The last quarter has flown by, but we managed to fit our Spring Art Exhibition be March . Everyone who entered the room commented on how colorful the student work was, which means our color theory unit was a success.
The exhibit was a nice way to wrap up our fashion unit as well. It's hard for blind students to enjoy arts shows, when so much of the work is two-dimensional, but we made sure the hats and masks were out for students to feel and try on. High Schoolers always show up to support each other at art show openings.
I love involving students in the selection process. I used to pick one maybe two pieces from each child to put on a couple 6 foot tables, but now that I found a room to use for a gallery, I can have class critiques that allow students to pick the best four pieces from each portfolio. We tried to get a smattering from each project and then worked together during the hanging to arrange things in a way that would give a sense of balance over-all.
When placing the colorwheels on the way, we turned them to create hidden squares of color. Only a few people saw how all the yellows or all the blues for example faced in towards each other in a group of four circles. It's always nice to have "easter eggs" for people who take the time to find them.
Our primary and secondary relief sculptures hung on opposite walls.
And the costume designs were a big hit as students explained their concepts to teachers and peers at the show. It's so important for students to learn the curating process and help with hanging a show. They do better work when they know that their assignments aren't just made for a grade, but made to share.
