The Third Grade Collaboration  

Each year, Spiva’s classrooms and galleries welcome over 1,800 area Third Graders to a hands-on learning experience revolving around our featured main exhibit.

For over 16 years, The Third Grade Collaboration has been a staple in Spiva’s winter programming. Yearly, Spiva’s classrooms and galleries have welcomed over 1,800 area third graders for a day of art education revolving around our featured main exhibit. This year, students from seven different school districts and over 30 different schools are learning about the Main Gallery exhibit, Pulped Under Pressure: The Art of Handmade Paper.

In addition to gallery activities and a take-home project made in the classroom, they are creating a continuous public installation in response to Pulped Under Pressure. While learning about the art of printmaking in the classroom, each student is making their own print using found objects such as forks, cotton swabs, cardboard, and more, on colorful paper that is then hung in the Jo Mueller Reserve Gallery. As each third grader’s print gets hung, the installation continues to grow and bloom with color. In this way, each student’s contribution is collected into a collaborative installation on view for the public to enjoy.

Closing Reception: Saturday, March 2 | Come & Go 10am – 5pm (no RSVP necessary)