For the past 7 years of 11 years I’ve been at Wylie Prep we have done the chair project. Our 6th through 12th graders in art are given a chair and told the rule is there are no rules. I just ask that they use at least 25% of the chair. Other than that they are allowed to do what ever they want to it. We have had so many different things returned for the art show in April. Some just paint them and dress them up but others take on this project with great creative ideas.
I’m ask every year where do all these chairs come from? I wish I knew but really they just show up at the door of the art studio at school. We’ve done the project for 7 years now and people just know that we need chairs. So they drop them off and leave them for me to find like a gift. I love it when that happens it makes me feel that the art department is so loved. All the chairs are lined up in rows in front of the school. They are numbered then each child draws a number to see which chair they get. The kids get so excited for this day and the start of the chair project.
The chairs go home in January and don’t have to be returned until late April just days before the spring art show. On the morning they are returned to school the teachers come strolling by the studio. Hoping to lay claim to the chair or chairs they want to buy. We allow the kids to sale their chairs and all the money the kids get to keep. We sale more and more each year.
The point to this project is to learn to look at the chair no matter what state it’s in as a project. Sometimes the chairs are broken or have stained seats. We have had chairs that were missing one leg and a seat. It’s up to the kids to figure out how they can revamp the chair in to something else or maybe a piece of art work. Their creative brain is the only limit or limitations. Like I said there are no rules.
I’m looking forward to this years show and all the chairs coming back. These kids amaze me every year. We have had chairs turn into clocks, a child’s riding toy, stereo speaker, plant stand and so much more. What ever comes back it will be so much fun to walk around and see at the show.
I love what I do but there are things I look forward to every year. I love the fall and spring art shows. I love summer art camp but by far my favorite is the chair project. It really is one of the Blue Happy moments in my school year. I hope this Monday finds you happy and looking forward to another week of memories.
