Springbrook Community Art Show.

Back in June 2012, I received an email from an art teacher at one of the local high schools, Springbrook High School. He had the ambitious idea of putting together a December show that not only showcased the work of the high school students, but would also incorporate the work of all the feeder elementary and middle schools. Lo and behold, the (super-successful) show came together on Thursday, December 13th.

Turn-out was excellent-- I had six students come with their families to view their work! (That number is high for our community.) Unlike the annual countywide mall show in the spring, this show was more accessible due to proximity. And because it was a one-night-only event, I was able to be there to greet all families that showed, unlike a show that is up for five days, when a family is likely to show up when I'm not there (solution: camp out at the mall in April? maybe?).

Our display was at the very entrance of the show! My principal and assistant principal LOVED that :) They showed up as I was literally leaving the show, which was somewhat embarrassing (I had already been there for two hours and was tuckered out), but also extremely lucky! In the stress of preparation, I had neglected to check in with them to see if they would be able to make it. They did not disappoint! I am so lucky to have administration that fully supports the arts.

The above pic would be way cuter if I didn't have to crop out my student, crouching on the other side of her art (bottom piece). She brought tons of extended family: maternal and paternal grandparents, aunts, cousins, and of course, mom, dad, and brother. She was just glowing with pride.

My bio!

The show owes it's success to a few things: 1) it got older students to look at younger students' work, and vice versa. Apparently some of the high schoolers were admiring the elementary and middle school work, not even knowing that it wasn't done by students at their school! And then the little guys get to look up to the work of the older students, and envision themselves as artists throughout their education and beyond. And 2) high school students were leading tons of hands-on activities for children: button-making, digital arts stations, other crafts, etc., which kept little ones entertained, and parents less stressed. And 3) there were free snacks. Everyone likes free snacks :) So we were all well-hydrated with balanced blood sugar levels. Key for proper art-viewing.

As with everything the first time around, there were a few kinks that will need to be ironed out for next year. And yes, there's already talk of next year's show! We're the only cluster in the county to have ever hosted something like this, and our supervisors are very impressed and ready to see what we work together to create next year. Overall: Springbrook Community Art Show = success!

White Flint Arts Fair.

This post is nearly a month overdue. Le sigh. Better late than never, huh?

My county hosts an art exhibit called The Elementary and Middle School Arts Fair every April, at a local mall (called White Flint). This year it ran from April 18th - 22nd. It's a great opportunity to showcase your student talent and "borrow" ideas from fellow teachers. As a first year teacher, this was a huge stressor. What work to choose, and how much to display? Clean lines, or a more wacky, creative approach? How to word the descriptions? What kind of signage? Double mats or single mats? Choose the best individual pieces or choose work from my most consistent, committed student artists? Ahh!

It was enough to wear me ragged, and it did. In a previous post I mentioned how I got sick the day of installation with a stomach bug. It was a Wednesday, which I took off once I realized I felt like poop. My trusty father drove me to the mall in the rain, and assisted the install-- which really wound up looking half decent, if I do say so myself.

These pictures were taken the Saturday after the installation / sickness debacle, while I was volunteering at the information table. I even ran into one of my students while I was volunteering (her work is the quilled letter "A")! A good chunk of my students told me that they ventured out to take a look at their work while it was up, which made me a proud mama hen-of-a-teacher. I had been told by the other art teacher at my school that students rarely go to see their work in person, so when a bunch of them told me that they did indeed go out to see it (the mall isn't all that close to our school), I was pleasantly surprised. I created packets that went home with students the Monday before the show went up that included a certificate of appreciation, a letter, and a map of the mall that provided clear instructions on where our panels could be found. I don't think they had ever advertised the show to students this way before-- how are families supposed to go if you don't provide them with information or pump them up about it?!

One of my talented cutiepies!

I managed to squeeze twenty-six pieces of art onto the two panels, and included art from grades 1 - 5. Sorry kinders :( Next year! Special thanks to Phyl from There's a Dragon in my Art Room-- check out those Wacky Weavings! And special thanks goes out to Mr. E from Art with Mr. E (I don't think he even reads my blog? Is there a way to tag him?)-- one of the  Line Designs is actually moving on to be displayed at the state level-- as in, it might be moving on to a show at the Maryland State House! The powers that be will let me know when they have more information. I was truly honored and touched that something made by one of my students received such an accolade. I found out that it had been a few years since any work from my school had been selected for future shows. Woot woot!

All in all, aside from being sick, preplanning and preparation made this a smooth and successful experience. Next year I might try to be a little more creative with my approach-- there were some incredibly dynamic displays that incorporated 3-D or decorative elements that really made their panels pop. It would be awesome to have students work within a theme so that the work displayed reflected on some cohesive subject.

All in due time!

Full circle.

Draining my printer ink by printing certificates for my students whose work will be displayed at the White Flint Arts Fair, a show that my work was shown in as a child.

More to come as this show goes up!