By Debbie Adams
Third graders from W.E. Cundiff Elementary School and William Byrd High School students
enrolled in Art 2 classes combined their talents for a Monster Art project in recent weeks. About
68 students were involved from each school. Cundiff third grade classroom teacher Danielle
Wilcox and William Byrd art teacher Allyson Goin came up with the project.
Allyson Goin collaborated for a Monster Art project involving both schools.
The third graders were asked to draw a picture of a scary monster, which Goin described as
“amazing.”
Their pictures were then sent to WBHS where the art students transformed the drawings into 3D
versions using felt and other materials. Some were quite elaborate. Goin said it can be quite a
challenge going from a flat two-dimensional drawing to a 3D design.
The Byrd students spent about two weeks of class time working on the monsters. The next step
was a field trip for the Cundiff classes who came to the high school to pick up the monsters and
meet their own personal artist. The meet and greet took place in the school cafeteria. When Goin
polled the Art 2 students, many raised their hands as former Cundiff students.
This was the first time Goin and Wilcox had collaborated on this particular project involving the
two schools, but they plan for more. Goin didn’t want anyone to miss the fun, so she and her students created monsters for the teachers and staff from Cundiff who accompanied their students. Everyone had something to take home.
The grand finale of the day was another project—the third graders were given a paper circle to
turn into a button to wear, using Goin’s button-making machine. She will be delivering them to
Wilcox at Cundiff soon. There was also a tour of the William Byrd art classrooms for the
younger students.
