An art project involving storytelling has earned Lydia Stueber, a teacher at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper, nationwide recognition. Stueber was named a recipient of a grant from the Voya Unsung Heroes Program, a national initiative that recognizes K-12 educators for creative class projects and innovative teaching methods.
The winning project is titled Book in a Box. In this project, Advanced Art students use various materials and styles to create a masu box, which is a classic origami box made from a folded sheet of paper without the use of glue or scissors.
According to Stueber, students select a theme or story and build the box around that concept. The process involves learning how to fold the masu-style box, which is then collaged and decorated. Students fill the boxes with items such as a small painting on a mini canvas, a map or guide, a few on-theme found objects, and three sculpted, fired, and finished mini-objects.
Through this project, students learn techniques in sculpture, origami, book arts, and multimedia implementation. The project also allows students to apply storytelling skills including imagination, innovation, motifs, themes, and narrative.
Stueber, who teaches visual arts and drawing and serves as a co-advisor for the Creatives Club, received a first-level grant of $2,000. The project also advanced to the next round for consideration for higher grant awards. Stueber stated she intends to use the funds to purchase experimental and high-quality materials, such as POSCA markers and various types of paper, as well as books regarding found objects and book binding.
Stueber is one of 50 finalists nationwide to receive an Unsung Heroes grant. She noted that the project helps students slow down and find themselves within their individual stories, providing a space to represent their intention, personality, soul, and heart.
