
Apex High School art students recently used their creativity for a great cause.
The students designed an arts installation inside a PODS container to promote breast cancer awareness and deliver a message of hope.
The heartfelt creation entitled “Hope” was exhibited at Visual Art Exchange as part of downtown Raleigh’s First Friday gallery walk.
Sophomore Drew Pedersen was the driving force behind the project. It was his idea to pay tribute to the many family members and friends he and his fellow classmates have lost to cancer while promoting October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
PODS Moving and Storage of Greater Raleigh delivered a PODS container to Apex High one month prior to the exhibit. During that time, students transformed the interior of the container to create a unique art installation showcasing their artistic abilities and demonstrating the techniques they studied throughout the school year.
“Hope” took more than 175 student hours to complete with 26 students participating in the project.
The word “hope” displayed inside the PODS container was put together using cardboard, glue and fishing line. Surrounding the word “hope” is a flock of clay birds, which symbolize rebirth in the face of hardship.
That theme carries into the background, transforming from the darkness of despair to the light of hope. The sun frames the depiction of a woman, arms raised in gesture of strength and triumph.
Students who participated on the project are Elsa Arola, McKalynn Barker, Meghan Benavides, Rebekah Campbell, Madelyn Comito, Caroline Crowley, Christina Czarnecki, Matthew Elgy, Kristen Furman, Ashley Galvin, Marissa Gibson, Tessa Gibson, Caitlin Gresko, Maya Horton, Caitlin Kennedy, Caitlin Lee, Samantha Malone, Rachel Massa, Cassie Noble, Andrew Pederson, Jessica Rod, Samantha Schmidt, Emily Signore, Varsha Simha, Jack Thomas and Madison Yarish.







