This spring, volunteer parent and Hillside Explorers instructor Holly Korus has been teaching a seven-week after-school art class with eight Hillside Elementary School students. The enrichment course, called “Nevertheless She Created,” explores the styles and stories of some of the most influential women in art. In addition to creating self-portraits inspired by Cindy Sherman and silhouette art in the style of Kara Walker, Korus and her students set their sights outdoors in order to design and construct an installation inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s ‘Ascension of Polka Dots on the Trees.’ Their version of the installation is called “We Go Higher, Dot Dot Dot.”
“I hope people look at the school with a different perspective and not to take things at face value,” said Korus. “We have a grand oak that is 15’ in diameter. That very tree watched Hillside being built over 100 years ago. It has watched thousands of children start their first day of school, thousands of children graduate wearing everything from knickers to bell bottoms. The tree has always worn a coat of brown until today when it and its other tree friends get to wear bright red and white polka dot coats. As Shel Silverstein once said, ‘Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.’”
The installation will be in place for the next two weeks.
