has a studio at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem. (Right: 

Native Blue Heron Sculptures in Bethlehem, on the greenway near Taylor and 3rd Streets)

Ms. Abbott first began working with traditional sculpting materials but now focuses on using recycled and found articles as the basis for her pieces. She asked our students to bring items like bottle caps, small toys, plastic pieces and other similar articles - during the coming week she will be at Swain as our Visiting Artist, and she will create a piece for us using global and peace themes.

At her Friday visits with Swain students, she shared her process. She was happy to hear that Swain middle school students have been creating their own 'junk' sculptures for many years (see example, left).

Many of Ms. Abbott's works are shaped with a special 'post consumer' pulp she makes from a paste, which begins with fiberboard egg cartons. She adds dimension with found objects and also uses custom molds she creates - when the piece dries she paints it, often with a finish that makes it look like it is made from bronze or other material. The resulting sculpture looks like it is made from a rare material, but it has been created from something that would have ended up in the trash.

Ms. Abbott will be working with each of the art classes in the coming week, helping students create their own pieces from found and recycled objects. As art teacher Trisha Samuel reminded our students, "A peaceful world begins with taking care of the world we have, and this is a way we can re-use things we might have thrown away, to make a more beautiful world."

The adults in Swain's community - parents, faculty and staff - will have an opportunity to meet Ms. Abbott on Wednesday after school in Rogers' Commons, from 3:10-3:45 p.m. She will share her work and process, and talk about her visit here at Swain.

For more photos from our Peace Day gatherings, click here.

Many thanks to the Borgenicht Foundation for supporting Ms. Abbott's work at Swain.