Select AP Studio Art students and other artists came together to design and deliver Pike County’s fiberglass bell structure on Dec. 6.
Bells Across PA is a featured statewide art series where students and local artists craft three foot fiberglass replica bells in honor of each anniversary of the United States. Throughout Pennsylvania, all 67 counties are represented with these bells.
An invitation to participate in this event was extended from the Pike County commissioners who encouraged the high school art students to submit a proposal for the bell. The proposal that was sent out was selected to be Pike County’s bell, and the students and art department were excited to hear this news.
Art teacher Mrs. Tricia Kaylor reached out to her future AP students in May to brainstorm ideas for the bell. This school year, she collected designs from all of the students involved in the project and meshed them into one final idea that depicted the natural beauty of Pike County. The lead painters of the bell were seniors Kate Yablonski, Kat Poletayeva and Ruby Bailor.
Designs were collected from seniors Megan Frey, Jamie Famoso, Addison Del Mauro, Isabella Seidel, Bailey Ryan, Zoe Sutton, Bella Wilkins and Zayra Murillo Reyes. The title of the bell is “Nature Rings in Pike County,” and some key features of the bell include Grey Towers, a bald eagle and Pennsylvania’s state flower, the Mountain Laurel. The final bell took about six weeks to complete, and some students stayed after school to work on it.
Mrs. Kaylor gave a speech before the bell was unveiled, commemorating her students’ hard work.
“This afternoon belongs to the dedicated artists who made this bell a reality,” Mrs. Kaylor said. “It is my privilege to recognize our entire artistic team.”
Many elected officials from Pike County spoke at the unveiling ceremony. The American Legion was also present with their color guard, and a band played music.
The bell was then unveiled and is now displayed in the Pedranti Pavilion at the Milford Community House. There is background information posted next to the bell.
Not only was the bell a great way to sum up Pike County’s natural beauty, but it also gave people of the community a chance to come together and honor their country.
