Hope for the Planet
	This remarkable exhibition will remain open until St. Margaret's Day, Sunday November 15, in the CTC Mezzanine, SMS Dining Hall for parents and friends to view the collection before it moves to the permanenet home at Riverside Hospital, Tappahannock.
	Reaching out to the local community through joyous art projects is now a wonderful tradition for St. Margaret's students. Our continued challenge is to combine the positive energy of our Community Service participants with the creative sources of the Artist in Residence program. Gorgeous examples of successful accomplishments were "The Angel of Hope"¯ for the doors of the Chapel, "The Noah's Ark"¯ at St. John's Episcopal Church and now the new destination of our community art adventure is Riverside Tappahannock Hospital. There is a link between saving Nature, as a Hope for the Planet, and the salvation, everyone is looking for in a hospital. The positive atmosphere of hope, faith and calm relaxation is fundamental for healthcare premises, and St. Margaret's School students will love becoming part of this mission through their art tribute. Each student involved in the project will take time to add her own personal detail. Usually the Art Team are not only those who signed up for this after school art activity itself, but a blend of many individuals within and beyond the community of St. Margaret's, who will have something special and unique to incorporate. A significant sign for great team work is the enthusiasm of new art team members and their captain Betsy Joslyn, and we believe that the students involved will have a lot of fun puzzling around the many different ways to personalize each one of the units into the whole beautiful symphony of the entire project named Hope for the Planet. This time the project is based on a group of birds' silhouettes, created from metal wire and incorporating a large range of beads and pieces of glass, stones, wood, metal and other artifacts. Considering that this idea is inspired by the beauty of the Rappahannock River, the sparkling waters and the serenity of birds in flight, it is not representing a particular kind of bird, but an abstract synthesis, a symbol of a flight, united in seeking light, happiness and freedom. It will also become an integral part of the interior lobby area, offering a spectacular artistic accent. As visitors enter the area, the reception hall will gradually reveal the shimmering abstract structures vertically hanging from the ceiling, spreading a colorful spectrum of reflections in a graceful dance of bright luminosity and rich diversity of texture. Approaching the project site, one can discover more defined flying silhouettes. The birds then begin their stationary journey with a slow, elegant, rotating motion, following the flow of the air, an incredible journey to new, wider horizons, to a future of wellness and Hope for our Planet. When they encounter the artistic achievements of the St. Margaret's School students, the viewer will also realize the growth, spirit, and maturity of these young ladies.
	Art Team Participants Ana Megel Anna Wilhelm Amy Hebbel Ayaka Nakano Brittney McPherson Caitlin Horton Ciara Sant'Angelo Claire Hamilton Eleanor Hatipoglu Elisabeth Williams Emily Wilson Eva Moffat Flora Zhou Glyndeja Bannister Hannah Ollila Kayla Sunray Laurie Wilburn Lexie Bruzgul Lilia Finch Marina Mao Nicole Kennedy Paloma Quintanal Sheena Fang Stephanie Teal Suzy Farmar Tiffany Sutton Tori McCroskey Virginia Sawyer Bird Names Fight Shine Courage Rainbow Unity Wishing Phoenix Joy Support Good News Faith Spirit Freedom Home Happiness Divine Perseverance Rebirth Passion Star Warm Up Dream Smile Hope Free Tranquility Serenity Ocean Love
	Hope for the Planet St. Margaret's is not only a school encouraging academics, but a school encouraging individual creativity. These birds reflect that goal in the steps taken to complete them. The students have devoted their time to this cause, created the name, silhouette, color and contents of each personal work. They did all this with a deeper meaning to their choices, rather than just what looked pretty. Each bird carries a special message. Some of the names and meanings are: "Star",¯ because the stars hold dreams, desires and wishes, "Rebirth", because of the doctors that help you recover when you are ill, and "Phoenix", representing defense of the weak, life after death, and hope. When comparing all of the creations, it can be found that hope was one of the messages to the patients and staff. In this way, Hope for the Planet is a perfect name for this outreach to our local community. Many of the participants were girls who signed up for this project as an after school activity. Although that is how a large percent of the girls were recruited, the entrance of members was not sealed off there. Teachers and students became involved. We had girls devoting their weekends and free time to this cause, we had donations from various people in the St. Margaret's community, and we had the support of our friends and families, motivating us the whole way. We send with these masterpieces, a sense of completion, a message of hope, the memory of an incredible journey, and our flying dreams. Thank you everyone for believing in us. It is time to take these dreams and send them forward to fly freely in the Riverside Tappahannock Hospital, time to unite as a whole community, and provide a sense of hope in all the lives flying without it. It is time to soar. -Ciara Santā'Angelo