Students at WNY P-TECH in Dunkirk recently completed a schoolwide project that has added some artistic flair to the halls.
Modeled after the work of artist Mark Jenkins, students in art teacher Shelli Romero’s class have made “Human Packing Tape Installation Sculptures.” Each figure is made of crinkled paper wrapped in tape and plastic wrap.
One finished piece at WNY P-TECH has been made to look like Spiderman from an iconic scene in the movie. It was designed by Ashjon Monaghan of Westfield, Cole Anderson of Jamestown, and Gavin Milner of Southwestern.
“I like Spiderman, so I thought we could try to make something like that. It turned out pretty well,” Monaghan said of the sculpture that currently hangs in the cafeteria.
Placed nearby is a figure climbing up the cafeteria wall made by Jonathan Pilski of Silver Creek and Wesley Barger of Westfield.
In the Mechanical Technology classroom is a sculpture by Tiahjae Perez of Jamestown and Myah Benjamin of Dunkirk. The figure, propped up to appear to be working, is fully dressed in shoes, jeans, a jacket, and a hat.
“I thought this kind of project would be fun for these students,” Romero said. “It was something they could do as a group.”
Romero had students review Jenkins’ work for inspiration as part of their art class. Jenkins is perhaps best known for his sculptural street installations in which his realistic work appears to interact with its surroundings.
“This kind of art is meant to make people more aware of what’s around them,” Romero said.
The sculptures will be kept in place for a couple of weeks at WNY P-TECH.
Many of the works have been receiving plenty of attention, including one fully clothed that has been placed in Principal Jeffrey Teluk’s office. It was made by Jaymeson Bialaszewski of Fredonia and Cayden Schuster and Chance Kramer of Dunkirk.
