Curating Art: A Job for Teachers and Students

Day 20

How do you curate student work–or help them do it themselves?

I am the curator of the Art Gallery at our school. Throughout the year I rotate pieces from the varying grade levels and projects to keep our gallery "fresh"! The picture below is from our Poetry in the Art Room unit. Students, Teachers, Parents, and Administrators love walking these "hallway galleries" looking at all the creative works of art.

Once a year we have Renaissance Night. It's the BEST night of the year. Almost all the families at our school attend this night for the Arts. The cafeteria is transformed into an impressive gallery, eliciting awe and marvel from all of our visitors.

In addition to these traditional forms of displaying student artwork, I encourage students to curate their own "galleries" on our Edmodo page and on their Instagram accounts. I love to see what inspired pieces students create at home, when art is not a required subject but a creative outlet for personal expression.

Instagram Challenge: Elements of Art

Kids LOVE Instagram. Hey, I love Instagram. What's not to love? It's fun, easy, and keeps you connected with the world. I especially love being able to connect with my students in a fun and relaxing way. Sometimes I even slip a little learning and application into this arena.

My most recent is the

  Instagram Challenge: 

Elements of Art 

Although the EOA are used every day in class during the creation of our art work, I believe it's very important that the students can recognize and 

name all 7 elements. 

When working on a piece of art the student should be able to critique their piece and make design decisions based on the elements used. Usually it's subtle changes that take a work of art from good to GREAT!

The Instagram Challenge: Elements of Art has simple rules and sends students on a scavenger hunt through their world. Capture the 7 Elements of Art in 7 Pictures. That's it. 

And what's the fun in a challenge without a prize? The students that receives the most likes on their combined pictures will receive one of my Creativity NOT Conformity poster. A much coveted item in the art room.

Meeting students not just where they're at academically, but also in their world, makes the connections that foster true learning in these 21st Century Learners.

You can find me on Instagram as Kids Create Art. Start your own Instagram Challenge today and tag me in it. I would love to see what other creative ideas people come up with.