SUPPLY, NC, November 11, 2003 - - - Art teacher Larry Hewett’s creativity goes beyond art itself, into innovative ideas to make learning interesting for his students, and to integrating art with other curriculum at the school. He came up with an idea that
combines English, art, history and social studies, along with developing skills in technology, graphic design, interpersonal communication, plus involvement with the community. That’s a tall order, and he turned to Brunswick Electric’s Bright Ideas Educational Grant program for funding.

The award for “Columbus County in Clay” came in the fall, and the project took off. The subject chosen was the various styles of tobacco barns around the county. These barns represent a significant piece of local history, but are rapidly disappearing from the landscape. First, students researched local history and interviewed barn owners. Next, they explored various sculpture techniques with the help of an adopted artist from Hawaii, Erich Broennimann. That’s when things got really creative.... after experimenting with the more standard three-dimensional slab construction, they moved on to creating a barn “teapot”, two-dimensional wall hangings, tiles and more items with the barn motif. Presentation materials and a website are also being developed to make the sculptures available to all other schools in the county and to the community in a traveling exhibit. Plans are also afoot for an exhibit/auction with proceeds going to fund similar programs in future years.

“The items created were a big step up from the simple pinch pots they had done before”, says Hewett. “For this project they had to understand something about architecture and building, as well as the techniques of working with clay and glazes.”

Eleventh grade student Paul Scott enjoyed working on the barns so much that he is now considering a career in architecture. That’s the kind of spark that a good creative teaching project should set off in the students. “It’s all about getting them to “think outside the box” about art and about how art connects to other disciplines, and then about how it relates to their own life,” says Hewett.

The Bright Ideas program, originated by BEMC in 1994, is now a statewide project, open to all public school teachers serving grades K-12. All 27 members of the NC Electric Membership Corporation, a statewide organization of electric cooperatives have united to underwrite awards of approximately $350,000 per year to NC educators, for a total well over $2 million since inception of the program. Bright Ideas grants are for projects with new approaches to engage the students and spark their interest and are just one example of the commitment that all Touchstone Energy electric cooperatives have to their local community.
The application process for 2003 awards is now open. Teachers are invited to visit the web site for details and application: http://www.ncbrightideas.com

Brunswick EMC is the third largest electric cooperative in the state and provides electric service to over 62,000 member locations in Brunswick, Columbus, Bladen and Robeson counties. Brunswick EMC is also a member of the national alliance of Touchstone Energy cooperatives.
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(l-r: Teacher Larry Hewett,
Students: Jason Duncan, Whitney Hill, Mac Lowery, Summer Willliamson, Michael Washington, and Matthew Coleman - with some of their clay interpretations of Columbus County tobacco barns.