Mills Grant Recipient 2024
https://www.christinadababneh.com/s/Robinson-Patchwork-Playground-Mills-Grant-Proposal-3.pdf
The “Patchwork Playground” project was created to repair sections of the two blacktops at Robinson Elementary School in Lyons, IL. This collaborative initiative involved both Robinson Elementary students and volunteer ISU Art Education students working together to create and install student-made mosaics in the blacktop’s potholes. Each grade-level team voted and then created their vibrant designs using glass mosaic tiles with their assigned grade-level team’s color. Fifth-grade students developed their own custom design that reflects their ability to take ownership of this project and express individuality. Those designs were then voted on by their grade-level team, and the winning design is what was created for the final installation.
Once the potholes were filled with quikcrete, the mosaic designs were embedded into the surface. This project engaged students and staff in artistic expression but also built a sense of school and community pride for this shared space. The finished mosaics serve as lasting works of art that the J.W Robinson Elementary community can take ownership of and cherish for years to come.
PHASE 1: DESIGNING + VOTING
Students were given voting ballots with premade designs with their grade level team. The 5th-grade team was given the opportunity to design their own idea and then voted anonymously with their grade-level team to choose the winner.
PHASE 2: MAKING
I began the making process by creating paper templates of the potholes on the blacktop and then created a cardboard template the same size to use as an outline. I scaled the winning image to fit that size, covered it with Saran Wrap, and overlaid it with a fiberglass mosaic mesh, also known as a substrate, for the students to adhere to the glass stones. A schedule was created where every half hour a new class came to the space I had set up on the stage and each student and staff member was given time to participate and learn about the mosaic-making process.
PHASE 3: INSTALLATION
Two graduate art education students in my cohort joined me for the mosaic installation process. We began the process by clearing the potholes of any roots and debris, then prepared the Quikcrete Cement with a charcoal dye mixture in 5-gallon buckets. Then the mixture was poured into the potholes and leveled to match the surrounding surface height of the blacktop. We then placed the premade mosaic into the grade-level team’s designated potholes. After grouting the mosaic with the cement, we then wiped the surface of their pieces for clarity. The potholes were then covered and given 5 days to cure.
