In mid-May, two Knightsville Elementary School fifth-graders made their way through the Sculpture in the South event to purchase a gift to share with thousands of people, the majority of whom they will never meet.
Accompanied by Assistant Principal Mary Rita Watson, Johnny Wood and Derrick Oliver perused the artwork in search of a piece to contribute to the school’s sculpture garden.
The students and other members of Knightsville Elementary’s fifth-grade student council wanted to leave something special behind on behalf of the 2009 graduating class.
The children selected a piece of work titled “Along the Way,” which was crafted by Sharon Collings Licata, a sculptor from Columbia who has had numerous residencies in Summerville schools.
“I was thrilled that the students decided that their gift to the school would be a piece of sculpture and to be the (artist) chosen by the students was important to me,” Licata said.
On June 4, the school’s fourth- and fifth-graders congregated in the school’s garden for the sculpture unveiling. As the hundreds in attendance excitedly looked on, members of the student council removed a cloth to display the sculpture, which the students were able to purchase through fundraising efforts.
The sculpture garden was already home to several pieces of student artwork, but this is the first professional work to grace the garden.
“The whole experience of (getting) the sculpture was really great,” Watson said. “They’re the first class to leave a gift and we hope it becomes a tradition.”
The sculpture chosen was non-objective, which enabled students to come up with their own interpretations of its meaning.
Fifth-grader Johnny Wood said that the student council’s decision to present the school with a gift was the least they could do.
“Along the way, we’ve gotten so much from Knightsville,” Wood said. “It’s good to be able to give something back.”

Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com