Bedford High School art teacher Catherine Tuttle loves the new school but knew some artwork would make a great finishing touch.

With the help of local artist Mark Ragonese, Tuttle and three of her art classes helped make multiple stick structures that have been placed around the new high school.

All the planning, designing and building of these structures took place over the first two weeks of October.

The artwork was finished on a rainy Oct. 11.

“There was a light drizzle that day, but the kids didn’t complain. They were excited to see the final product start to come together,” she said.

According to Tuttle, the inspiration for the artwork came after seeing a perfect platform for artwork around the new school.

“The new school is a perfect stage for something organic and unique,” she said, “I talked to our principal, George Edwards, about it early on and he supported the idea right away.”

Tuttle also wanted her students take part in a project that would connect them with a willingness to experiment.

“Part of the first day was breaking down barriers and allowing them (students) to get their hands wet,” she said.

Students brainstormed ideas and started building with sticks seeing what would and wouldn’t work. To get the sculptures to stand, students pushed an iron pipe in the ground to make a hole and inserted the sticks.

“The sticks we used are amazingly flexible,” Tuttle said, “These young trees are used to blowing in the wind.”

Tuttle’s classes used black birch, beech and maple trees because of optimal size and flexibility.

In total, about 80 pieces of long, skinny trees were used, and little pieces of string keep the structure the shape.

Tuttle said Ragonese was key to the success of the project.

“He brought the tools and experience needed for a project like this,” she said, “He always has something else to add to an idea.”

Seeing the enthusiasm her students had as the project came together was what made Tuttle happy.

“My hope is that my students will take this home with them to their backyards,” she said.