Seventh Grade Artists Leave Their Mark on SOFO Maritime Heritage Fence Project

The symbiotic relationship between local businesses and schools is a crucial factor in community development. The South Forest (SOFO) non-profit is comprised of various businesses and restaurants located on the south end of Forest Drive in Annapolis, MD. While traveling Forest Drive, several members looked at the 504-foot fence that separates Annapolis Middle School‘s (AMS) playing fields from the street and saw it as an opportunity to create something special. That special creation became the SOFO AMS Fence Project. The project would feature student artwork along this SOFO corridor and display the artistic talents of the community youth. The project’s theme is “Celebrating Annapolis’ Maritime Heritage,” with CRABS being the first installation in 2017, and multiple student contributions added since then.

Early in the 2022-23 school year Ms. Lorie Stout of SOFO reached out to Ms. Amy Beller, AMS Social Worker, and shared her love for the AMS Fence Project. She was concerned that the project might be losing some of its momentum as recently there had been limited contributions due to COVID. Ms. Stout was hoping that Ms. Beller could find a teacher to lead students in helping restart the fence project within the school.

During FLEX time at AMS, teachers have the option to sponsor a club, such as cooking, dance, Model UN, podcasting, and art. At the start of the year students generally were guided towards options that they were familiar with from previous school years. The students appreciated the guidance and as the year progressed, the students were offered more variety in their opportunities and more autonomy in their choices. As the school approached a new semester, students would be given the opportunity to choose new clubs for the spring. Ms. Beller, who had been working towards improving the receptivity of the students’ voice saw the spring as an opportunity to present students with something new. She was in tune with the subtle buzz from students that Mr. Fenton was a well liked teacher, so she asked him to lead an art club. Mr. Shayne Fenton, an art lover who often uses art to help students find their voice and focus when they are struggling academically, accepted the opportunity to lead the club and included the Fence Project as a part of the club’s activities. Over 30 seventh grade students signed up for the club, but with having such a large group and limited time with the club, Mr. Fenton felt it would be best to offer the Fence Project as an opportunity to students who truly wanted it and would be dedicated to seeing the project through to the end. Seven students stepped up to the challenge and added the 2023 updates.

Here are images of their work:

Overall the project was a success this year and Mr. Fenton and the students are looking forward to contributing next year. The Fence Project with SOFO is just one of many examples of the community and local schools collaborating towards a common goal. Take a moment and consider how you as an individual or as an organization can collaborate with your local schools and create a work of art. Contact Lorie Stout at Lorie@StoutGear.com to find out more information about the SOFO AMS Fence Project.