Ravenswood Mosaic Cements Relationship with School and Community

There's a new piece of art in the neighborhood, but this time, it's not just a pretty sight. 

Eight panels of mosaic can now be seen on planters outside Ravenswood Elementary School at 4332 N. Paulina Ave. 

Like the artwork itself, many tiny parts came together to make something beautiful. 

Children created the mosaic, which was designed by artists from Lillstreet Art Center and funded by community organizations.

More than 30 kids in grades three to six worked on the project after school and over the summer. 

"It's all part of a larger plan to revamp Ravenswood School and have it reflect the great arts program on the inside," said Cornelia Gramman, the president of the Friends of Ravenswood.

With grants from the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce and the Ravenswood Community Council, the Friends organization was able to fund the planters outside the school. 

Lillstreet Art Center's nonprofit, Art Reach, joined in when art teacher Catherine "Miss Kitty" Conde decided she wanted to do a mosaic. 

The children designed the projects themselves, incorporating the four elements and four divisions of the arts. 

"Often times when you say you're going to have small children work with broken pieces of glass, people usually don't think that's going to end well," designer Rochelle Borrett from Lillstreet said.

The artist let the kids design parts themselves by creating drawings with scissors. Details like a guitar and a heart are interwoven throughout the project. 

"These kids do amazing art and I'm really excited to be able to reflect that in the community," Conde said.