Over The Moon
Over the Moon, SPI’s Pop-Up Student Art Gallery, showcases the talent and creative expression of young artists in the Story Preservation Initiative community.
Every so often, we issue a Call for Artists, inviting students to respond creatively and visually to an SPI-determined theme or one of our stories through drawing, painting, or mixed media. Selected works, submitted by teachers, parents, or school officials, are featured in our gallery throughout the school year. We welcome artists of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
SPI’s latest Over the Moon Pop-Up Student Art Gallery exhibit is titled Folk Animals in Bloom and features the work of homeschool students from the New Hampshire towns of Concord, Salisbury, Loudon, Penacook, Deerfield, and Goffstown, ages 4-9. The theme: Art of Ukraine. The group, led by artist/educator Laura Himes, explored traditional Ukrainian folk art—its colors, patterns, and cultural symbolism.
Their work invites us to consider lives lived elsewhere—different from our own, yet connected through shared imagination, curiosity, and an appreciation for beauty found in tradition and the common rituals of everyday life.
Petrykivka Folk Art by Laura Himes
For this project, the students were introduced to the vibrant tradition of Petrykivka, a cherished Ukrainian folk art known for its floral motifs, delicate brushwork, and joyful spirit. This art form is not just a painting technique, but a window into cultural storytelling—where every stroke and color holds meaning, and nature is honored through art.
Together, we explored symmetry, symbolism, and expressive design while creating “Folk Animals in Bloom”—our own animals adorned with blooming flowers in the Petrykivka style. The children were deeply engaged, learning how art can be both expressive and connective, linking us to tradition, to nature, and to one another.
In a world that moves fast, this class offered space for quiet focus, cultural appreciation, and the celebration of handmade beauty. I’m so proud of what each student created, and I hope their work brings the same sense of joy and connection that we felt throughout the process.
We put out a Call for Artists through our newsletter every few months! To subscribe to our Newsletter, click here or be in touch via our Contact page.
