_________________ BALDWIN ________________
HERALD
Fall in Love With Where You Live!
Upcoming events at the library Page 2 Vol. 32 No. 43
Natalie Toler,
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Let’s piece a mural together Artist Gabriella Grama leading public in mural creation that something I create with this community will become a permanent part of the library.” The mosaic mural will feaThe Baldwin Public Library and mosaic artist Gabriella ture a large octopus — a symbol Grama are inviting community Grama chose for its intellimembers to take part in a gence, creativity, and connechands-on public art project that tion to the ocean. The piece also will leave a lasting mark inside carries a message of environthe library. mental awareness. Under the guidance of “I wanted to bring attention Grama, participants to the need to prowill help assemble a tect our oceans and large-scale mural our planet,” she depicting an undersaid. “This mural water scene titled isn’t just art — it’s “Octavia.” The first a reminder of our community workresponsibility to shop took place on care for the enviOct. 19 and the final ronment. And like one will be held this an octopus made GABRIEllA Sunday, giving resifrom many small dents an opportuni- GRAMA tiles, it also reprety to collaborate on Artist sents how people a work of art that can come together will be permanently to create something on display. beautiful.” T he project is Grama, a fullsupported by a grant facilitated time artist who has exhibited through an arts council, which widely across Long Island, has connected Grama with the more than two decades of expeBaldwin library. Grama said rience in the arts. She began she could not share further her career as an artist working details about the sponsorship at in stained glass before discoverthis time. ing mosaics about 12 years ago. “The library immediately Since then, she has trained in said yes, and I’m so honored Italy, Greece and Croatia, and they chose to work with me,” Grama said. “It feels incredible ContInuEd on PAgE 27
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
I
’m so honored they chose to work with me.
Hernesto Galdamez/Herald
Plaza Elementary School students unveil A.I.-generated portraits depicting themselves in their future dream careers.
Fifth-graders surprised by A.I. art Plaza Elementary students look at their future selves By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Plaza Elementary School students were in for a big surprise on Oct. 16 when they discovered that their dreams had come to life — in artificial intelligence-generated art form. The fifth-graders’ images, reimagined as their future selves in the careers they aspire to, were unveiled as part of an innovative project that combines technology, creativity and career readiness. Originally planned as small paper prints for classroom display, the portraits were instead transformed into 24-by-36-inch vinyl posters lining outside the fence of the school. The large-scale installation — a surprise for both teachers and students — was
inspired by a districtwide initiative launched last month. “During our welcome back, we transformed teachers, faculty and staff into superheroes using A.I.,” Baldwin School District Superintendent Anthony Mignella said. “Because the work that teachers and educators do — they really are superheroes. They change lives.” Soon afterward, fifth-grade teachers at Plaza Elementary decided to bring that same inspiration to their students. Each child shared their dream job — from doctor to cosmetologist, nurse to military officer — and described the skills they believed would help them succeed. Using A.I., the teachers created side-by-side portraits of the students as ContInuEd on PAgE 5