Article published Jul 14, 2004
Students cover 'Fahrenheit 451'

By Laura Breon
laura.breon@timesnews.com

UNION CITY — Kris Fontes' graphic arts class at Union City High School usually designs a book cover for "A Christmas Carol."

This year, however, Fontes traded a snowy theme for something more fiery.

The class designed book covers for the region's hottest read: Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451."

The futuristic novel about the banning and burning of books is the first selection in the One Book, One Erie campaign, in which readers all tackle the same book.

"I don't know what the difference was, but the class seemed to really enjoy the change." Fontes said. "The book covers were really creative."

The class couldn't use Internet images but had to take original photos, copy photos from magazines or books, or use the paint program on their computers.

Reading the book was not a course requirement. But that didn't stop students from covering their subject.

"They really had to make it their own design," Fontes said.

Sophomore Christine Lyle, a graphics design II student, has enjoyed the classes and is even considering graphics arts as a major in college

Her book jacket featured a hand holding a match. Using a slow shutter speed on her camera, Lyle took a close-up photo from a magazine for the front cover. For the back cover she added a book of matches and quotes from people who had reviewed the book.

"This project really made you think more," Lyle said. "You had to be more creative and come up with your own design."

Lyle previously had completed an Iraqi War collage and a project where she took print fonts and turned them into silly animals. She said the upgraded equipment in the computer lab really helped with the "Fahrenheit 451" project.

"We have Photoshop 6 and brand-new Dell computers that are really fast," Lyle said. "And our teacher pretty much gives us free rein to be creative. She offers general criteria and then lets you go off on your own."

Classmate Claire Fiorelli's book cover was a photo of a broken mirror with a flame on it.

"One symbol in the book is a broken mirror," she said. "And the flame symbolizes the burning of the books."

Fiorelli's book jacket included quotes from classmates who made comments as jokes. Since they hadn't read the book, the comments were quite creative in themselves.

"It really was more of a stretch since we didn't actually read the book," Lyle said.

"Some of us read the Cliffs Notes and that gave us some visualization of what the book was about," Fiorelli said.

Both said the graphic arts class offers a lot of independent work and plenty of time to finish projects.

"The class really helps with projects in my other classes," Fiorelli said. "It's just a fun class."

Lyle agrees.

"I have better visual perception on general designs," she said. "And you work in groups a lot in other classes. If that's not your thing, this works."

Both students are looking forward to the next project in class, which will involve animation.

Fontes — proud of her students' latest project — said animation is really enjoyed by the students.

"I like to just let them go, because often I end up learning something new, too," Fontes said. "It's an exciting class."


LAURA BREON, can be reached at 870-1837 or by e-mail.


Last changed: Jul 13, 2004

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