If you’ve walked through Doherty’s main lobby recently, you’ve probably noticed something truly magical: a stunning new collection of 3D sculptures, handcrafted by Ms. DeWeese’s incredibly talented 3D Art class. These inspiring works are more than just beautiful—they are a celebration of community, creativity, and collaboration.

The project started with a simple but powerful question posed by Ms. DeWeese: “What makes a community?” From there, the students brought their ideas to life, working together to create sculptures that showcase the spirit and diversity of our Doherty family.

One standout piece features a student wearing a backpack proudly displaying the Doherty logo. Around them, different country flags—Albanian, Irish, and Swedish—flutter to symbolize the incredible range of cultures represented at our school. It’s a reminder that though we come from many backgrounds, together we build something even stronger.

Other sculptures show different sides of community life: The Athletes sculpture holds a real basketball, The Scholar reaches for the stars dressed in graduation attire, and The Robotics Genius shines with actual robotics parts donated by Ms. Pineo. There’s even a touching piece featuring The Disabled Student in a wheelchair, knitting a real quilt, stitched with care to represent inclusivity and resilience.

One especially powerful sculpture, created by students Suheydee, Holly, and Elisabeth, pays tribute to Rosie the Riveter and the strength of women around the world. Their piece is covered with vibrant flowers, each representing women’s beauty, diversity, and the importance of being seen and heard. The group wanted to spotlight current political shifts and the continued impact of decisions like Roe v. Wade, making their art not just beautiful but meaningful.

Ms. DeWeese shared that the project grew out of deep conversations about art, community, and connection. Students explored the work of seven different artists before branching off to design sculptures based on their personal visions of what community means. As they worked, students used words like Leadership, Support, Creativity, Teamwork, Trust, and Respect to guide their designs.

In the process of creating separate pieces, students built their own community—working together, solving problems, and persevering through challenges to complete a project that now inspires everyone who passes by.

The message from Ms. DeWeese and the 3D Art students is clear: Please feel free to take photos and celebrate their work—but kindly do not touch or move the sculptures!

These pieces are a gift to the Doherty community, made with heart, hard work, and hope. Let’s honor their work by admiring (and protecting!) the art that makes our school even more beautiful and connected.