowman might do when people are not watching. Every student, from kindergarten to eighth grade, played a role in the project, contributing their creativity to the festive display.
“Whether a student drew a snowman, trees, cabins, the moon, or the sunrise sky, everyone had a part in piecing the mural together using the technique of multi-media paper collaging.” Hinz said. The mural will be on display at the museum through January and then returned to the school for the spring concert and art show.
As the school year progresses, collaboration remains the overarching theme as students work together to create meaningful art even with the simplest of supplies. For Catholic Schools Week, students created crosses from popsicle sticks and small sculptures that will be used for table decorations at the visitors’ lunch. St. Patrick students, staff, and families look forward to the upcoming spring concert and art show that will feature individual pieces as well as school-wide art projects.
“We plan to showcase our very talented students but also show our love for God and each other in a collaborative work that we hope to show for years to come.” Hinz said.
As St. Patrick Elementary School’s art projects continue to weave through the community, they’re doing much more than showcasing student creativity. Through their efforts, the students are learning more than just art—they’re learning about collaboration, community, and the joy of adding art and beauty to the place they call home.
