Latin School of Chicago

seemed fitting. e letter-writing assignment, she knew, would complement what the third graders were learning in language arts. Further, it just so happens that Oldenburg came to Latin in third grade. Over the summer, Friedman wrote to Oldenburg with the small hope that he might be willing to speak to her students. Early in the fall she again tried to contact him through Latin's Alumni Office with no luck. So, when Friedman received a call from Stephanie Chu in the Alumni Office in January, she didn't know what to expect. "Stephanie just said, 'Something has been delivered for you. You better come and take a look.'" Arriving at Chu's office, Friedman was surprised to see a large package with Oldenburg's return address on it. As she carefully unwrapped it, a brilliantly colored lithograph of a pizza emerged. Enclosed was a note from Oldenburg's assistant stating that the artist had been thrilled to receive the letters from the children and wanted to donate this recent piece to Latin in honor of the third grade. "I can't imagine a better piece of art to engage third graders," Friedman said, the excitement still noticeable in her voice three months later. "e colors, the movement, the shapes. He clearly understands what speaks to children." Friedman and Chu waited until March – when the lower school cafeteria was next serving pizza for lunch – to unveil Oldenburg's special gift. "I had only told the children that Mr. Oldenburg had responded to their letters," Friedman said. "ey had no idea." On March 20, as the students were munching their pizza, they received the surprise of a lifetime when Friedman and Chu unwrapped the pizza print. e biggest thrill of all? A scribble from the artist himself at the bottom of the piece dedicating it, "To the third grade." Oldenburg's pizza lithograph is hanging in the lower school main entry hall, next to the cafeteria. is is the second piece of art the artist has generously donated to the school. A sketch of Oldenburg's statue e Bat Column hangs next to the art room on the fifth floor of the lower school. n "I can't imagine a better piece of art to engage third graders. "The colors, the movement, the shapes. He clearly understands what speaks to children." 15 L AT I N S C H O O L O F C H I C A G O

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