highlights

Ringgold School District

In the fall of 2016, Teaching Artist/Ceramicist & Mosaic Artist Laura Jean McLaughlin worked with thirty students in Mrs. Theresa Campa’s ceramics classes at Ringgold High School to create a fifteen-foot long mosaic mural. Students brainstormed and sketched designs that would represent student life and local history, then worked to cut mirror and stained glass pieces that were glued onto cement board panels. At the end of the twenty-day Residency Project, the students finished by applying grout between the mosaic tiles. The fifteen-foot mosaic mural was installed in the board meeting room of the Roosevelt Administration Building.

In 2018-2019, fourth grade students at Ringgold Elementary School South in Washington County created collaborative “crankies” to illustrate the environmental sustainability and harmony, specifically focusing on the life cycles of insects, plants, and trout! Resident Artist and “Paper Lady” Katy DeMent introduced the students to this unique story telling medium, incorporating drawing, painting, printing, and collage. This collaboration between DeMent and Art Teacher Janice Dongilli has continued annually in exploring regional wildlife and bookmaking. In 2025, Katy worked with students in grades K-3 to explore elements of art and design by creating art books. We’re excited to see what other amazing art processes are explored next year as this collaboration continues!

In winter 2023, Teaching Artist/Metalsmith Lindsay Huff collaborated with Art Teacher Marlynn White and approximately forty Ringgold Middle School students to create a 9′ x 24′ mural depicting species of fish that would live nearby in the Monongahela River and in Mingo Creek. Students painted abstract river currents on pine board donated by 84 Lumber and then created colorful aluminum can collages with hammers, nails, scissors, and repurposed/recycled aluminum cans. Species depicted included bluegill, black crappie, creek chub, emerald shiner, golden red horse, striped shiner, large mouth bass, rock bass, muskellunge, and log perch! Students created a range of mountains above the banks of the river by creating torn paper collages on wood, and a setting sun created with aluminum Coca-Cola cans and repurposed plastic packaging. The project was installed in the summer of 2024 at Firefly Gardens in Washington, PA with a public unveiling on September 7. Visit the mural and the other art at the beautiful community garden located behind Freedom Transportation Center at 50 E Chestnut Street the next time you’re in the area!