By Jen Penkethman
Special to the Free Lance
Gilroy
– What can be done with an old shoe? If you are like most of us,
you’d throw it out. If you’re part of Amber Woodward’s art class at
South Valley Middle School, you’d decorate the shoe with pictures,
beads, and buttons, turning it into an objet d’art.
Gilroy – What can be done with an old shoe? If you are like most of us, you’d throw it out. If you’re part of Amber Woodward’s art class at South Valley Middle School, you’d decorate the shoe with pictures, beads, and buttons, turning it into an objet d’art.
“I got inspired and made, (and sold) quite a few shoes, so I thought it would be a good project for my students to try,” said Woodward.
Shoes that became art projects are on display at the Gavilan building in Hollister, in an exhibit called “Sole Matters.” After being displayed there, they’ll move on to the Gilroy Unified District Office.
This is quite a lot of mileage out of something that would normally be thrown away.
“(Ms. Woodward ) told us to do what describes us as a person,” said Jasmin Avila, 13, whose shoe can be viewed in the Gavilan building lobby. “My shoe was about fashion, because that describes me as a person.”
Her project, lined up with a dozen others chosen to be on display, was once a pink Converse shoe, now completely reinvented with pictures of purses and clothes, beads, paint and even jewels. The students said they used special glue to make the surface of the shoe glossy.
“Mine was my friend’s really old shoe, which I decorated with polka dots'” said Abigail Enriquez, whose shoe is “about being happy.” She said she spent a week making the shoe, finding materials, cutting out words from magazines, and painting it pink and green.
Manuel Avila, 12, had the smallest shoe of all – a baby’s shoe, adorned with the logo of his favorite football team, the 49ers, and bits of metal he said he found in the vast collection of art supplies in Woodward’s classroom. Woodward’s own piece, titled “Jimmy,” is an impressive creation featuring painted baby shoes, a tiny bottle holding a faded photograph, and tissue paper.
“The inspiration came from me taking a workshop by Michael Demeng,” Woodward said. “He’s an amazing artist and has inspired me to do more ‘assemblage’ (pronounced ‘ahsemblaje’ with a French accent) type art in my classroom. It’s lots of fun!”
The shoes, decorated with pictures of dragons and feathers, have cleverly disguised what is essentially bits and pieces of throwaway material. Rosario Gutierrez’s creation, called “My House'” features a tiny replica of a living room, all arranged and glued to the inside of the shoe.
“I made mine for my sister'” said Alexandra Rose, 13. “It has a picture of her, and her dog, and other things that represent her. After it’s done being displayed, I’m going to give it to her.”
Hollister Art League members Pat Zuniga and Louise Ray, who did the project in her own class at San Benito High School, also have pieces on display. The shoes will be at the Gavilan College Hollister Briggs building until Dec. 22. Other shoes are on display at South Valley Middle School.
