Family Art Night

Last school year I held my first family art night. 

Because we are a Title 1 school we have to hold several parent involvement nights. I was approached by our title 1 staff and was excited to give it a try. Art Night was held on the same night as parent teacher conferences. If you want more people, host these events on a night when most parents will be sure to attend. Another good example would be book fair night. Here are some of my Pinspirations:

http://hsesartyparty.blogspot.com/2012/04/family-art-night-2012.html

http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/2009/11/20/family-art-nights/

http://www.2pas.org/blog/2010/02/raymond-family-art-night/

January Show

The Set up

I used table cloths from book fair and covered all the cafeteria tables I needed. 

 5 stations with 2 tables for each. I also had many specialist, sped teachers, and assistants help out. I couldn't have done it without them.

 Drawing

 Painting

 Marble painting

 Pinch pots with model magic

 Stamps

 Printing for stamps

 All materials were purchased with Title funds and not my art funds. This was to make sure we could have more art nights in the future and other teachers could also use the materials for projects in their classes. I used Patty's idea from Deep Space Sparkle to create boards with directions. I used science boards and painters tape to display the directions. The painters tape allows me to easily peal off the directions for future ones. Parent volunteers helped me put these together. 

I never got a chance to take my own photos. These are scanned from our year book.

It was a huge success. Not even the impending ice storm could keep families away!

 Doing what I do best, talking. 

 Marble painting was the most fun station!

Signs were on tables reminding everyone to write their name and child's teacher on the back. They were told to take them home tonight if the papers were dry. I returned all others the next day. 

This is a table for Kindergarten work.

Family art night was a lot of work, but a whole lot of fun. It was such a joy seeing families creating art together. There was no fee for admission. 

2012 Art Show

This year I decided to take a great tip from Patty at Deep Space Sparkle.  I cut butcher paper to display 2D work for each class.  Average class size of 24 kids had to have 2 butcher papers for work.  I would have each student pick their favorite work from their portfolio, and put a name label on it.  Once everyone had chosen, I would tape (masking tape) the work to the butcher paper, roll it loosely, and label it with the teacher's code.  The rolled paper would be stored vertically until the show.

To hang the work on the "all purpose room's" walls I used my favorite tool, masking tape.  I use Sherwin Williams brand contractors tape.  Don't use the cheep stuff!  I had six student helpers create tape rolls and attach them to plastic covered mats.  Once a mat was covered in tape the students would then pass them off to me and other volunteers to attach to the back of the butcher paper to hang on the wall.  Students would start a new mat each time they finished.  We were a well oiled machine.

Below, student tape more work to butcher paper that I didn't have time to do during class. Notice the tape mats around the room. 

Sometimes taping got a little crazy!

The finished displays.  I start on one wall with CDC, Pre-K, and continue around the room.

 The two pieces of butcher paper for each class are hung side by side.  The teacher's name card is listed beside each display.  Notice we really didn't try to line things up perfectly unless we had to due to space. 

Note to self:  Next year get butcher paper before TCAPS.  The supplies were limited because teachers use the butcher paper to cover up instructional posters during testing.  Red and Yellow were the only colors left in the amount I needed. 

 Tables for 3D work.  Students could enter a second piece in the art show if they brought back their clay project. 

 A kindergarten class's circle painting mural. 

The favorite of the evening was the Ugly Doll table.  6th graders did such a great job!  Check back for this lesson. 

ART SHOW 2011

   May 5th, 2011 marked our 2nd Annual Art Show. Here is how it all went from start to finish. (Thanks Phyl for getting my brain engaged with your post.)

   I am very fortunate to have the use of the school’s all purpose room (playroom). Think mini gym without the basket ball hoops and no bleachers. With the help of some close friends and parents the show went up without a hitch. I am not given release time to hang the show so my parent volunteers and I will have the classes that I have that day help out. I send home volunteer letters at least 2 weeks ahead. 

   I have the show in the Spring because I want students to have lots of work to choose from for the show. This year the Kindergarten teachers and I have struck a deal. The Pre-k and K registration is the Monday after the Thursday evening art show. They always decorate for registration and now I have taken care of that. They want the art show left up as decoration and they will have their teacher assistants take the whole thing down the following day!! No take down for me!! We're going to keep this arrangement next year. 

   I display the work of all students. They choose on portfolio review day! About two weeks before the show. The art show is not a competition. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I do however have door prizes. I have a volunteer take names at the door. They register students for the prize they wish to win. I draw names once the show is over and announce the next day at school.

   I send flyers home with students two weeks before and little art tickets the week of. I also have a giant poster that I staple to a display board that I put out for car riders to see at arrival and dismissal the week of the show.

   The walls are concrete. I use 2” masking tape to hang everything. 2 – 3 pieces of tape to hang each work. My 5th grade class that morning makes tape rolls and places them on drawing mats for us to use while hanging. Because of this, I saved about an hour during setup. I do have 6 display boards which I staple work to. I also use hot glue to attach to those less tape friendly services. As you can see below. It's our climbing wall with the floor mats hanging from it. 

   I don’t mount, just not in the budget… I write the students’ names on the bottom right hand corner of their work as they choose their art show piece.

   The highlight of the show is always the slideshow. I create a slideshow of students working during the year and display it with a white board, laptop, and projector which is set up on a table. 

   Last year's show was a huge success and I was anxious to have a good turn out this year. I really talked it up to the kids, made art show “tickets”, a countdown calendar, and displayed the door prizes that could be won (Thanks Erica!). I had a guest book for people to sign in so I would know the numbers. A donation jar is also set up outside the entrance to the playroom. 

   I serve fruit punch and cookies. This year I asked teachers to bring in one package of cookies!! Thanks Mr. E for the idea. A volunteer or two mans the refreshment table.

   Turn out was a bit lower than last year's, but we still raised a lot of money in donations. The families that attended thanked me for having a such an event. Next year, I may have the show on a Friday evening and include art activities.

1st Art Show!!

I was bound and determined to get an Art Show going this year and through blood, sweat, and tears it happened. 

GOAL:

Hold a Spring Art Show to raise awareness and funds for the art room

Feature one work by each student in the school

Make kids proud of their hard work

WAS IT A SUCCES? 

YES!!!!

The show was held in our school's "Play Room". Sort of an all purpose room the size of a small gym.

Artwork was displayed by grade and class. Kindergarten started at one end of the room and circled around to end with 6th grade and Art Enrichment in the middle! 

I had wonderful parent volunteers to help mount all the work. Work was put onto the walls using 

"2" Masking Tape". It took us a total of 3 hours to put over 500 pieces of artwork onto the walls!

Every student had an art portfolio that kept all their artwork throughout the year. 2 weeks before the Show students chose the artwork they wanted to be displayed. (with a little help from me of course)

I was so impressed to hear the students telling their family about their work and the work of others!

I take tons of pictures! So I thought it would be a great idea to have a slide show of students creating in the art room. I also included many wonderful quotes by famous artists and students! Parents loved it!!

Cookies and water greeted everyone at the door! But, next year I will have someone working the table. Our school cafeteria provided the cookies.

A table was set up for 3-D works.

Admission to the Art Show was free, but we took cash and supply donations at the door. 

We also had some door-prizes that were donated and the winners were announced the next day at school!!