Scattered across the counter in a classroom at Cicero-North Syracuse High School are dozens of dominoes, each hand-painted to depict a tiny robot — or in this case, “Brave Bot.”
Stacy Finney’s OCM BOCES summer school art class took inspiration from Oregon-based artist Gary Hirsch, who has created more than 27,000 figures for his “tiny (and sometimes giant) robot army programmed to bring you joy,” as Hirsch’s website reads.
Finney’s class is donating their Brave Bots to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, where the miniature robots are meant to inspire courage in young patients.
“I think what’s so great about this is we’re able to show that art can serve a greater purpose. They’re giving it away,” Finney said. “It’s a great service learning project. … I had Golisano in mind the moment I saw it.”
Finney’s four students used oil paint Sharpies to bring life to their bots, a medium that stains skin and clothes and cannot be erased or undone.
“It’s a great lesson for them,” Finney said.
Finney instructed her students to paint the bots for a few minutes at the beginning of each class. By the end of the summer, the four boys had amassed quite the collection of Brave Bots.
Devin Fenner said he was “really excited” when he learned of the philanthropic angle of the project.
“I just liked the idea of what it’s for,” Fenner said. “When she told us the idea, I was ready for it.”
Fenner explained that he created his Brave Bots with random shapes and characters that came to his mind.
“We made them funny so at least the kids can laugh,” said Fenner’s classmate, Aaron Gittino.
Parents attended a small reception the last day of Finney’s class Aug. 11 to see their children’s artwork and learn about the Brave Bots project. Finney showed a video of Hirsch explaining the project and his process. Hirsch has painted giant mural versions of his bots and has created installations in children’s hospitals and other places around the world with the help of other artists and art classes like Finney’s.
Aaron Gittino’s mother, Deloris Gittino, said her service-oriented son came home asking if his parents had any contacts in the media so he could spread the word.
“It’s a great way to reach out to the community,” Deloris Gittino said, adding that Aaron has volunteered for the CNYSPCA. “Aaron is very much into the community.”
She said her son sent her pictures of his progress in art class and told her he wanted to accompany Finney when she went to drop off the Brave Bots at Golisano.
“I know that if he has a chance, Aaron would very much like to go with her,” Deloris Gittino said.
As an end-of-summer gift, Finney presented the students with their very own Gary Hirsch original bots, which she ordered through Etsy.
“I ended up with a class of four really nice guys,” she said.
Finney said she planned to bring the donations to Golisano this week. To learn more about Gary Hirsch’s work, visit botjoy.com.
