PYP Exhibition: Artist Showcase

This photo is one of my favorites from my whole teaching career. I learned that there is no limit on students' creativity. They are capable of so much if you let them spread their wings.

As I became more experienced in PYP I realized the need to offer more choice-based options in the art room. Choice on a large scale came to fruition during preparations for the 5th grade PYP Exhibition, which is the final display of learning for the year and is a very self-directed process for the students.

With one month to go before Fine Arts Night, students were tasked with choosing an artist, creating a work inspired by that artist's style, and then, for a little fun, presenting their artwork as if they were their chosen artist. More than an art project and dressing up, students had to research their artist, influences, and the background of the pieces they wanted to focus on. Each student struck out in their own direction and my role was to facilitate. Help them choose materials, point them in the direction of helpful resources, and most of all to have faith in their project.

Since this was my first time completely relinquishing control of a project's outcome I admit there were some jitters on my part. Some of my most promising students struggled to pick just one artist and their challenge was focus and actually completing their work on time. Others had to pick an artist that captured their interest but whose work could also be created with our materials and in our timeframe. Then there were students who just needed to work. Not occupying the peanut gallery for everyone else's project.

Ah! Deep breath. They can do it! Right??

Heck yes, they did! I was so proud of how each student embraced their artist in dress and mannerisms. How they thoughtfully answered people's questions about their work during Fine Arts Night. Not to mention the beautiful artworks that were the highlight of the show and really did their easels proud. 

Art Teacher Inspiration: Bulletin Boards

Hanging artwork is both a joy and a chore for art teachers. You are proud of your students' work and want to share their successes with the school community. At the same time, it means wrestling with massive bulletin boards that look beautiful for the first 10 minutes after you cover them in preparation for displaying work. Then school life happens and you spend the rest of the year waging war with your stapler on curling or torn corners and faded spots where the artwork has been hanging. Some people cleverly use fabric as a more durable option - until the fire marshal says no - and then you wrack your brain because no art teacher is ever defeated in the quest for a creative solution.

Enter... PAINTED BULLETIN BOARDS!

Wait, you can paint on those? Yup! And oh, they will be glorious. Here are two more that I loved from my painting campaign.

Have any big gallons of tempera that are about to go off? This is your project. The cork will absorb a fair bit of paint but if you work quickly you can still get decent coverage. To create a visually interesting background that doesn't distract from students' work I would use 2-3 colors that blended nicely (art vocabulary = analogous) and applied it in an abstract, swirling pattern. This project was like an adult coloring book: so relaxing yet you are accomplishing so much. 

Want to run this idea by your principal and hope they say yes? Just hit them with these (totally legitimate, inspired) reasons:

• Painting bulletin boards is cost effective in the long run because it uses fewer materials and doesn't need to be replaced for several years. You might end up re-touching spots but not the whole board.
• The boards look good all year round. Whether it's the beginning of the year, end of the year, or time between projects, these boards are beautiful ALL THE TIME. At one of my schools, the administrators made me keep the art show up through the summer. No one wants to look at last year's art in August and what about the poor kids who move or want to enjoy their art?!
• Reduces waste by allowing you to use old paint or donations from the school community. This doesn't have to be an expensive endeavor!
• Involves the community. I was lucky to have a helpful maintenance crew who took the boards down for me to work on them and re-hung them when I was finished (24 boards in total, bless their hearts). While I was working I kept my door open and people popped in to watch and admire. The results are stunning so show off your process to build interest in your program!