Overview
In 2004 Del Mar Heights Elementary School sixth-grade students, along with Artist-in-Residence Betsy Schulz and sculptor Hans Tegebo, designed and built a 22-foot-long concrete sculptural Sea Serpent bench near the school’s garden. The project incorporated math, science, language and creative arts learned in the classroom into a real-world application. With the assistance of Global Studies teacher Pam Martin, Schulz and Tegebo introduced the students to public art, reviewed the specific material needs for the project, and presented the concepts of form and function. They worked with the students to calculate the square footage of their proposed bench, to create drawings and build scale models, to write project descriptions and finally to write letters requesting donated materials and funds. All of the sixth-grade students and teachers, and many parents and community volunteers helped complete the mosaic.
| Name: | Sea Serpent Bench |
| Artist: | Betsy Kopshina Schulz (directed student project) |
| Design: | Joon Leem, Adam Skinner, Sarah Taylor, Dawn Meredith, Chris Davidson |
| Medium: | Concrete, rebar, tile, stone and shells |
| Size: | 22’ x 4’ x 4’ |
| Duration: | January–June 2004 |
| Location: | 13555 Boquita Drive, Del Mar, CA |
| Client: | Del Mar Heights Elementary School |
| Thanks: | Principal Wendy Wardlow, Pam Martin , Hans Tegebo and students |
