Unearthed: Saint Benedict’s Archaeology Project

These paintings were created by Advanced Art students in grades 9 to 12 at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, in Newark, New Jersey. The paintings’ subject is bringing archaeological artifacts unearthed at Rutgers University-Newark back to life by imagining how these everyday objects were used by the 19th century families who lived in the area of the dig.

After a visit to the Paul Robeson Galleries at Rutgers University-Newark to view, handle and learn about a wide array of artifacts, St. Benedict’s Prep Art students selected one artifact to “bring back to life.” If the artifact was broken or corroded, students researched similar objects that were intact so they would know how they looked back when they were in use. Students worked with 1 or 2 partners. Together they chose one of the buildings that were the sources of the artifacts (71 Halsey, 54 New Street, or 56 New Street) to create a cutaway of the facade that exposed the rooms inside. Students learned 1-point perspective so they could create a room with depth in which to insert furnishings from the era. Students researched dress and hair for the character they chose to “bring back to life” based on the record of the families who lived in those buildings. This became “historical fiction” as students devised family members and narratives that included the characters interacting with the artifacts.

The Honors Living and Learning Community is on the site of the archaeological dig and where the 19th century homes the students depicted were once located, so these student paintings close the circle on this slice of Newark history.