06/03/2026
Swirls of ink. Curious minds. Lots of experimenting.
Students in Heidi Hanneman's art classes at Hamilton Elementary School and SOTA 1 La Crosse recently had the chance to learn from local artist Dawn Tevis during a special artist-in-residence experience exploring Suminagashi, an ancient Japanese art form known as "floating ink."
As ink drifted across the surface of water, students watched patterns take shape and transformed them into one-of-a-kind prints. Some attempts turned out exactly as planned. Others took a few tries. Students made adjustments, tested new ideas, and discovered something new with each print they created.
Experiences like this give students the chance to connect with artists in our community, explore art forms from around the world, and see creativity in action. They also remind us that learning often comes from experimenting, revising, and a willingness to try again.
A heartfelt thank you to local artist Dawn Tevis for sharing her talents with our students, to the SOTA I Steering Committee for supporting this opportunity, and to art teacher Heidi Hanneman for helping bring this unique experience to life for students at both Hamilton and SOTA I.
The smiles, surprises, and beautiful creations along the way made for a pretty special few days.
