In a world full of problems, be a solution. That was the theme of this year’s art show at Lansing Middle School. For the sixth graders, it meant finding creative ways to incorporate issues and ideas they care about into their self-portraits. The students tackled a broad range of topics— ranging from LGBTQ+ rights to saving the sea turtles and creating world peace—which they depicted in the background of their pieces.  View the online Gallery

Across the many global issues that the students portrayed, there was one common thread that united all of the projects. Each of the students was asked to include one form of renewable energy in their self-portrait, recognizing that renewable energy is one of many “solutions” to the climate and environmental problems facing the world today. As you’ll see in the gallery, the self-portraits are filled with images of solar panels, wind mills, and hydroelectric dams.

The focus on renewable energy was the result of a collaboration between Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County (CCETC) and the technology and art teachers at Lansing Middle School. In the fall, CCETC educators Siobhan Hull and Anne Rhodes spent two days working with Nicole Lamie’s sixth-grade tech class.

Students learned all about home energy: which parts of the home use energy, where that energy comes from, and the difference between gas and electric sources of energy. By considering how appliances such as the oven, refrigerator, and washing machine receive energy, students uncovered the often invisible processes of how their home is powered. 

For the Lansing Middle School students, evaluating the difference between gas and electric energy was particularly relevant. Their community is home to the Lansing Non-Pipes Alternatives program, which encourages residents to make the switch from natural gas to electric heat pumps. By exploring the local context of energy usage, students were able to see how abstract concepts play out in their own backyard and form evidence-based views on local issues. 

The sixth graders then got to apply their home energy knowledge through  their spring art projects. Art teacher Lee Iannone was enthusiastic about this opportunity for interdisciplinary learning, and she encouraged students to think creatively about how renewable energy fits into their self-portraits. After a brief lesson reviewing renewable and non-renewable energy, students dove into researching concepts and images they wished to incorporate into their projects. 

The result was a series of thoughtful and imaginative self-portraits, variously depicting wind turbines, solar panels, hydroelectric dams, and more abstract representations of the natural elements. The portraits were on display at both the Lansing Community Library and the annual Lansing Middle School Art Show. A selection of fourteen self-portraits has been digitized and can be viewed in the gallery!

This project aimed to bridge the gap between climate science and the arts, and the students’ creative self-portraits reflect their ability to draw connections across disciplines. In this instance, art served as a powerful tool for students to reflect more deeply on how sustainability is being enacted in their community and their role in shaping the future.