TULIP GROVE ELEMENTARY ART SHOW 2023

I honestly thought we had an art show since the pandemic, but after looking through my blog, social media, and my phone/iPad....I guess not?!?  Art shows are a lot of work. If you have not organized an all school art show before....you have to be organized!  You have to have a plan. You have to have caffeine! HA HA!  I do a thematic art show.  You can search my blog and find all the ones from year's past.  I really loved this year's theme...TGE PET SHOP! I start doing projects related to the theme as soon as we get back from Christmas Break.  There are a lot of absences due to illness during this time...and we often add a lot of new students as well.  I try to have at least 4 projects that are within the theme of the art show so students have choices to select from.  If you have questions...please message me or hit me up on social media.  I'd be happy to share my experiences. 

 SO HERE IS THIS YEAR'S K-5th ART SHOW.

The start of art show projects...

 I've shared before how I "do" my art shows on here, but I thought I might explain for those of you who are new here!  Please know this is the way I do things...I'm not saying it "THE" way.  Art shows are as different as art.  The important thing is that you are giving your students the opportunity to display their work & take pride in their creations.  

I do a theme based art show.  We begin as soon as we return from Christmas break.  With snow days, sickness, and other holiday's off...I like to provide enough time for students to create several projects within the theme so they can choose their favorite work.  This year we are exploring abstract/non-objective art work.  Here are some past themes.

Dinosaurs, Bugs, Recycled, Food, Night at The Zoo, Robots/Space, Under Water, Color Explosion, Art Around the World, Secret Garden(fairies, gnomes, and other garden magic), Out of this World(aliens, ufos, alien landscapes..etc), Story Book Forest (fairy tales and fables), How Artists See.

It's not too late to start on your own all school art show!!  I can't wait to see what you come up with.  

A Dino-Mite Art Show: Kindergarten

Our annual K-4th Grade art show was suppose to take place March 26th.

I brought home all the art work to prep it for the show (when I still thought we'd get to return to school).  We would have had two more weeks to tweek/fix/finish student work, but because of a tornado that shut down schools & then COVID-19....we did not have that precious time. There are always possibilities that a student may not have a piece of art in their class grouping because of absences or not writing their name on their work.  All attempts were made to include one picture from each student.

KINDERGARTEN

COLOR EXPLOSION: ALL SCHOOL ART SHOW PREP

My all school art show is just a couple days away...and I'm in the midst of getting everything ready!!  As of this morning, all artwork is cut down, names rewritten, mounted, and tape placed on the back(to place the blue tacky stuff I use to hang the show) of all 500+ pieces of art!!!!  Now I'm getting a note ready to send home to parents, prepping activity stations at the show, making some big banner signs to hang up pointing people to where the show is....sooooooo many things beyond just the artwork!! I try to make this a super special event....and I want people to linger! 

AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY BUDDY/PARTNER IN CRIME...JANET MALONE! She and I have worked together on many things over the years for our district.

Janet came over for several hours over the weekend to help me prep a large chunk of the artwork!

THANKS JANET!

GETTING READY!

COLOR EXPLOSION

Tulip Grove's Annual K-4th Art Show 

Getting ready for my annual K-4th art show!!  Our theme this year is Color Explosion...and it is going to be a bright show!!! I created this bulletin board in our front hall to advertise(will add date & time later).  I've also started making the teacher name signs I hang beside each class.  If you've never done an all school art show...it is A LOT OF WORK.....but totally worth it!  Stay tuned for more as I continue to prepare! 

ART SHOW PREP!

The all school art show is almost here, and I'm up to my ears in "prep".  How do you know when your up to your ears in "prep"....your classroom starts looking messy(for some of you..messier than usual...I'm a bit on the OCD side..so mine starts getting messy & it drives me nuts), you take tons of stuff home(sometimes it gets done..sometimes it doesn't), you start calling in favors of everyone you know (or just flat out begging for help on social media!!!), and your blood pressure slowly creeps upwards!  ha ha  Maybe you are an amazing planner/organizer...and this doesn't happen to you.  TEACH ME YOUR WAYS!!! ha ha  

  I hang 550 pieces of art work so that my K-4 students are all represented.  It always gets done, it always turns out awesome, but it is always a bumpy road to get to the art show!  I do a theme.  I know a lot of people don't do a theme....or have very strong feelings against doing a theme.....but that is your issue & I love doing a theme!!  I start theme"ing" my lessons as soon as I get back from spring break. I attempt to do the entire nine weeks in that theme so we have choices in which project will actually be in the show.  After the art work is selected...it must be trimmed down and mounted on construction paper(it just looks better in my opinion).  Then tape gets placed in each corner.  This is to keep the "sticky tack" from seeping through the paper.  There is an oil in it to keep it from drying out..and that can seep through and ruin the work.  The sticky tack works the best at my school..you might find something else that works.  I make class signs in the theme of the art show....have students make thank you cards to give out the night of the show...collect cookies for a cookie table(my teachers love to help by bringing a package of cookies in!!)...create some activity so parents/family can create with their student...etc...etc...OH...and hange 550 pieces!! :) ha ha

If you do an all school art show....I'd love to hear some of your tips and tricks!

How Do You Prepare?

How do you prepare for an art show/all school art show?

If' you've ever done a large scale art show...you know it is a lot of work!  What are some tips/tricks you have for making such an event a bit easier on yourself?  

Above you see my signs I make for each class.  I theme my art show each year(A World Of Art).  This does not make things easier...but is one of those MUST DO's for me.  

Do you have any MUST DO's? 

How do you (or do you?) get volunteers involved in your art show?

Is Your art show tied to any other events.....PTO...Music..Fundraiser..etc?