Day 13

It is one thing to have a creative idea, but it is another to be able to make it a reality. Working in the Arts Basic Curriculum of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, our fine arts teachers strive every day to encourage students to use their creativity to produce works of both beauty and utility. In 2021, teacher Chris Turner had a dream of obtaining a Glowforge Machine for his classroom in order to incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) into his art classes. A Glowforge Machine is a state-of-the-art 3-D laser printer.

Mr. Turner approached the SCSDB Foundation with his request, and the Forging Ahead program was born.  Three funders—AFL, Duke Energy Foundation, and the Junior League of Spartanburg--stepped up to the plate and provided the Foundation with a total of $11,000 so that we were able to purchase not one, but TWO Glowforge machines.  Through the Forging Ahead program, students design artwork on a computer which is then sent to the Glowforge machine. Students use this high-tech laser printer to create objects of artistic value and beneficial use made of wood, paper, cloth, and other materials. These items include pins designed with the ASL symbol for “I Love You,” seasonal wreaths, and much more. With the help of our generous funders, generations of students will continue enjoy these machines and forge ahead successfully towards their futures, having honed their creative and technical skills through this program.

The top left picture shows a students in a yellow top working with the Glowforge Machine.  The top right is the SCSDB Foundation logo and the 175 Days of Giving Logo.  The bottom left shows the Glowforge sitting on a table that is covered in the SCSDB Foundation tablecloth with a pair of big scissors next to it.  The bottom right picture shows two items made on the Glowforge:  on the left is a wooden pin that is in the shape of “I Love You” sign and has “I Love You” in braille; on the right is a wooden ornament in the shape of the state of South Carolina.  The ornament is painted dark blue and has a red heart where Spartanburg is located.  It has a twine ribbon at the top.

#scsdb #engageempowerequip #daysofgiving #demisemideptcentennial #day13