This past week, my Grade 7 and 8 students mounted a showcase of their artwork from the past semester. The theme of their art was nightmares and daydreams with each student creating a 2D work (paintings, drawings) and a 3D form (sculpture).
The content of the show was driven by inquiry, a major aspect of the MYP Visual Arts curriculum. Prioritizing student voice and choice assists with this goal – from the media my students create with, to the shared responsibility for the upkeep of our studio space, to preparation efforts surrounding the art exhibition.
In this case, I asked the students to choose how they would contribute to the showcase. We had a facilities team, art handlers, curators, and exhibition designers. They took their roles very seriously and had the showcase installed in under 30 minutes! One student rain around with a clipboard and my layout diagram, noting every display table and translating our needs to the Turkish speaking facilities staff. Awesome to see a 14 year old step up like that.
When it came to the actual artmaking, my students’ choice of media (artmaking materials) and their personal interpretations of the theme (dreams/nightmares) made this exhibition truly unique. It’s dark, expressive, and full of energy. I can see their growth as artists and the beautiful artwork speaks for itself.
Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into my first student showcase here in Istanbul. I will miss this crew but I’m already looking forward to meeting my next group for Semester 2 in a week.
The Turquoise Chronicles 
Hi Meg. Your students’ artwork is amazing! So much thought seems to have gone into designing and making it. The students must have been inspired by a great teacher! Thanks for sharing their work and your experiences. Stephanie
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You are too kind! I really enjoyed working with these students. They are talented. Glad you liked the show!
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Thanks for sharing Meg. What a wonderful showcase of artwork from your students! Each piece is very unique and so in keeping with the theme. I loved the fact that you held a team meeting with the students and that they then went about performing their roles so proficiently. You must be so proud of what they have achieved. And kudos to you for being such a wonderful role model in assisting your students to develop their creativity.
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Thank you Mic and Sarah! So glad you enjoyed the post. Very proud of the students! The show was well received. We are still missing you around here – hope your travels are treating you well 🙂
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Very cool – you can see the students’ personalities coming through their daydreams and nightmare pieces. And yes, great indeed to hear about their collaborative self-organization of the exhibit!
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Thank you, Caroline! I’m so glad you liked the student work 🙂 They have a lot to say and it’s awesome helping them to express their thoughts. All about that facilitation!
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Excellent show! Excellent teacher!
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Thanks, Suz ❤
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