Art Show!

For the past few weeks (well, months) I have been working towards three simultaneous youth art shows that I agreed to participate in this month. An art exhibit is a lot of work; the making of the art itself is the most important part and the most fun. All of the rest of the work is tedious: submitting proposals for money, writing letters, addressing them, sending them, notifying both students and parents, labeling each piece in a professional manner, packing the artwork, and finally hanging it. But all of the work is worth it and the end result is one of the best parts of my job.

I like the church-turned-into-an-art-gallery. It lends a feeling of sacredness that feels just right.

Friday night I attended the opening reception at the Arts Center, a gem of a little gallery located in what was once a church. It is a beautiful space, and this is the first time they have opened it to children's art. It is a stunning show and they already know that they want to repeat it next year. They should have done this years ago, but never mind, I'm glad they realize it now.


This is the finished mosaic (underwater-with-squid) that we agonized over in my 7th grade class. It measures 40x48"and although I was dismayed by what happened when we grouted it, the end product is still quite gorgeous. (Nobody had to know that it was even more gorgeous before we grouted it!) The curator placed it on a low pedestal to keep people from walking on it, and placed it front and center as you walk into the gallery. The glass pieces sparkled in the light. The beauty of this piece is not captured by my photo so you'll just have to take my word for it. I sound like a proud parent, I know.


These sixteen watercolors are by my first semester 7th grade students. They are the only paintings in the whole show, and I really love them. The memory of a mob of 12 year-olds gently and quietly rendering my old collection of seashells is precious.

I love the careful details on these paintings. Maybe it doesn't make sense, but somehow it gives me hope for the world.

The rest of the show. A group of high school musicians played Bach and sounded like pros. On the back wall of the gallery is a collection of clay "river sprites" produced by students at Muddy Creek School.

Here are two close-ups. Fun!

A group of home-schoolers, ages 3-12 did a cool finger weaving.

Super-cool glass art done by students at Adams Elementary.

Each of these little "fish scales" was pretty.

I don't have photos of the other two shows going on right now, but maybe you have had enough.