Some lucky birds are about to get colorful new digs thanks to recent creative artwork by Leechburg-area high school students.
The Birdhouse Project is high school art teacher Shayle Prorok’s latest project. Six students designed and painted birdhouses last month.
The homes will be donated to Cook Medical in Parks Township. Birdhouses in Cook were installed in May.
Joseph Felschow, Cook’s corporate social responsibility representative, said the birds were immediately moved to aviaries.
“Blackbirds, robins and even a few cardinals moved in within days. We are proud to have the birdhouses here on our campus on display and inhabited by local wildlife,” he said.
Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review
Cook Medical in Parks Township
Helynn Gazda, a junior, was whimsical with her design.
“I was inspired by fairy houses and images of fantasy worlds,” Gazda said. “I loved doing this project. It will be for a good cause, and I’m glad I was able to participate.”
Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review
Leechburg Area High School art student Helynn Gazda designed a fairy-themed birdhouse that will be donated to Cook Medical in Parks Township as part of the art department’s Birdhouse Project.
The students worked for several weeks on the birdhouses, using acrylic paint and then sealing them to make them weatherproof.
Sophomore Eliza Trusiak chooses a popular dessert to decorate her birdhouse.
“It’s an ice cream thing. I thought it would look pretty on campus and on Pink Day,” Trusiak said. “My art style isn’t usually that pretty, but it was a fun and interesting project.”
Prorok implemented the project two years ago, giving six birdhouses to Cook. The new houses will give a total of 12 donated birdhouses.
“They’re looking at us to make more birdhouses every two months,” Prorok said of the ongoing project.
The students of the technical education department have made each wooden house.
“This project is completely in-house,” Prorok said. “It’s important from a community point of view that people can see what’s going on in our classroom. These birdhouses are visible outside. It helps students develop some community pride.”
Felschow said Cook partnered with the Leechburg Area School District in an effort to showcase student talent.
“Giving back to the places where we live is one of the seven values that Cook encourages employees,” Felschow said. “We focus on community health, youth education and our social enterprise as our social responsibilities as a corporation.”
Jasa Oliver, an elderly woman, gave a nod to her Ukrainian heritage with her design.
“The flowers on the top are inspired by Ukrainian folk patterns and on both sides is the coat of arms of Ukraine,” said Oliver. “The front of the birdhouse features a sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine.”
Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review
A Ukrainian-themed custom birdhouse painted by Leechburg Area High School art student Jasa Oliver.
The words written in Ukrainian on Oliver’s birdhouse translate to “Glory to Ukraine.”
Superintendent Tiffany Nix said having students’ artwork on display in the local community is a winning proposition.
“Our partnership with Cook Medical is truly a gift to our school. It is wonderful to have a local business that is so supportive and inclusive of our students, staff and curriculum,” said Nix.
Three of the birdhouses are very pink.
“My inspiration was to raise awareness about breast cancer, and I was happy to provide a home for a bird,” said freshman Sophia Charles.
The birdhouses were on display at Pink Day, a fundraising event for breast cancer research, held in Leechburg on Saturday.
Junior Azlynn Banichar incorporated Cook’s branding for her creation.
Banichar painted green four-leaf clovers along with pink ones to represent breast cancer awareness and the association with Cook.
Ryleigh Zamperini used wooden mason posts, stones and pebbles for her birdhouse, placing each to make shingles and a roof.
“My subject was an abandoned country house. The birdhouse was a challenge, but I loved every part of it,” Zamperini said.
Joyce Hanz is a staff writer for the Tribune-Review. You can contact Joyce by email at jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter .
