Art teachers across the country are in the process of planning the end of year art show. If you are one of these lucky individuals, the following display tips may help.
Choosing the art
- Gathering all the art can be a daunting task in and of itself. If you choose the work yourself, the best way to sort through it all is to maintain a portfolio for each student throughout the year. When you can flip through their best work, it is much easier to make decisions.
- Be sure each student has at least one finished piece in the show.
- Show the scope of your art program. I have been to school art shows with fourteen chalk penguins and twenty-some chalk polar bears. If all you do is chalk, then fine show the chalk drawings, but even if those penguins and polar bears are impressive be sure to mix in different mediums and techniques. Let the parents see a little of everything.
- One of the schools I teach in requires students to submit the art they wish to show, mainly because they bring each piece home after class rather than storing it in the classrooms. This completely takes that aspect of the job out of my hands, but even still the art needs to be properly displayed in order to give the art department the attention it deserves!
Display panels
Regardless of wall space, you should be able to display a wide variety of art. Making folding panels can be a life-saver for a busy art teacher. Attach hollow pocket doors together with hinges and then screw in wheels. These lightweight walls can be arranged to display art on both sides completely maximizing your space.
If you cover the panels with cork board, corrugated cardboard, or rigid foam insulation, you can use push pins to affix the artwork. Another idea is to cover the doors with felt and then use Velcro dots to attach the art.
Throughout the year, the giant felt boards could then be used by the kindergarten room! These panels could also double as backdrops for the school play so you may want to talk to the drama department to see if you can split the cost.
Instead of doors, you could also use masonite peg board to create a wall. Hinge them together accordian style and then use bolts and nuts to hang framed art.
Mounting artwork
All the art that is displayed is attached to a black piece of cardstock that is slightly larger than finished piece. Each piece also needs a name tag. These are printed off the computer with the students name and grade. If you print a label for each student ahead of time, it can be easy to be sure each child has a piece of art in the show.
Run a slideshow
Recently I have been adding a continuous slide show of photos that run throughout the show. The slide show includes photos I have taken throughout the year of students working on projects, finished work, and general silliness. Everyone enjoys getting a glimpse of themselves and it keeps everyone on their toes throughout the year.
Showcase your program
Have students create fliers, brochures, posters and really promote the show in a big way. Encourage kids to invite family, friends and neighbors. I also ask the students to dress up for their opening and show the guests around. We talk about curating and how to discuss their artwork in class and make it a point to be as professional as possible. If you do not push the program, who will?
