The Making of Greene Towne Auction Art: Collaboration for a Shared Purpose

Greene Towne children have been busy creating extraordinary art that will be showcased at our May 9th Auction Gallery Walk (2121 Arch St. Campus) before they are auctioned off at our May 15th Auction & Social.

DEIB Coordinator Allison Wiedman, Toddler lead teacher Cherise Sistrunk, and Auction Art Coordinator Diana Mousetis share how these treasured works come to life each year.

In the Toddler classrooms, auction art often begins with the children themselves—or with the stories they love most. Cherise explains, “We quickly learn which stories resonate most by inviting the children to choose what we read during circle time; over time, clear favorites emerge. From there, we study the illustrator’s style and reimagine a scene or element of the story using collage techniques.”

Using a large canvas as a backdrop allows toddlers to engage their gross motor skills while freely blending colors and spreading paint. Cherise continues, “The primary goal at this stage is to establish a vibrant base while showcasing each child’s unique creative process. Afterward, the children create smaller, individual pieces, which are then collaged onto the background to complete the final artwork.”

The impact goes beyond the artwork itself. “Students take away a strong sense of ownership and pride from contributing to a shared piece of art,” says Cherise. “They experience the joy of making their own creative choices while also learning how their individual work can come together as part of a larger collaboration.”

That spirit carries into the older grades. Diana, who guides the Primary and Lower Elementary classes, shares: “The most exhilarating part of making these art works is seeing how capable the children are. Each student is given the same materials and instructions, but they each create something so different from one another. They’re always proud of the work they’ve done and happy to contribute to something that isn’t for them to keep, but rather to share with their school.” Lower Elementary students, in particular, embrace the purpose of the auction and take their work seriously. (Thank you, Lower Elementary!)

For Allison, coordinating the all-school DEIB piece is a highlight of the year. She shares: “I really relish ensuring that each child at Greene Towne gets the opportunity to add their own unique perspective to the overall project.” She also weaves language and storytelling into the process, noting that “The students are particularly interested when another language is introduced during our project. They either learn something new or get to highlight something they already know and share with their peers. This builds curiosity and excitement and I can see the children grow more confident in expressing themselves, asking questions, and sharing aspects of their identity with others.”

Across every classroom, a common theme emerges: individual creativity coming together to strengthen the whole.

Join the Greene Towne community on Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. – Noon for our Auction Gallery Walk at our 2121 Arch St. Campus to see all the beautiful artwork created by the children before they are auctioned off at our May 15th Auction & Social.