Why does a studio become a cluttered storage space?
When and where is the shift between an open studio setting to cluttered storage space?
If you are an art educator, an art therapist, please ask yourself:
Are all the things on my open shelves sufficiently varied, yet not too much?
How are many sets of felt-tip pens essential in my studio?
How many boxes of oil crayons?
Are one new one and one used is enough?
One organized and one messy – is this enough range?
Should an entirely new package of 500 pages of paper be placed on the shelf in the studio? Or would it be better to put out 30 pieces, and the rest will wait, white and pristine, in the back storage?
When does a shelf or a collection in the studio change from an inviting offer into storage space?
Art teachers and therapists sometimes tend to heap love on clients and students through ‘quantities. You have ordered materials, and they are charming and tempting, and you wish to share your joy, thus open everything and put it out.
We are not always aware of the thin difference between variety and quantity. For example, colored pencils – some melt in water and some do not, some are soft and hard. But do we need the entire range? And how many doubles of the same type do we really need?
And from a pedagogic and therapeutic point of view – what does the surplus create?
From my observations, it seems that often surplus leads to disquiet and confusion. A child takes more than he needs. His sense of choice is disrupted, and he ‘devours,’ messes up, careless; this invites a bulimic attitude.
Unintentionally this also sometimes creates feelings of disrespect and waste of that which belongs to everyone. There is no feeling that this is an intentional gift, but rather something that you can covet and take – steal.
Sometimes we see this phenomenon with glitter, pompoms, and pipe cleaners; often, colorful industrial materials create these feelings.
A surplus is often expressed also by over-filling the container we have set out.
The first child who begins rummaging in an over-filled container will scatter the buttons or the small pieces of paper you have so carefully placed. When this happens, it is usually a sign that there is too much there. Searching within a container is not supposed to cause the materials to ‘overflow.’ Thus, put less stuff there, and it may be a good idea to divide such a container into two sections for two types of materials.
Presenting materials aims at making a better personal choice, with no confusion. A bouffe presentation creates concentration and deeper, more serious work. It is a physical language.
So, what will you do?
Observe your studio now, each shelf separately, and take pictures of it. Ask yourself – is this really about a rich and varied material presentation, or is there a surplus?
Change things around, and re-take the pictures.
My latest book is waiting for you on Amazon- more about organizing your studio as an assistant, and much more is waiting for you there.
A fascinating question…how does one address a studio that is also storage space all in one?
A good point -thank you, Steffanie!
I suggest you go through a process with the questions in the post, one by one.
Then you will notice how a pile of objects needs storage.
Please find a way to narrow the space they need into small compartments, folding, etc., and hide them behind a cupboard door or in a box, even under a table.
Art educators collect more than needed -so share with a colleague.
You are welcome to ask questions in our study group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2004295959798489
If you attach a 360* video of your space, we can assist you more from the group so that others will learn as well.
Agreed, but space is so limited in many classrooms (mine) and typically ‘dividing’ materials into 2 or more places has its own issues; When the shelf needs restocking I often can’t remember where I stashed the surplus! A master list? Lost!
Sharing surplus with colleagues is good, but we all have to hang onto materials due to the precarious nature of educational funding particularly for the Arts.
I completely agree with you and strive to provide ‘just right’ amounts for my students, it makes a huge difference. The arts must be valued as highly as sports with similar funding. Arts rooms need dedicated storage rooms attached. There needs to be a new school funding model across the country.
Thanks for sharing your experience Barb,
In my book The Good Enough Studio, I wrote a chapter on how to organize- divide materials and tools into compartments and the logic of them
You write that you forget the order -this means it is not yet “sitting” well in your mind.
You can rase this question with images and a 360* video of the whole space – on my FB study group, and we can discuss it from there. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2004295959798489