Students at St. Jude the Apostle School caught the excitement of artist Dale Chihuly’s work this year thanks to one of their teachers, Beth Deery.

“I fell in love with Chihuly’s sculptures the moment I was introduced to them. I felt his medium and style would excite the children and catch their attention,” Deery said.

The artist’s glass sculptures were the center of a special exhibit at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens at which they were displayed amidst the gardens’ plant collections.

In the fall, the seventh- and eighth-grade students were fortunate enough to attend the “Chihuly in the Garden” exhibit. The comments and facial expressions were priceless, their teachers said.

As a result, beginning in November, the entire student body worked together to recreate Chihuly’s sculptures for the school community to enjoy. Each student created a paper maché balloon that became part of a particular sculpture.

Kindergarteners used punch ball balloons to form a ceiling installation.

The first through fifth grade created an upright chandelier that was displayed in the art room.

The sixth grade created a hanging chandelier that adorned the cafeteria.

The seventh grade attached their doughnut balloons to form a ceiling sculpture in the fine arts suite.

The eighth grade created the magnificent light fixture similar to the one in the Las Vegas Bellagio Hotel.

The students enthusiastically worked on the sculptures and it was obvious that they learned a great deal and gained a true appreciation for this renowned artist.