What a labor of love.
Bead Town founder Stephen Wanger’s mosaic design titled “Life in the French Quarter,” which celebrates New Orleans’ 300th birthday, earned Guinness World Records recognition.
The 766-square-foot project is made up of 5 million colored beads recycled from parades and celebrations in New Orleans, where they were “trashed.” How many of you would have the artistic talent to know that collecting millions of beads could result in a world-famous, patterned decoration?
The mosaic covers an entire wall at the Gary Area Career Center. Inspired by Wanger’s passion for the Bead Town wall, career center students became involved in the project, clipping and gluing beads at his direction on the enormous panels and gazing at the outcome as it progressed.
What a great plus for the Gary school district — not just having a Guiness World Record certificate, but having an awesome, colorful, delightfully amazing artwork to exhibit with pride to all visitors. Thank you to everyone who helped with this world-famous Bean Town art, including those who contributed the funds necessary to support it. Mr. Wanger, thank you. You are an especially talented artist, and sharing that talent with us all certainly makes you my pet person of the week.
You may remember me writing about the last hurrah for Valparaiso High School choral director Linda Schonbachler — a concert involving all of her choirs, the last group of her students whose voices she helped develop into beautiful harmony. Not even Linda could have foreseen what the finale would actually come to be.
While she was directing a number involving all the choirs, a huge number of alumni from choirs past began marching onto the stage and singing along. There was one choir director who was no longer directing because there were just too many tears flowing. And I know her tears were intermingled with those of many others. Whatever the future may bring, this is a forever memory.
When the audience joined in the final number, “Let There be Peace On Earth,” my eyes were wet too. Thank you, Linda, and all the other teachers who have given their all so that our children’s education will lead them into adulthood, for giving your lifetime of love. I hope your retirements are as happy as your teaching years.
And I hope you all have a great day because you deserve it. Thanks for reading. Fly your flag.
Lorrie Woycik is a freelance columnist for the Post-Tribune.