Students ruined a beautiful art engagement book.

But the damage was done in the name of art, and thanks to the generosity of Park Cities artist Jennifer Culbertson.

The founder of CityArtCal, Ms. Culbertson donated extra copies of her calendar book – which she modeled after the Metropolitan Museum of Art's popular engagement book – to the art department at Highland Park High School. She also suggested an idea for a project.

Art teacher Ellna Kay Goodrum followed through. Students cut in half high-quality photographs of creations by local artists.

"At first, the students were a little hesitant to cut up a very nice art calendar," Ms. Goodrum said. "But they soon saw the possibilities."

Seventeen students in her AP design class created new art from the cut-ups. Student Audrey Huddleston interpreted a Van Gogh-like portrait of a dog by artist Beth Gandy. Gracie Kennedy completed a rendition of a jazz saxophonist by Margaret Ratelle. And Chloe Bristol tackled a black-and-white crowd scene by Ms. Culbertson.

"The students had a great time while their appreciation and awareness of the talent of local artists was heightened," said Ms. Goodrum, whose work is featured in the 2006 and 2007 calendars.

Ms. Goodrum has had work published in art anthologies and exhibited nationally and internationally. She started working at Highland Park High in 2006, just before the first CityArtCal Fine Art of Park Cities/Fine Art in Dallas was published.

The enthusiastic teacher shares Ms. Culbertson's passion to raise art consciousness throughout the area.

While CityArtCal promotes area artists, Ms. Culbertson reaches out to students with a $5,000 scholarship program at Highland Park High. Five awards were presented the first year, and the top two students had their work featured in the 2007 engagement book. Three awards will be granted this year. The recipients will be announced at the senior awards ceremony May 29.

Ms. Culbertson hopes to offer more art award programs at area high schools and junior colleges.

"Serious art deserves a serious audience and ... ultimately, art lasts," she said. "Imagine a world without it."