Art and Nature in the Greenhouse: Animal Figures Call for the Protection of Biodiversity

After two and a half years, the school celebrated together again: the Spring Festival!

Maria Ramos and Ines Vielhaben took this as an opportunity to bring the symphony of art and nature back to life in the greenhouse and garden. So the WU “Gardening and Vegetarian Cooking” group spruced up all the plants and the rooms to create space for arranging the small sculptures and hand puppets among them.

On display were a variety of hand puppets created by Heike Rabben-Martin’s (RaDo) 5th-grade classes, which caught the eye with their humorous faces and hand-sewn costumes. Class 5a, taught by Ines Vielhaben, modeled and glazed clay sun symbols inspired by sun symbols from various cultures around the world.

The WU 10 “Drawing and Cultural Studies” course developed small models for sculptures that could be erected or installed on the Steinmühle grounds in a way that reflects the local context. “Instead of on the cafeteria roof, the banana-eating blue monkey also looks great among the plants,” says Maria Ramos as she places the figures.

Animal figures on pedestals emerged from an in-depth exploration by Ines Vielhaben’s 11th-grade art class of occasions, motifs, and locations for monuments. When looking at the selection of animals, it is easy to see that they are endangered species that take the term “DenkMal!” literally, thereby serving as a stark reminder to protect biodiversity. Otherwise, only statues will remain to commemorate these animals.

Thanks to the variety of chalk drawings in the schoolyard, students repeatedly found their way to this hidden gem at the Steinmühle during the spring festival, stepping away from the hustle and bustle of the festivities.