Gibbs High artists collaborate on TDOT ‘Paint the Plow’ project
By Pete Gawda
“It will be used like every other snowplow, but it will be prettier,” said Drew Rutherford of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. He was referring to the colorful snowplow blade that was painted by the art students of Gibbs High School. The snowplow was unveiled at the school on Monday, December 15.
“We’ve never done a snowplow,” said Gibbs art teacher Ethan Pignatario, who supervised the project. “Mr. P,” as he is known by his students, said his students have done community-based projects before, but he was “super excited” about the snowplow. He said that 15 art students worked on the project for about a month.
“Mr. P let us do our own thing,” tenth grader Mason Buckman said. Each student came up with their own design to be incorporated into the overall painting.
Rutherford said that four to six snowplow blades are painted each year statewide by art students, including at least one snowplow from each of TDOT’s regions. This year, Gibbs High School got the honors for the Knoxville region. Last year, it was Fulton High School.
Jason Welsh, a four-year veteran of TDOT, will be operating the snowplow. Last year, he operated the snowplow painted by Fulton.
In the event of inclement weather this winter, you might see this snowplow blade being used to clear snow and ice from interstate lanes and state routes across Knox County.
“Don’t crowd the plow,” is the advice TDOT gives drivers. Don’t tailgate or stop too close to snowplows. On multiple lanes, watch for snowplows operating in either lane.
