4th grader buys a ‘home’
Staff writer
Lincolnville fourth-grader Kollin Klenda will have to shrink before he moves into a medieval castle he purchased Friday.
Kollin is one of several fourth graders who built the castle as an art project while studying medieval history at Centre school. The castle was auctioned during the school’s annual Artful Eye show.
Kollin’s mom, Leann Klenda, paid $125 for the castle. The money will be used to pay for a special art project next school year.
The annual Artful Eye event showcases the art skills of third through fifthgrade students. Items displayed during the show are students’ work created during the school year.
More than 450 pieces of art were displayed, including watercolors, clay work, acrylic canvases and decoupage.
Art teacher Pat Wick decided to combine history with art while students were studying medieval history. She had the students create a castle scene using oven-baked clay. Teams were divided into bricklayers and castle construction crews, a windows and castle furnishings team, and a team to create horses, knights and people.
Professional ceramicist Dewitt Boyd of Mississippi, a friend of Wick, contributed a king, a queen, and a guard to the project.
Kollin was a brick maker for the castle.
Lost Springs fifth grader Makenna Kaiser-Smith was named 2024 artist of the year.
Gold, silver and bronze medals were presented in each grade.
5th grade awards:
- Malina Perez, Burdick, gold.
- Vada Cobb, Herington, silver.
- Michaela Hinkson, Lost Springs, bronze.
4th grade awards:
- Benjamin Rziha, Tampa, gold.
- Canon Schafer, Tampa, silver.
- Tripp Nelson, Lincolnville, bronze.
3rd grade awards:
- Charlie Diepenbrock, Lincolnville, gold.
- Dayton Hajek, Lost Springs, silver.
- Leah Hinkson, Lost Springs, bronze.
“We always wonder if we’re going to be able to turn a gym into an art gallery and fill it up,” Wick said. “This year, we were especially concerned because we had several snow days in January and we were apprehensive about whether we’d completed enough art to fill the gym. Turns out 2024 was one of the most extensive shows ever!”