Local non-profit Drawing Together has provided a unique opportunity to bring contemporary artists into local elementary schools within the Tri-Community to teach lessons about art and environmental stewardship. This is the third year that the organization has offered this community project. On Monday, March 25th, pre-K students at Wrightwood Elementary had the opportunity to learn about art in relation to ancestral history from ceramics artist Mary Duman. Mary has deep connections to Wrightwood and reminisced about how her own children were once students at Wrightwood Elementary. You may recognize her and her artwork from the Wrightwood Art Center’s documentary The Inspiration You Find: Exploring The Arts in Wrightwood (2022)
Mary’s ceramic creations are inspired by nature and ancient Celtic symbols from her ancestors, which she has traced back to Ireland and Scotland.
“I believe my ancestors had some wisdom to living life in harmony with nature,” said Duman as she showed pictures of the remarkable Stonehenge and Newgrange Tomb, both prehistoric stone sites dating back 5,000 years, that are aligned with the solstices. Images of Celtic spirals were also shown during the presentation, which is an Irish symbol that has many meanings but is now iconic in Irish culture.
Students were then asked what symbols were currently present in their school’s multipurpose room. The children pointed out the mural of a Racoon, the school mascot, which stands for Wrightwood Elementary, and the American Flag hanging in front of the auditorium, which represents the United States of America.
Just as Mary uses Celtic symbols in her own artwork, students were invited to use symbols related to their families and draw them inside of the workbooks so they may discover and appreciate their own heritage. “It’s important to remember our ancestors. Although they are people in the past that are no longer here with us, we are here because of our ancestors,” said Mary.
Mary is currently an artist in residence at Cobb Mountain Art & Ecology near Sacramento, but she will be back in Wrightwood to display her artwork along with the three other contemporary artists who participated in the art assemblies. The exhibition will include art from Mary Duman, Dalila Paola Mendez, Renee Reizman, and Vojislav Radovanovic, which will take place on Saturday, May 4th, at the Community Arts Center & Gallery’s Spring Open House Event in Wrightwood. The community is invited to view their amazing artwork and creations inspired by the environment and nature.
