When it came to the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) Big Art Day, Wylie art students didn’t think small. Nine campuses across the district participated in the statewide celebration of creativity in a big way.

TAEA’s Big Art Day is an art event that raises awareness of art education and art as a creative force in communities across the state. It is an attempt by the TAEA to engage all art educators, their students, and communities in a single-day art event.

See below for the creative ways our campuses celebrated Big Art Day:

Burnett | Artist Trading Card Exchange

Students from all art classes at Burnett Junior High gathered in the cafeteria to exchange artist trading cards they created.

“Big Art Day is a statewide art happening designed to raise awareness of art education and highlight art as a powerful creative force in our communities on a big scale,” Mary Walling, Burnett Art teacher, said. “We’re excited to have all our Burnett art students participating in this special event.”

Cooper | Origami Mural

The Patriots at Cooper Junior High created an Origami mural inspired by French multimedia artist Mademoiselle Maurice, known for her large-scale origami murals that brighten cities.

Cooper Junior High Art teacher Iliana Garnica invited the entire school to participate by sending out a PowerPoint full of different origami instructions.

“They did not disappoint!” Garnica said. “We received dozens of origami pieces, many of which were completely unique designs! Students and teachers really enjoyed coming up to the mural in the hallway and finding all the different forms hidden within the colors. Seeing all of the students coming together to support this project, along with our wonderful staff, has demonstrated the fantastic community we have here at Cooper. It truly feels like home!"

Davis | Collective Canvas

Students at Davis Intermediate collaboratively created a colorful mural by assembling tissue paper on a chicken-wire frame. Davis’s Art Club, sponsored by Davis Art teacher Joy James, facilitated its Big Art Day event during lunches.

“I think the event went well!” James said. “We originally planned for each student to add one piece of tissue paper to the canvas, but many used multiple pieces to create colorful bouquets, which turned out even cooler. The excitement was so high that we ran out of tissue paper and finished the canvas in two lunches instead of three.”

Draper | Chalk the Walk

Using chalk, over 200 Draper Intermediate students created masterpieces along the school bus loop at Draper and Cooper Junior High. At dismissal, students were encouraged to walk down the “chalk walk” to view the artworks created by their peers.

“Big Art Day was a great event,” Draper Art teacher Shannon Morris said. “The students loved being able to draw on a larger scale and had fun looking at all the different things they created.”

Harrison | Solar Science Art

Harrison Intermediate students brought art and science together for Big Art Day by creating sun prints, blending digital design with a historic printing technique.

Sixth-grade art students began by designing personalized images on Canva, adding their names, words, and symbols that represented them. Their designs were printed onto transparent sheets, which were then placed on special light-sensitive cyanotype paper. Outside in the sunlight, students exposed their paper to UV rays, allowing the covered areas to stay light while the exposed areas turned deep blue, creating a striking sun print.

“I wanted a project where we could be outside and something that was cross-curricular,” Harrison Art teacher Michelle Beck said. “The cyanotype prints combine both science and art.”

Kreymer | Kangaroos with a Canvas

The Kangaroos put on a school-wide art show, Kangaroos with a Canvas!, inviting parents and the community to the school to view the pieces. Teachers filled each grade’s hallway with their students’ artwork. The event reflected a wide variety of techniques, materials, and artistic styles that students explored throughout the year.

“It was a wonderful celebration of creativity, collaboration, and artistic achievement,” Kreymer Art teacher Marwa Abdulmahdi said. “The exhibition was a tremendous success! We featured more than 640 artworks, showcasing the creativity and hard work of our talented students.”

Whitt Elementary | Veterans Day Art

Artwork by third graders was displayed in the school's front lobby during the Veterans Day Music Program. The community was invited to view the art pieces and attend the music program.

Wylie High | Coloring Book Wall

For Big Art Day, Wylie High art teachers, along with members of the National Art Honor Society, created and set up large coloring book pages for all students to express their creativity during lunch.

“Students who wandered into the art hallway from the cafeteria were invited to color on the pages,” Wylie High Art teacher Susan West said. “Everyone seemed to have a good time. It was an impactful event because it engaged students who are not currently in our art program.”

Wylie East | Chalk the Walk

Wylie East art students spent the day creating public art for students and faculty to enjoy at their third annual “Chalk the Walk” event. Over 100 students participated in decorating the courtyard outside the art rooms.

“This is our third year of creating chalk art for Texas Big Art Day, and it has become an event that our Raider Art kids look forward to all year,” Wylie East Art teacher Jennifer Thompson said. “They love having a day to go outside and celebrate spring while making collaborative artwork that can be enjoyed by everybody who walks by.”