Thanks to a Classroom Grant, Bennington Middle School students are creating a recycled sculpture inspired by artist Dale Chihuly. Under the guidance of Art Teacher Amy Blanchard, 6th to 8th graders are collaborating to design a massive artwork that will hang in the school’s cafeteria.
The project engages students in hands-on learning with recycled materials such as plastic water bottles. The bottles, will be cut and assembled into Chihuly-inspired shapes. “This project allows students to develop 21st Century Skills like collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving while creating something meaningful for the school community,” said Blanchard.
Impact Highlights:
• Hands-on experience with 3D art and recycled materials
• Collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving in action
• Public art displayed for students, staff, and the community
• Sustainability lessons through the use of recycled materials
The project benefits 420 students this year and will impact many more in the future. The grant funded items such as sharpies, spray paint, floral and cutting wire. Blanchard will spray paint hundreds of empty water bottles, which the students can then cut the bottles to reflect Chihuly’s glass pieces. These bottles will be assembled to the chicken wire with floral wire to create the giant sculpture that will hang in the cafeteria. This sculpture will be seen by the students, staff and the community when they come to the school for various events.
"With students already working on coloring recycled bottles, the excitement is building as the their first large-scale public art sculpture takes shape!" said Blanchard, "We're so grateful to be able to do this project thanks to Foundation funding."
Support future projects like this with a donation to the Classroom Grant program. ➤
Update Spring 2025 from Mrs Blanchard:
We would like to thank the Bennington Foundation for supporting us during this year-long recycled art journey. Bennington Middle School came together to create a stunning recycled water bottle sculpture in the art classroom, inspired by the vibrant glass artwork of Dale Chihuly.
As part of this project, students explored the environmental impact of plastic waste—especially water bottle pollution in the ocean—and learned how recycled art can raise awareness and make a difference. With the support of our community, we collected over 1,700 empty water bottles through homeroom contests, donations, and sporting events.
The creation process began during the first hexter. Students colored hundreds of water bottles using Sharpies, then cut them into spirals. They worked together to sort, tally, and bag each bottle. We built the sculpture’s base using chicken wire, forming a tornado-like shape. Students attached the water bottles piece by piece. Due to limited blue marker shades, Mrs. Blanchard spray-painted hundreds of bottles in varying tones of blue to create more depth and variety.
A dedicated committee of eighth-grade students completed the sculpture over the course of the school year. The entire student body participated by voting on a name—and so, the Bagdernado was born!
We are proud to share that every student in our building—and many staff members—had a hands-on experience with this sculpture. Our goal was to involve all students so they could experience firsthand the powerful impact that collaborative art can have on a school community.
