Two local schools are preparing their students to become a work of art.

During the week of Nov. 5, conceptual artist Daniel Dancer and the Grassland Heritage Foundation are teaming up with Central Junior High and Schwegler School to create a “giant living painting made of people.”

Dancer, a former Kansas resident and Kansas University alumnus, travels to schools across the country creating group images captured on video. The unique team-building activity is called “Art for the Sky.”

“Kids get so much out of this,” he said. “It’s an awakening to what I call our sky sight, seeing the importance of all beings, because if we can see through the eyes of other creatures, used as a metaphor, we will take better care of the Earth. We’re all connected.”

Dancer will be in residence at Central for the week, and on Nov. 8 the students will form an image of a regal fritillary butterfly on the school grounds. Maple leaves from the Baldwin City Maple Leaf Festival will be collected to use in the design, Dancer said. The following week, Dancer will go to Schwegler, and the kids will create an Osage orange tree.

Dancer, who now lives in Oregon, said he’s always wanted to do a butterfly design because of its colors and its metaphor for the life cycle.

“It’s a good metaphor for what we have to do to protect the earth and change our ways as human beings on the planet,” he said. “We have to imagine something different.”

Grassland Heritage Foundation was interested in bringing the artist to Lawrence because it shares similar goals.

The small organization currently based in Mission works to preserve Kansas’ prairies. Group members and volunteers meet monthly to maintain prairies they have purchased. They also offer children’s educational programs.

“Prairies have huge numbers of plants and microorganisms in soil that all work together to help grow plant material that supplies food and shelter for animals,” said Angie Babbit, volunteer coordinator for the foundation. “If you’re there, you’re always seeing something new, like the butterfly.

The regal butterfly is unique to unplowed prairies because they feed off prairie violets.

Babbit and school officials will need an 80-foot crane for the project to be filmed. Central, in the middle of its annual fundraiser, also is looking for financial help for students to purchase $10 organic T-shirts. Dancer encourages students to wear those shirts but said they can wear a specific colored shirt instead.

“It will help our students see patterns and link creativity with academic goals we already have,” said Frank Harwood, principal of Central.