As the school year comes to a close, students and faculty of Weber Middle School bid farewell to beloved art teacher Patricia Wright as she retires, leaving behind enthusiastic students and over 20 years of incredible memories.
Before teaching at Weber, Wright was a graphic artist. However, she always loved working with children, and she wanted her work to make a greater difference. After many interesting experiences, including serving in the Peace Corps in Gabon and studying art education in New York City, Wright found herself on the steps of Weber and has brought color and imagination into the lives of students ever since. “I knew that this diverse, vibrant school district was a perfect match for me,” she said. “I love working with the children here, none of whom are ‘common’ at their ‘core,’ but smart, creative, enthusiastic young artists.”
Wright established many community-based, rewarding projects, including the “Art Beating Cancer” luminaria bags (displayed during Relay For Life), the ceiling panels in the Weber cafeteria and the clay mural on the second floor of the school. Her favorite project is the “collaborative portraits,” in which students communicate with as many as eight others to create a large portrait that blends together impeccably. “What I will miss most about Weber is how kindly the students here treat each other,” she said, particularly during this project, as they work together and reveal a surprise portrait.
Now, Wright will take time to visit family and friends and enjoy many fine art photography and writing projects. However, this is not the end of the road for Wright, as she will undoubtedly continue to teach art on a part-time basis.
Wright feels “fortunate to have a career working with young people, teaching art,” but it was her students who were fortunate to have an imaginative, caring teacher, who took pride in all of their artistic accomplishments. She will be greatly missed!
