To honor veterans, Viewpoint School in Calabasas created 1,000 ceramic poppies
On Tuesday, November 12, Viewpoint School in Calabasas held an unveiling ceremony for its dramatic installation, “The Art of the Poppy,” which honors Veterans Day and pays tribute “to the sacrifices made by veterans everywhere,” the school said in a prepared statement.
The ceremony began at 8:15 a.m. at the Sky Trail entrance on the school grounds, where six local veterans, 55 kindergartners, the Upper School Concert Choir, school officials and teachers gathered to celebrate the display of more than 1,000 hand-built ceramic poppies created by students of all ages, as well as school faculty and staff.
Fifth-grader Alaya Purnomo, 10, talks about making a ceramic poppy to honor veteran relatives at Viewpoint School in Calabasas school on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 during a celebration of “The Art of the Poppy,” a school art project honoring veterans with more than 1,000 ceramic poppies. The school made their ceramic poppies to resemble the California poppy even though the red poppy is linked to Armistice Day and inspired the war poem “In Flanders Fields,” which a student read during the celebration. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Viewpoint School celebrates the school’s art installation “The Art of the Poppy,” a school art project honoring veterans with more than 1,000 ceramic poppies at the Calabasas school on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. The school made their ceramic poppies to resemble the California poppy even though the red poppy is linked to Armistice Day and inspired the war poem “In Flanders Fields,” which a student read during the celebration. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ninth-grader William Chapin, 15, reads the poem “In Flanders Fields,” at Viewpoint School in Calabasas on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 during a celebration of “The Art of the Poppy,” a school art project honoring veterans with more than 1,000 ceramic poppies. The school made their ceramic poppies to resemble the California poppy even though the red poppy is linked to Armistice Day and inspired the war poem. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
An American flag flies in the art installation “The Art of the Poppy,” a school art project honoring veterans with more than 1,000 ceramic poppies at Viewpoint School in Calabasas on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. The school made their ceramic poppies to resemble the California poppy even though the red poppy is linked to Armistice Day and inspired the war poem “In Flanders Fields,” which a student read during the celebration. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Viewpoint School’s concert choir sing the national anthem during the celebration of the school’s art installation “The Art of the Poppy,” a school art project to honor veterans with more than 1,000 ceramic poppies at the Calabasas school on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. The school made their ceramic poppies to resemble the California poppy even though the red poppy is linked to Armistice Day and inspired the war poem “In Flanders Fields,” which a student read during the celebration. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Head of School Mark McKee introduces Visual Arts Chair Nell Yates as Viewpoint School celebrates the school’s art installation “The Art of the Poppy,” a school art project honoring veterans with more than 1,000 ceramic poppies at the Calabasas school on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. The school made their ceramic poppies to resemble the California poppy even though the red poppy is linked to Armistice Day and inspired the war poem “In Flanders Fields,” which a student read during the celebration. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Veterans who work at Viewpoint School, from left, Clemente Nava, David Kaiser, Connor Ferreira, Laurie Golnick, Kathy Carle and Dean Kalogris add ceramic poppies to the art installation “The Art of the Poppy,” a school art project with over a 1,000 poppies honoring veterans on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 at the Calabasas school. The school made their ceramic poppies to resemble the California poppy even though though the red poppy is linked to Armistice Day and inspired the war poem “In Flanders Fields,” which a student read during the celebration. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Fifth-grader Alaya Purnomo, 10, talks about making a ceramic poppy to honor veteran relatives at Viewpoint School in Calabasas school on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 during a celebration of “The Art of the Poppy,” a school art project honoring veterans with more than 1,000 ceramic poppies. The school made their ceramic poppies to resemble the California poppy even though the red poppy is linked to Armistice Day and inspired the war poem “In Flanders Fields,” which a student read during the celebration. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
“I am so proud of ‘The Art of the Poppy’ and the way it has united our community,” said Nell Yates, visual arts department chair, in a prepared statement. “This installation represents the creative talents of our students and staff, each honoring a special veteran in their lives. It’s a powerful way for us to come together and pay tribute to those who have protected our freedoms.”
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The ceremony featured remarks from Head of School Mark McKee and Calabasas Mayor Alicia Weintraub, who presented a proclamation recognizing Viewpoint’s tribute to veterans. Upper School student and Eagle Scout William Chapin read the poem “In Flanders Fields,” and the Upper School Concert Chair performed the National Anthem.
Special guests included veterans from the Viewpoint community, Calabasas city councilmen David Shapiro and Ed Albrecht, and city Community Services Director Erica Green.