A few lucky birds are about to get colorful new digs thanks to recent creative artwork by Leachburg area high school students.
The Aviary Project is the latest project from high school art teacher Shayle Prorok. Last month, six students designed and painted the birdhouse.
The homes will be donated to Cook Medical in Parks Township. Cook’s aviary was installed in May.
Cook’s corporate social responsibility representative, Joseph Felschow, said the birds moved into the aviary right away.
“Within a few days, blackbirds, robins and even a few cardinals moved in. We are proud to have an aviary that displays and houses local wildlife on our campus,” he said.
Joyce Hands | Tribune Review
Cook Medical in Parks Township
Junior Helynn Gazda’s designs are whimsical.
“I was inspired by pictures of fairy houses and fantasy worlds,” says Gazda. “I love doing this project. It’s going to be a good cause and I’m glad I’m a part of it.”
Joyce Hands | Tribune Review
Leechburg Area High School art student Helynn Gazda has designed a fairytale-themed aviary that will be donated to Cook Medical in Parks Township as part of the Art Department’s Aviary Program.
The students worked on the birdhouses for a few weeks, applying acrylic paint, then sealing them to make them weather-resistant.
Sophomore Eliza Trusiak chose a popular dessert to decorate her birdhouse.
“It’s an ice cream theme. I think it’ll look lovely on campus and on Pink Day,” Trusiak said. “My art style isn’t usually that cute, but this was a fun and fun project.”
Prorok implemented the project two years ago, donating six birdhouses to Cook. The new house will donate a total of 12 birdhouses.
“They want us to build more birdhouses every few months,” Prorok said of the ongoing project.
Students in the technical education department made each wooden aviary.
“This project is entirely in-house,” Prorok said. “From a community perspective, it’s important for people to be able to see what’s going on in our classrooms. These birdhouses are visible outside. It helps students develop some community pride.”
Felschow said Cook worked with the Leachburg Area School District in an effort to showcase the talents of the students.
“Giving back to where we live is one of the seven values Cook encourages employees to have,” Fairshaw said. “Our focus on community health, youth education and our social enterprise is our social responsibility as a company.”
Senior Jasa Oliver’s designs pay homage to her Ukrainian roots.
“The flowers above are sun-dried on a Ukrainian folk pattern, flanked by the Ukrainian coat of arms,” Oliver said. “In front of the aviary is a sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine.”
Joyce Hands | Tribune Review
Ukrainian-themed custom aviary by Litchburg Area High School art student Jasa Oliver.
The text written in Ukrainian on the Oliver Aviary translates as “Glory to Ukraine”.
Principal Tiffany Nix said having students’ work exhibited in the local community was a win-win proposition.
“Our partnership with Cook Medical is truly a gift to our school. It’s great to have a local business that is so supportive and inclusive of our students, staff and curriculum,” Nix said.
Three of the birdhouses are very pink.
“My inspiration was to raise awareness about breast cancer, and I’m excited to provide a house for a bird,” said freshman Sophia Charles.
The birdhouses were on display Saturday at Pink Day, a breast cancer research fundraiser in Lichburg.
Junior Azlynn Banichar incorporates Cook’s branding in her creations.
Banichar painted green four-leaf clovers and pink shamrocks to represent breast cancer awareness and work with Cook.
Ryleigh Zamperini used wooden popsicles, stones and pebbles in her aviary, placing each one individually to create the shingles and roof.
“My theme was an abandoned cabin. The aviary was challenging, but I loved every bit of it,” says Zamperini.
Joyce Hanz is a staff writer for Tribune-Review. You can contact Joyce via email jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter .