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Baldwin Park Elementary students have been working hard since April to create an art installation in support of families in the Ukraine. 

The art installation, known as The SPORE Project, was first developed in 2005 by artist Doug Rhodehamel. The project is an awareness program to support creativity and art education by constructing and planting mushrooms simply made from brown paper lunch bags.

Tens of thousands of paper bag mushrooms have been constructed and planted by hundreds of individuals, students, businesses and organizations around the world. Paper bag mushrooms have been planted in every continent of the world, including Antarctica.

All K-5 art classes at the school, about 700 to 800 students, participated in the making of the art installation.

The project includes the school’s own custom twist on the mushrooms as sunflowers. The sunflower is a symbol of peace and also the national flower of Ukraine.

Beki Linville, BPE’s art teacher, says the students painted the impression of sunflowers to show their love and support to the country. 

“We want to send a message of peace to all the world,” Linville says. “This project is important to me to help teach our children to be empathetic to others and that our art communicates. The students are really excited to be a part of one of the largest art installations in the world.” 

The uniquely painted sunflowers were placed in the grass outside the front of the school for the whole community to view. 

MAKE YOUR OWN MUSHROOMS

MAN ON THE STREET: Why do you think it is important to create these sunflowers?

“It’s important because they represent peace and hope for the Ukraine.”

— Luca Poulos, third grade 

“Because it shows we are on their side and hope they are OK.” 

— Carter Poulos, first grade

“So art can stay in life.”

“To let other people know we are thinking about them.”

— Jae Nguyen, kindergarten 

“So people know about love.”

“The sunflowers are important because they are helping spread the message of peace.”

— Penny Detzel, third grade

“So people can feel peace and joy.”

“So people can love to look at them when they wait for their kids and know about love.”

“To bring kindness and light to people.”

— Jackson Fiske, first grade

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Annabelle Sikes is a staff writer at the West Orange Times & Observer, Southwest Orange Observer and OrangeObserver.com. She graduated in May 2021 from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in sociology.  Her past...

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