Archive: Around Town

Middle School Art Teacher Lee Iannone presented a plan to the Lansing Board of Education Monday to build a raised patio near the school auditorium.  The community-supported project is designed by students.  The  'Blooming Brick by Brick' project was first conceived by Iannone and the late Lansing Middle School teacher Lisa Topoleski.

"Our inspiration started in the 2010 when we were invited to see a visiting artist, Lilly Yeh," Iannone said.  "She is an international artist who works with communities to create community spaces.  Through creating the art and working together she creates a sense of community.  Lisa and I brought the middle school art club and Lisa brought the student council.  A couple of local artists and teachers came.  Lily challenged us to come back to our own communities and see where we could do a project to bring about change and a sense of belonging."

The 100 by 25 foot raised patio would be constructed along the street side of the middle school auditorium.  The patio would be used as a reception area to relieve crowding in the small lobby after plays and concerts, and would be used for moving up ceremonies, concerts, poetry readings and other events.  It includes mosaics designed and created by Lansing students.  A large retractible awning would provide protection from the weather.

A ramp would provide access for the disabled.  Iannone said the corner of the wall facing the drop-off circle may have a banner listing concerts and drama events in the Middle School auditorium for each school year. 


Iannone's students have designed a mosaic based on the 'tree of life', a common symbol in Yeh's work.  The deck would be comprised of inlayed bricks to acknowledge that the school was built from bricks made locally on Brickyard Road, just a stone's throw from the school campus.  Their intention is to offer bricks for sale, which would be engraved for donors with memorials and poetry.

"Now with Lisa's passing they want to dedicate the space to her," Iannone said.

The mosaic is currently being created by art students.  Further phases would have to be approved by the school board, including grading the property, building the patio and installing the mosaic.

Iannone said she intends to raise funds to pay for the project so that taxpayer money is not used.  She said she contacted Lansing Community Council President Ed LaVigne, who is willing to help raise the money, including an effort at the Lansing Harbor Festival in August. The concept is similar to the community-built playground in Myers Park, which was built by volunteers, and paid for by private donors, including many who purchased 'pickets' in a fence around parts of the playground.

Board members were supportive of the project, but wanted to check with attorneys and engineers to make sure construction details would be safe, and that details like the awning would be sustainable, as well as to research possible future maintenance costs.

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