February 04, 2021
La Roche University Instructor Turns Cardboard Boxes into Art
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 4, 2021 – An at-home art project designed by La Roche University adjunct instructor Elliott Cramer helps families and kids get creative during quarantine.
The project, “Adventures from Home,” turns cardboard boxes into everything from rocket ships and airplanes to hats, microphones and crowns. Instructions for each project are available on Mr. Cramer’s website. Additionally, the project was recently featured on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt: Kids Edition.
“Everything is based on my childhood. I had a best friend teddy bear named Simon, and we played all the time. ‘Adventures from Home’ is based on that and focuses on a child’s imagination: playing with their stuffed friends with an item crafted from cardboard,” he said.
Mr. Cramer said “Adventures from Home” had been in the works for years, but he adjusted the project for his own children while quarantining during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It turned out to be a wonderful activity during the pandemic,” he said. “It has allowed me to produce art, tell stories, inspire others and spend time with my family.”
The project also helped Mr. Cramer through a difficult period.
“My life was turned upside down in 2020,” he said. “I needed to do this to stay mentally healthy and to feel a sense of accomplishment.”
A native of Zelienople, Mr. Cramer studied photography at Kent State University and has been a photographer and videographer for 19 years. He has created imagery in the slums of Haiti to some of the ritziest spots in New York City, always providing high-quality visuals for entrepreneurs, start-ups, nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies. Through all his experiences, the one thing he said he enjoys most is working with others through a collaborative creative process.
Learn more about “Adventures from Home” and Mr. Cramer at ecramerphoto.com.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers 66 undergraduate programs of study, six master’s degrees and one doctoral degree, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for nearly 1,300 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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