In honor of the San Leandro Library’s Big Read Grant featuring African-American author, Zora Neale Hurston, Roosevelt students have created art inspired by Hurston and fellow Harlem Renaissance writer, Langston Hughes.
As you enter the children’s library, look to the left for 4th and 5th grade mixed media portraits of Zora Neale Hurston. The students also created art inspired by the "five-acre garden" where Zora grew up. They created their mixed media art works using elements from her yard such as the chinaberry trees, cape jasmine, guavas and other fruits and children playing.
4th & 5th Grade Portraits of Zora Neale Hurston
On the back and side walls are 2nd and 3rd grade snails inspired by the poem “Snail” by Langston Hughes. Elements from the poem can be seen in the student art such as the rose, dreaming snails, dewdrops, garden imagery and weather.
2nd & 3rd Grade Snails Inspired by Langston Hughes' poem 'Snail'
Over the computers are fish created by the 1st grade students thinking about the ocean after listening to Hughes’ poem “Long Trip.” The poem talks about how the sea rises and rolls, dips and dives and things that are hidden. The students created their art thinking about what is hidden under the rolling waves and in these artworks, focused on fish.
1st Grade Fish Inspired by Langston Hughes' poem 'Long Trip'
Select pieces will be on display until late February.
Click here to view more photos of select art work on display.
Click here for photos of all art work from Roosevelt on Flickr.
Coming in February at the San Leandro Library: art work from Ms. Smith and Ms. Papciak’s third grade classes and Ms. Koizumi’s 1st grade classroom. More on those displays later!
Many thanks to Librarian, Kelly Keefer for organizing this event!