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The news site of St. Francis High School

The SFHS Crier

The news site of St. Francis High School

The SFHS Crier

Painting a Picture on Sculpture

Sculpture+students+walking+into+the+Walker+Sculpture+Garden+for+field+trip
Hail
Sculpture students walking into the Walker Sculpture Garden for field trip

For students who enjoy art classes, this year provided a renewed opportunity. This year marks the first year since 2017 for Saint Francis High School to have a sculpture class. 

Art teacher Debra Paquay had to redesign the course and create an updated curriculum for sculpture.

“I try to make sculpture a sample class of a bunch of different mediums,” Paquay said. “So we start with clay. We do Botanical plaster casting. We do cardboard construction. We’re about to start wood carving. We do assemblage, which is using recycled materials. And we also do an upcycled fashion unit.”

Typically sculptures are intended for their aesthetic value; meaning just for looks.

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“Sometimes sculptures can have functions,” said Paquay, “but they’re designed with a sense of beauty and a purpose in communicating a message from the artist to the viewer.”

One of the major perks of the class is a big field trip the students go on. This fall the class went on September 27, 2023. 

“We started the day at the Walker Sculpture Garden, which if you’re familiar with the spoon and cherry, it’s sort of a Minneapolis Icon. That’s an outdoor sculpture garden,” said Paquay. “Then at the Walker, the local artists created this rooftop mini golf course. So we went up to the roof and did some mini golfing. And then we had lunch at Global Market. And finished the day at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.”

Paquay thinks about the opportunity this class provides students.

“I think the students will connect to it and I like to keep the curriculum fresh and relevant. So I’m really looking forward to it.”

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About the Contributor
Hailey King-Steele, Media Staff
Hailey King-Steele is in her senior year here at the Saint Francis High School. She is very involved in the sports aspect of school by being a part of the Saint Francis varsity volleyball team as a middle and outside hitter. She is also the National Honor Society Vice President as well as a member of the Saint Francis Student Council. She is an A honor roll student who has received multiple letters in academics as well as sports. Outside of school, She likes to broaden her horizons with different cultures’ cuisines and belief histories. Her plans for after high school are to pursue a Business degree specializing in Entrepreneurship as well as pursuing a Graphic Design degree.

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