Crayon Queen

Posted on 8/03/09

I put on a 1500-2000 piece art show every year for our school.
It is up for a month from beg. of May 'til the second last
week of school in June. I use bulletin boards which many
classroom teachers gladly give up. The media specialist lets
me clear off all the tops of the book shelves. I cover them
with bulletin bd. paper for a nice surface and display the
clay on them. I also hang a lot from the ceilings even the
media center. Basically the principal and teachers just let
me do my thing. I also have burlap banners that are about 48"
wide and 6 feet tall. These have a dowel rod in a casing both
top and bottom. I have those screws with a circle on the end
(these are screwed into the dowel rod) and I hook them onto
the brick walls. I probably have 20-25 of these. The custodian
drilled holes in the bricks and put the screws (the ones with
the red plastic) into the wall and hooked a small chain to
it. I use a "S" hook or large paper clip to hook the loop
from the dowel rod to the chain on the wall.

Each child has 5-6 projects up. Everyone's work goes up no
matter the quality. The only stuff that doesn't go up is if
the child hasn't finished it. And I've been known to track
them down on the playground to bring them in at recess to
finish. If the child went on a trip-and we have many who
leave between 2 weeks-a month, it's "Oh well....sorry you
weren't here." (Unless it's their major clay project.)

The promo for the art show begins at the beginning of the
year. We send out a school calendar with dates of activities.
We usually have a music program the evening the art show
opens and the PTO puts on an ice cream social in the gym. I
send out a nice invitation with all the info about 1-2 weeks
prior to the events.

The school is heavily displayed with art during the year too.
I make sure the entry hall has displays of kid's work. We
have an art wing and I have 8 large boards along a curved
hallway to display work.

Also for the show, since there is so much clay work, I pull
out the tables in the art room (about 15) and line them up
along the art wing hall way. I cover them and skirt them with
bulletin paper so again it gives it a nice presentation. The
kids don't mind the tables being gone. The older kids just sit
in chairs and many will just sit on the floor.

I have one day called "Take Down Day". I send home info that
all the art will go home that day and if parents want to come
in and pick up the clay they can. I tell them to bring
packing materials and a large bag. I get a sub for the day. I
take down everything that's hanging and put it on the floor
on the side of the hallway and classroom teachers at their
leisure, go around with the kids to collect it during the
day.

I get a sub for 3 days to set up the art show and I have some
moms who like to come in and help. But I really start making
name tags months ahead of time. Even tho' I display work all
year, I save art work the whole year for the show.

I know art teachers that pick and choose whose stuff gets into
the art show. I would strongly encourage you to display
everyone's work no matter the quality. It's important to each
child and the parents. Also if this is your first show, start
simple. Maybe everyone only has 1 or 2 pieces up. It depends
on the number of kids you have-I have about 350 kids K-5th.
(But this year we are now K-3rd so the dynamics of our school
will change.)

Good Luck, if you need any more info, do not hesitate to
contact me. I'll be glad to answer your questions the best I
can. Let me know how it goes! :-)

On 8/03/09, lyn wrote:
> we are planning to host an art show at school this year.
> what do you think is the best way to create a display
> board? they are so expensive in the catalogs!

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