PANGBURN — “The Paris attacks instantly reminded me of the way we felt on Sept. 11, 2001,” said Kelly Abernathy, an art teacher at Pangburn Middle School. “I was in the ninth grade in English class. I remember seeing artwork on the news that schools from around the country had sent, and I loved the idea.”
Thus she and Pangburn Middle School history teacher Dawn Atkins teamed up to inspire their students to respond to the attacks in Paris.
Atkins said she was excited to join in the artwork effort and tie it in with history.
“I showed pictures of the French flag to get the colors right and of the Eiffel Tower,” she said. The only stipulations she gave were to not write, ‘Sorry you got bombed’ and to not draw explosions.
“The Paris attacks on Nov. 13 were so devastating, and I saw this as an opportunity to expand on students’ global awareness and use art as a communication tool to show our sympathy,” Abernathy said. “We looked at maps of Paris, translated words to French, compared and contrasted with Sept. 11, talked about what it would feel like if it happened here, etc.”
The students responded with pencil and colored-marker drawings of the French flag and the Eiffel Tower, and words of love and encouragement.
And even though the project was optional, Abernathy said, most children participated.
“A few even took [their projects] home to work on overnight and brought them back the next day,” Abernathy said, as the class meets just once a week.
“I took all the artwork we had collected, wrote a letter and mailed them to the United States Embassy [in Paris] over Thanksgiving break. I found the letter we received back on the day we came back from Christmas break. The students were pretty excited to hear back,” she said.
“I drew two people holding hands under the Paris lights,” fourth-grader Kira Atkins said. “I had to think about it for a long time.” She said she likes both art and history and that Ms. Kelly is her favorite teacher.
Sixth-grader Justin Hendrix said he drew the French flag and wrote, “I am sorry,” in French. He had a preacher who helped him with the French, along with the Internet, Justin said.
“The French have helped us … back in the Revolutionary War, and they posted in their city our American colors when 9/11 happened, a $26 billion cost to paint the city up,” Justin said he had read.
Along with the artwork, Abernathy sent a letter that states, “This artwork was created by students ages 9-15 at a small school in the United States. Our hearts were heavy this week after hearing about the attacks, and we wanted to show our support. We hope that you will find this artwork a good home, somewhere where the people of Paris can see our love and support for them.”
She then added the school’s address in the event that anyone wished to write back.
“I thought of mailing [the artwork] to a school, but decided I better not. It might make them nervous to get a box,” Abernathy said
The Pangburn students received a letter from U.S. Ambassador Jane D. Hartley in Paris, and Abernathy made sure each student got a copy of the letter.
“I thank you and your students for your kind words regarding the recent attacks on Paris and your sympathy toward the people of France,” Hartley wrote. “It was truly heartwarming to receive the artwork of so many young people. We have shared pictures of these on our social media and will forward the artwork to the French authorities.
“The embassy has also received many letters of thanks and appreciation from French citizens, a veritable outpouring of love for the United States of America’s support to France in these troubling times. Among the acts most appreciated was the lighting of our many monuments in French colors of bleu, blanc, rouge, which our embassy in Paris took part in as well! It is thanks to expressions of solidarity such as yours that the friendship between France and the United States of America has lasted so long and will continue to do so. Thank you again.”
“I thought it was exciting that they sent this answer,” Brittan Piety said of receiving the letter from the embassy.
Students who participated in the art project at Pangburn Middle School said they hope they will hear back from others in Paris who saw the artwork, and the students discussed the possibility of Skyping with a class at a Paris school.
“Do they have Snapchat?” fifth-grader Courtney Vess asked. “It would be a whole lot easier [to communicate].”
Superintendent Kathy Berryhill said she is proud of this and other endeavours her staff and students have participated in throughout the years.
“I stay amazed at the thoughtfulness of our staff and students in always reaching out to help or support a variety of community projects, such as being volunteer readers for younger students, raising money and items for [Arkansas] Children’s Hospital, senior citizens shelters, etc.,” Berryhill said.
“Creating artwork provides another avenue for our students to share our support and compassion for what the citizens lost during the attacks in Paris,” she said. “Artwork displays a unique language of communication, empathy and understanding, and provides an avenue to make connections with others in a time of intense pain and sorrow.
“Our students gained appreciation and a more global understanding and awareness while completing this project, and we are very proud of their work.”