Friday, October 23, 2009

finally!


I finally put up a little art wire to display Dieter's artwork. I'd been meaning to for ages. Such a simple thing, but I was way overthinking it. So now it's up and Dieter loves having his artwork displayed. I can rotate these out frequently because he's generating so much art both at preschool and at home. I figure I'll take pictures of each new display and, sadly, toss most of these as they are rotated out. I just can't bear to save all of it. That is just way too much paper clutter for me--no matter how it is stored. I'm a tosser. I have a few framed pieces of Jacob and Faith's youthful artwork and I'm fine with that. At most, I would say I wish a had just a few more nicely framed like that (it's expensive!, but even so) and don't regret tossing most of the rest. I have a strong feeling it's the process of creation that is important, not the finished work so much. I feel the same about their lego or block creations. That is why I dis-assemble everything at night when picking up--then they are inspired to create afresh the next day. How about you? Save or toss?

20 comments:

dreamingmama said...

I've been over-thinking the art wire too! How did you put yours up and what type of wire did you use? Thanks and take care!

AndieF said...

Yes, please share how you put it up! I try to only keep one piece of art from each month from each child (I have 3.) It still seems like probably too much, but it is manageable right now, and in a few years, I'll try and pare it down a little more.

Andie

et lille oejeblik - a little moment said...

funny! i have had this on my mind for a billion years, and somehow cannot seem to get it done. ok, i'll have to just do it, cause it just looks awesome what you've done. thank you for the inspiring push :)

Andrea said...

Ugh...I have bags and boxes and stacks. For my oldest son's two years or preschool and kindergarten I put everything in those clear plastic sleeve books, and just recently went through them and tossed a lot because they took up too much space on the shelf. First grade is all in a paper grocery bag and I have just a small folder of second grade (so much less cute stuff by then) and now I just save tests and art from 3rd grade...still way too much stuff, but I'm getting there. W/ the younger two, almost everything but the really cute drawings get recylcled...I just went through the "art box" and recycled most (but can't help hanging onto those first few stick figures, even if I don't know which kid produced them). And I save their watercolor abstracts to turn into thank-you and mother's day cards, etc.

emerzim said...

I'm a tosser too! Just can't handle the clutter. My daughter has a VERY similar art string (but ours is made of twine) that I put at her height so she can put things up and take them down whenever she likes. And she knows that when the mini clothespins get full that it is time to pick some pictures to get rid of. It works really well for us.

Here's a picture of ours, although it is MUCH more full now:

http://emilyinthedesert.blogspot.com/2009/08/easy-art-display.html

Jennifer said...

You know, I really need to do that. My children are prolific, and it's overrunning the house. That will definitely be a weekend project.

Dancer said...

I read a great suggestions of how to deal with children's past art - scan it and put into some kind of photo book (shutterfly, iphoto, whatever) as a keepsake. One book could hold a year's worth of work - you have the memories and the image but don't have to contend with all of that paper, or plates with macaroni glued on, and the like.

Adrienne said...

I am most definately a tosser!!

christina said...

I haven't quite found a rhythm yet with papers. So more is saved than I probably need/want. I do try to save the big deal things first shapes people etc. My oldest is in K and so I am saving some of what gets brought home I'll go through it in May and toss more then. I had an artwork wire before we moved I need to set one up again!

Denise C. said...

I save some really neat pieces of artwork from my kids (3 & 17 mo.) Some gets sent to Grandparents (they have 3 sets) and the rest, well it goes out with the paper in the recycling bin.

Clara said...

I'm a saver, but only the best of the best. And with 3 kids under 5 yrs. that is getting overwhelming.

I also take pictures of all of it and then make a digital scrapbook page that I print off and put in a binder. That way the big stuff and messy stuff can get thrown away without guilt, hahaha. The small memorable stuff will go in their binder. And they will have a great memory of how they have grown with their art work and such.

My kitchen walls are filled with their artwork, maybe tacky to some, but they like looking at their work and so do I. And as the seasons change we get rid of the old and put up the new. It works for us now.

But it is nice to hear everyone's thoughts!

ArtsyTeree said...

Hi Mary Beth, i really love this art display and Dieter is so talented. Lovely.

Inoureyes said...

I have 5 kids so it is rather impossible to keep everything they create. Its great to send a roll of art to a family member though. Then they have the guilt of having to throw it out after they have admired it.

Joy said...

I love seeing children's artwork displayed. I'm a tosser and a keeper. We have a file storage box in the garage that I save the more special papers (both artwork and school work) inside. It's only about 10% of the way filled up and my goal is to only have that one box for all 4 kids.

feather said...

i save only long enough to scan it into the computer or take a digital picture. i do this with block structures and such of my son's, because he doesn't do as much art as the girls. at the end of each year, i upload the jpegs to kodakgallery and have them printed in a photo book. the kids love these books and they aren't too spendy. i think they start at six bucks.
then we toss them.

Mary Beth said...

Hi everyone. Thanks for your nice response for the art wire and for sharing your thoughts on saving vs. tossing. I'm impressed by those of you who are able to "edit" the collection to one slim binder.

Details on the art wire: I use the term "wire" loosely! This is just two nails in the wall and a piece of yarn--it's more stretchy than I would have liked, but actually it's holding up just fine after a week or two. And as I said, I was overthinking it, so I finally just had to go for what was at hand. And it has worked out well.

Happy weekend to all!

tawnya said...

We take pictures of them and then toss!

Sara said...

I need to get a wire up, both at home and at work. We have a portfolio of some stuff I've saved, but I've had to get much choosier about what I keep - they are prolific!

taisa said...

So far I have saved every little scrap, but I'm guessing i wont be able to do that forever, neither of my kids have gotten to the prolific art-making stage, so I am excited about every little bit they make! I like the art book idea.

Lisa Renata said...

I'm a sentimental trying to be more of a tosser. So to solve that problem...I am making a book out of their favorite art work and taking some pics of those that might not make the cut-and toss. I also have some of their work framed! And have been using a wire art display rope, even before kids...to display my treasures.