Fairchild Challenge: Journey of Sustainable Soles

May 28

2026

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By Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

This exhibit features artwork made by area elementary, middle and high school students participating in the Phipps Fairchild Challenge. In this challenge, students were asked to reflect on their personal journeys toward sustainability while expressing their creativity through sculpture. Their task was to design and create a 3D sculpture of a pair of shoes using only recycled or reused materials.

Shoes tell powerful stories. They carry us through everyday routines, major life changes and the paths we choose for the future. Participants were encouraged to think about where they started, what they have learned and where they hope to go. These sculptures represent both personal reflections and statements about the importance of sustainability to the artists. The mission of the Fairchild Challenge is to foster interest in the environment by encouraging students to appreciate the beauty and value of nature, develop critical-thinking skills, understand the need for conservation and biodiversity, tap community resources; become actively engaged citizens and recognize that individuals do indeed make a difference. This program is made possible by the generous support of the Grable Foundation and the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit Program.