Much to the surprise of local residents and passers-by, a wooden installation has recently appeared on the gable end of the Christian von Mannlich Grammar School on Hiltebrandtstraße. It is a ‘Wooden Wave’ – a participatory installation made of wooden slats on which people can leave messages and express their wishes and hopes. It is unique and has a thematic connection to its location. The inspiration for this installation came from the Saarland-based sculptor Martin Steinert. His ‘Wooden Clouds’ have been and continue to be on display not only in the Saarland, but also in Augsburg, Berlin, Dakar, Essen, Havana, Liège, Munich, Paris, Prague, Ramallah, St Petersburg and Tirana.
2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the first visit by a delegation from the Saarpfalz district to Henrico County, Virginia. This provided the impetus for the district partnership in 1997. Pupils from the Christian von Mannlich Gymnasium and Mills E. Godwin High School created a visible symbol to mark this anniversary as part of this year’s pupil exchange programme. Through a creative, collaborative process, they explored the values of peace, freedom and democracy and played an active role in every stage – from planning and model-making to the final installation. During the course of their work, the distinctive wave-like shape emerged, which gives the installation its name. The project began three years ago. Online meetings with the partner school were followed by discussions with the school management and the Saarpfalz district’s property management team regarding the location.
Headteacher Dirk Kleemann said at the presentation: “A project such as ‘Wooden Cloud–Wooden Wave’ is something extraordinary, something you rarely experience at a school. It is important to focus on what unites us with our friends from Virginia – rather than what divides us. We must preserve and nurture the bonds that have developed over several decades. And this project clearly highlights what unites us.” Together with his colleagues Uta Linke and Anne Kany, art teacher Andreas Dorn had asked pupils to take part after school. The response was impressive, with 50 pupils signing up. First, true-to-scale models of the twelve segments were made using small wooden sticks and hot glue, to serve as the basis for the subsequent joint assembly. For safety reasons, Steinert mounted the segments on the wall himself. Caretaker Martin Marx was always on hand to offer help and advice. “As art teachers, we had the fantastic opportunity to work with an artist who was willing to incorporate the pupils’ ideas into his design. We have created ‘art in architecture’ and, with this artwork visible from afar, a kind of landmark for the town of Homburg,” explained Andreas Dorn. English and politics teacher Stephan Leonhardt, who has been leading the Henrico exchanges since 2000, had established contact with the art teacher there, Catherine Bare, during the 2025 student exchange at Mills E. Godwin High School, had established contact with the school’s art teacher, Catherine Bare, for the 2025 student exchange, so that during the return visit at the end of September this year, a ‘WoodenWave’ will be created in Henrico as the second part of the project. “Looking back, one can generally say of all the exchanges that there have been – and continue to be – committed local authorities and welcoming hosts on both sides. And with Joseph Ungerleider – the only German teacher at Godwin High School – we have a colleague who does a really good job. An evaluation will be carried out at the end of the project with the support of the German-American Institute,” said Leonhardt. “The partnership makes it possible to get to know one another better and to develop mutual appreciation and friendship on an international level. This is particularly important given the different perspectives of the participants. When we talk to one another, learn and work together, we foster understanding for one another. Our project shows that a strong partnership is possible. I look forward to the future,” said Ungerleider, thanking the pupils and the hosts. This was also emphasised by Xenia Martel, Emma Virginia Tucker, Leon Schröder and William Mac Kusterer in their pupil statements.
Helen Patton, granddaughter of General George S. Patton and founder of the Patton Foundation, as well as a project sponsor, is moved by the intercultural exchange: “The wave is a symbol of friendship across the ocean, linking growth and the flow of new ideas. There are no limits to driving innovation. By transforming individual pieces and allowing them to flow into one another, we can show how well they come together and complement each other. What we have created reminds us that progress arises from the combination of creativity and adaptability.” The pupils left their messages on the wooden slats. Martin Steinert comments: “What I hadn’t initially considered – or couldn’t have considered – was that, through these messages, the project relatively quickly became a peace project. When you ask people about their wishes and their messages, they simply write down things that are absolutely essential. And almost without exception, these revolve around peace, freedom and living in harmony with our neighbours,” he explains, referring to the more than 40 Wooden Cloud projects worldwide.
Christine Streichert-Clivot, Minister for Education and Culture, acted as patron: “The Wooden Wave symbolises what schools can achieve: bringing young people together across borders, bringing shared values to life and promoting democratic dialogue. The fact that pupils from the Saarland and Virginia have created this symbol of friendship together is a powerful sign of understanding, openness and the value of international partnerships. Such encounters have a lasting impact on young people and show how peace and cohesion can grow on a small scale.”
For District Administrator Frank John, the project is a cultural bridge: “Let’s hope that, as predicted, the Wooden Wave will still be standing in 20 years’ time to mark the 50th anniversary of the partnership. The project is sparking a keen sense of curiosity in everyone taking part in the next exchange in Henrico.”