Students in East Harlem are helping to set the table for a big citywide public art project. NY1's Stephanie Simon explains more in the following report.

P.S. 79 is one of ten city schools transforming school cafeteria tables into works of art. Each table addresses a social issue important to the students.

"This table is about wheelchair accessibility," explained student Julius Kirpatrick of his art.

"We wanted to show people that are in wheelchairs that we are there for them if the need us for anything," added student Karen Whitfield.

There are children with physically and developmental challenges at P.S. 70, so these young artists are advocating for their schoolmates.

The project is being organized by the non-profit organization Learning Through Expanded Arts Programs. All the tables will be displayed in parks near the school that created it, making it the largest exhibit of student art work in New York City Parks history.

"We've chosen a school lunchroom table as a symbol of conversations of kids and bringing that out into the park setting," said LEAP Deputy Director Alexandra Leff. "This school is one of ten schools that have a designed school lunch table and have decorated, in this case, with mosaic and photography, the need for accessibility in the neighborhood."

The students learned about public art, how to create the design, and how to do mosaic work.

"I'm so proud of myself," said Whitfield. "I have never done this before. I used to do drawing, paper drawing with pencil and markers, but this kinds of stuff, I never done that before."

"I put some marbles and I did writing on the table," added classmate Luis Lopenz. "This is pretty good."

The table will be put on display right across from the school, in Marcus Garvey Park, on June 6th. It will be at the location through the end of August.

For more information on LEAP, go to www.leapnyc.org.

- Stephanie Simon