In Art class, second and third year students looked at images of the beautiful 12th century Notre Dame cathedral and reflected on the devastating fire that ravaged the cathedral on April 15th. In honor of Notre Dame, students learned about the magnificent architecture and lively gargoyle statues that stand throughout the exterior of the cathedral. We learned that a gargoyle is a carved or sculpted mythical figure, usually designed with a spout of some sort that carries water away from the building. Not only are they designed to redirect rainwater, but they also have a symbolic purpose to keep evil spirits away from the church.

While looking at gargoyle images, students pointed out the various characteristics a gargoyle has, such as wings, horns, beaks, claws, and more. Each student was asked to design their own gargoyle that combined multiple features of different types of animals and creatures. After choosing their final sketch, students were given air hardening clay to sculpt their gargoyle. We began by forming the body shape, then attached the body part such as wings, horns, claws, and facial features using the “scratch and attach” clay technique. Once the gargoyles dried, they were given a quick coat of black and gray spray paint to give them a stone-like effect. Each gargoyle is unique and full of personality! We were so happy to make something in honor of the spectacular Notre Dame Cathedral!