While Ringelstetter was working at the Trent Art Gallery he learned of a project the Trent’s were planning called “The Trent Art Gallery School Takeover”. Before Ringelstetter headed back to Wisconsin for the holidays, he decided to tag along with the Trents to check out the Wellington Middle School. When they arrived, Ringelstetter was disheartened to find that the school looked not unlike a prison, white-walled and devoid of creativity.
Knowing it was for the kids, Ringelstetter couldn’t help himself from getting involved. He offered to paint his own work on some of the structures in the school free of charge. Ringelstetter traveled back home to see his family for the holidays, and one day later returned to Florida to be involved in the school takeover. There were a lot of hurdles in the beginning of the project, but after they figured out the best way to vent the building of the spray paint fumes, Ringelstetter painted for hours, stopping only to chat with the kids.
Darienne Keniece