dateline: 28 November 2019
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN 🔈
Artist Makes Sculpture Out of Keys From Destroyed Homes
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- devastated: ruined or destroyed
- art therapist: someone who helps people use art to improve their mental health
- community: a group of people who live in the same area or have common interests
- phoenix: a bird from ancient myths that dies and is reborn from ashes
- recognition: gratitude, appreciation
- award: to give something as a prize
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05 — 1.0MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More
Artist Makes Sculpture Out of Keys From Destroyed Homes
Comprehension Questions
1. Jessie Mercer started collecting keys after
Jessie Mercer started collecting keys after a wildfire burned down many homes in Paradise.
2. The sculpture is made of
The sculpture is made of 14,000 keys.
3. After it was built, Mercer donated the phoenix to
After it was built, Mercer donated the phoenix to a community support centre
Discussion Question: Jessie Mercer created this art piece to help people heal. Why do you think people are able to benefit from art therapy?
Artist Makes Sculpture Out of Keys From Destroyed Homes
Last year, the town of Paradise, California was devastated by an enormous wildfire. The fire wiped out over 8,000 of the town’s homes. Since then, art therapist Jessie Mercer has been collecting the keys to these destroyed buildings to create a sculpture that would be meaningful to former residents of Paradise. Mercer received packages in the mail containing keys to homes, schools, churches, shops, and businesses that burned down in 2018. The sculpture is an 800-pound phoenix, made of over 14,000 of these keys. The phoenix was donated to a community support centre for survivors of the fire. In recognition of her work for the community, Mercer was awarded a key to the town.
16 comments
-
English Club Indonesia says:
Art therapy is a form of support for victims of traumatic events. It helps them realize that people care about them and empathize with the unfortunate things that have happened to them.
-
Sk Nabidul Hossain says:
Nice
-
PRINCESS says:
I LOVE HER COURAGE,THAT WAS SO BRAVE OF HER SHE ACTUALLY MADE A WORK OF ART FROM KEYS TO THE FIRE SURVIVIOR. I LIKE HER PHILANTROPIC NATURE.
-
Peter says:
Hi! It’s a so brave method to heal the people who survivor after the disaster situation. Especially, someone who got a mental disease from the several circumstances, the art may be things to they reflect the truth happens what they have faced and passed over. For me, when I so upset or unpleasant I often watch some history movies or some stories about unlucky people to understand and sympathy with them. after that, it can make me better and make more strengthen.
-
Liss says:
Nice!
-
Hoa says:
it’s so useful
-
Abdirahman Hadliye says:
HI, TARA
When natural disasters happened it must be to support each other because humanity tells us that.
THANK YOU SO MUCH -
bftrei says:
bhrelbgebr
-
Alfonso says:
I think that art is a way to express feeling, and this artist wanted to say that they were not alone and there was a lot of people supporting them. And the Phoenix is a sample of strengt
-
LEONEL VELASCO says:
Hi Tara!
I think people that pass a great tragedy get very grateful with those who demonstrate to be supportive with their pain. Art therapy it’s a fine demonstration of liking.
Thanks for your support in learning english! -
JOSE MANUEL M MARIN says:
Hi Tara I’m so proud with this topping I am study English Club for around for 4 months. thanks in advance for helping me.
-
JOSE MANUEL M MARIN says:
Hi Tara
-
shivani says:
nice paragraph …
-
Bijan says:
Hi Tara,
WOW!This week’s audio news is so difficult and I couldn’t understand it at all, even if I saw the text too.
In addition, I couldn’t answer the questions of comprehension ( I answered the question 3 by chance).
I guess (maybe) this lesson is in advanced level.
Because of not understanding the text, I cannot tell you my opinion about the news.Teacher Tara,
Thank you for the best trying for your students.Best wishes,
Bijan from the Persian Gulf -
Bijan says:
Hi, Tara,
It’s so so strange for me because there’s not any podcast on my page for listening to the news. Before, I clicked it and listened the news easily, but now, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m your student for nearly 3 years and it’s the first time to see this strange thing.
I hope you and the website to find a way for resolving the problem. Maybe, someone has deleted it from my page. I don’t know why?
Thanks in advance for helping me,
-
GLON says:
It’s an awesome story
Collecting keys from the blaze victims more than 14000
Create a work of art
And receive in award the city’s key
Congratulation Artist