STEM Students Learn Through Fazzino’s Art
The Fazzino Arts Education Initiative has gone beyond the bounds of arts education. In early October, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) instructor for elementary-aged students in Temple, Texas, contacted Fazzino’s team about a new project she wanted to conduct with her students using Fazzino’s 2024 Paris Olympics artwork. Johanna Tulloch from Thornton Elementary teaches STEM to approximately 800 students a week, serving both the bilingual and ASL students in her district and general education students zoned to her campus. She introduces students to technology and career options while allowing them to participate in problem-solving and engineering practices.
Ms. Tulloch, who is an admirer of Fazzino’s artwork, believed that his art is a prime example of engineering practices at work, and she found herself immediately making connections for her students; connections that she knew would engage them in learning. Using printouts of Fazzino’s Paris 2024 Olympic artwork as the base for her new STEM project, Ms. Tulloch’s students attached “makey makey” kits (an invention kit/learning tool that allows users to turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet) to Fazzino’s artwork and provide an audio description of various landmarks and events occurring in the artwork. They did this using block coding so that touching each landmark would play the created audio.
Fazzino Meets the Students of Thornton Elementary
Ms. Tulloch’s STEM students were ecstatic about the project and had so many questions about the art and the artist. Amazed by this unique project, Fazzino offered to meet with the students over a video call to answer some of their lingering questions about the artwork.
“I’m impressed with how you were able to use my art to teach something that isn’t exactly art-related,” Fazzino told Ms. Tulloch during the video call. “For years, I have worked with students and helped educate them through my art and experiences as a professional artist, but this is the first time I have seen someone use my art in this way, and I’m amazed that you are able to teach basic engineering and coding through my work.”
As Fazzino hopped on the call, he was warmly welcomed by the students and their enthusiasm for the art. They came prepared with dozens of questions about Fazzino’s process and inspiration. Fazzino guided the students through the creative process, explaining each step taken resulting in the finished artwork. He showed the STEM students some of his other artwork and hand-painted car sculptures, which stirred up quite the reaction. He concluded the Q&A session with a small tour of his studio.
“Thank you so much for providing such amazing core memories for my students this semester…” said Ms. Tulloch after the video call. “My administration was both impressed and entertained, which goes a long way toward getting more resources and opportunities for my students in the future.”
Fazzino meeting with Thornton Elementary students.
Fazzino showing Thornton Elementary School students his artwork.
Thornton students working on their STEM project.
Johanna Tulloch working with her students.
Thornton students during the Fazzino Q&A.
Discover more inspiring stories of Charles collaborating with students and supporting educational initiatives. Explore how his work ignites creativity and fosters learning through art. Click here to read more!
