'Tis the Season for Art

Last week I held the annual Art Fair at the middle school I teach at. I was flying solo yet again, not my preferred method, but I am definitely getting the hang of it. I have developed a super-streamlined method for getting the job done and I really enjoyed it this year.

This was my 5th year as a teacher putting together the Art Fair. I also participated in the art fair at this very same school in 7th, 8th, and 9th grades, so it feels meaningful to carry on this tradition that has been passed down from one art teacher to another over the years. This was the biggest show we've had in the five years I have worked at this school with 30 4' X 8' panels covered top to bottom in about 390 drawings and paintings. There was a small ceramics display that will hopefully be bigger next year since I'll be back in the saddle teaching one section of ceramics.

The parents loved it, the kids loved it, and the teachers were amazed, as always, to see that some of their most frustrating students actually do possess talent and the ability to apply themselves to something.

The faculty section wasn't as full as last year's. I'll put more energy into getting teachers involved next year since the kids like seeing a different side of their teachers as much as teachers like getting a new perspective on their students.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces:

I know it's really simple, but I just love the shape of the tree silhouettes. I also admire that the kid who did this has multiple color-blindness and still managed to create such a nicely blended sky.

The girl who painted this did so while she was recovering from a tonsillectomy which gave her tons of time to paint all those tiny colorful lines.

This looks good enough to eat- what more can I say?

Every other square of this grid drawing is a woman, the opposite squares are a flower. The photograph of it didn't turn out great, but I think the drawing is quite stunning.