Advocacy

Bring Famous Art to Your Students With a Traveling Exhibit!

Nothing comes close to viewing the original work of the old masters. Knowing the historical and artistic context it was created in and then seeing the ‘real thing’ right in front of you is like no other experience. For so many of our students, however, this opportunity never becomes a reality. Seeing artwork of this caliber is not something that is easily accessible or even possible, especially if you teach in an area where art museums are few and far between.

How can we provide experiences like this if visiting a museum is out of the question? I’d say, Teacher’s Discovery Traveling Exhibits are that next best thing.

traveling art exhibit

Printed on massive and durable satin banners, these portable exhibits bring the realistic detail, depth and texture of works by Monet, Klimt, Kahlo and many more right to your school’s hallways. Hang them simply from your drop ceiling panels (there are alternative installations if your building doesn’t have drop ceilings) and just watch and listen to the wonderment of both students and staff alike.

traveling art exhibit

Recently, I was lucky enough to host the Monet exhibit, which was delivered to my middle school for a week-long display. After helping my custodians hang the three enormous banners (which took no longer than 15 minutes) I instantly had a staff member stop and stare, telling me how Monet was her absolute favorite.

traveling art exhibit

The reactions didn’t end with hallway passersby. Since my 7th-grade students were working with oil pastel landscape themes in class, we were able to take a mini-trip down to the banners and see the work of Monet’s Impressionist style in full detail, right in our own school. It was gratifying to see their reactions when they experienced “as-close-to-the-real-thing” as we could get.

If you are debating renting an exhibit from Teacher’s Discovery, here are a few pointers to familiarize yourself with the process:

– Most of the 25+ artist/art style exhibits are comprised of 3 full-color panels on satin fabric: 7 x 17 feet, 8 x 4 feet and 4 x 4 feet

– Exhibits are rented for a week at a time, with the pieces being shipped the week before, leaving you ample time to display

– All the hardware is included to hang the panels easily from any drop ceiling

– Included with your rental are printable signs, exhibit information, and an easy-to-use press kit

– Shipping both ways is included in your rental cost

Consider renting a Teacher’s Discovery Traveling Exhibit if a museum tour is out of the question (or if you just need a change of scenery!).  You could even couple it with your yearly art show. Not only will your students get an up-close view of a masterpiece but you’ll get to witness the awe-inspiring effect artwork like this can have on our students.

How do you expose your students to large-scale artwork?

Do you have an accessible art museum in your community?

 

Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tracy Hare

Tracy Hare, a middle school art educator, is a former AOEU Writer. She strives to deepen students’ 21st-century skills by encouraging them to practice critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.

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