Spring Hill makes masks like local artist

Masks couldn’t hide how much fun the Suns had with a recent art project. Art teacher Racheal Harris led Spring Hill Elementary students through designing intricate masks as an addition to the school’s Black History Month celebrations.

The masks were inspired by the work of Kimmy Cantrell, an African-American artist that lives and works in College Park, Ga. He is mostly self-taught and studied business in college and later found his way back to art.

Students studied several of Cantrell’s masks and the process in which he creates them, then designed their own original masks inspired by him. They were tasked with creating a mask using a variety of lines, shapes, and colors. They also studied masks around the world and discussed why people wear them, like health reasons during a pandemic, hiding a secret identity like a superhero, or becoming someone else for Halloween.

“I hope the students had fun exploring the elements of art (line, shape, and color), as well as making connections to a local artist here in Georgia,” said Harris. “The students were inspired, engaged, motivated, and had a great time learning about his life and his art.”

— Provided by the Fayette County School System.