TIP #51: How to “Magic Question” Your End-of-the-Year Student Art Show
Your end-of-the-year Student Art Show may seem like it’s still a long way off. It can be tempting to put off thinking about it when you feel like you still have “plenty of time”.
But ask any teacher… time flies the second half of the school year! You’ll appreciate every task you’ve taken care of ahead of time as your end-of-the-year Art Show draws closer.
This is where the “Magic Question” comes in. The Magic Question is the brainchild of Kendra Adachi, author of the popular book and podcast, “The Lazy Genius Way” (affiliate link).
The Magic Question is one of Adachi’s 13 principles to help you “be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t”. Simply put, the Magic Question refers to asking yourself, “What can I do now to make (something) easier later?”
This question may sound obvious and even simplistic when you first hear it. But make it a regular part of your inner dialogue and I guarantee you’ll be glad you did.
When the Magic Question becomes a habit, you’ll find it can help you in a million ways throughout your day. But specifically, I’m here to suggest you try it with your next end-of-the-year Art Show.
Every school’s Art Show has its own unique situation, needs, and challenges. So use the ideas below to start thinking of what you can do now to make your Art Show prep easier later.
What can you do now to make your end-of-the-year Student Art Show prep easier later?
1. Use the brain dump technique to list everything you can think of that you’ll need to do.
Don’t worry about putting things in order yet. Just keep your list handy and get your ideas on paper (or digital) as they come to you.
2. Choose the date and reserve your space.
Confirm with your administrator and copy your school’s maintenance team so it’s on their calendar, too.
3. Begin recruiting parent volunteers.
Find out who might be interested in helping you. This is not to get firm commitments, but to start a list of people to contact when the time comes.
It’s not too early to get your Student Art Show on everyone’s radar!
4. Print out a master list of students by class.
Save room to add any new students who join your school between now and your Art Show date.
Keep this list in a binder or on a designated clipboard. Every student should be represented, so you’ll need a way to keep track of who you have work from.
5. Plan your projects.
Consider the space you have along with the number of students. Your space will determine the size and number of projects you can display. If your space is limited, you may need to choose between vertical and horizontal projects.
To best showcase your Art program, plan to include a variety of subjects and mediums.
Some projects that have been popular for my past art shows are Oil Pastel Flowers Inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, Kaleidoscope Lettering, Mexican Bark Painting, Sunset Cityscapes, Collage Butterflies Inspired by Eric Carle, and Personalized Self-Portraits.
6. Consider how you’ll display your students’ work and what you may need for doing that.
Will the work hang from a wire or be mounted on walls or display boards? Do you have all the materials necessary for hanging (clips, tape, etc.) or will you need to order things?
If you want to show 3D work, you’ll need a different way to display it. Pedestals and display cases are a great option if your school has them and space permits.
These are just a few things you can make incremental progress on, to prevent pressure from building later on.
More than just “planning”…
If this seems like ordinary “planning”, think again. The idea is that you’re taking small steps now to make progress well ahead of when you otherwise would.
Where the Magic Question really shines is in the little things. Try using it every day as your mindset for approaching small daily tasks around your home and classroom. Little things can really add up!
Using the Magic Question, you’ll soon begin to notice and appreciate things you’ve done in advance. This in turn will be a positive reinforcement that helps it become a habit.
Give the Magic Question a try with your own “to-do list” for your end-of-the-year Art Show. Then as the event draws closer, you’ll find you’re ahead of the game and feeling calmer and more in control.
With less stress, you may even find you can enjoy your Art Show that much more! For more helpful art show ideas, check out my blog post “7 Tips for Successful Student Art Displays”
an inspiring quote:
“Action is the foundational key to all success.” ~ Pablo Picasso
It takes action to make things happen. Even if your “action” is just making a list, that can be a great place to start!