How to Conquer the Clutter of Kid's Art:
Even If You Can't Bear To Throw Anything Out!
By Sally Jacobs, The Practical Archivist
Contrary to popular belief, archivists do not keep everything. In
fact, one of my archival professors was (and still is) fond of this
impossible-to-forget saying: "When in doubt, throw it out!"
When I tell people this I usually get a surprised look. An
archivist? Throwing things out?
But here is the undeniable reality: If historical societies kept
every single item that landed on their doorstep....every cancelled check...
every unidentified photograph... every duplicate mapÉ Well, there simply
wouldn't be any room left for new collections. And that wonŐt work in the long
run, will it? No way.
The same holds true for your family archive, but it's a little different. When collections stay with the family the sentimental value is extremely important. IŐm a mom myself, so I understand how difficult it can be to part with sentimental treasures like childrenŐs drawings, paintings, and sculptures. Original art is not the same thing as a cancelled check! But read on, because I've worked out some solutions for this common dilemma.
SORT EVERYTHING INTO TWO PILES
The first step to conquering the clutter is to start sorting.
Designate a ŇKeep ForeverÓ pile and one for ŇOtherÓ (more on what you can do
with these later). Large boxes would be great, but feel free to sort on a table
or the floor. Just be sure your treasures donŐt stay in piles too long. ItŐs
much safer for them to live in boxes with lids.
The keepers need to go into a high quality archival storage box.
These tend to be 3" deep, so if your "keep" stack is more than
3" high, you're gonna need more than one box. Or you'll need to go through
the "keep" pile again and remove a few more. It depends on what your
budget and available storage space will allow.
What to keep? I'd recommend a sample that includes all your children and
represents each of their school years. Beyond that, it's up to you. ThatŐs your
job as the family archivist. You can choose pieces that really grab you, the
ones that have the most visual appeal, or the ones that have the most
interesting stories behind them. Depending on how old your children are, they
can help with the decision making.
STILL CAN'T BEAR TO PART WITH THEM?
If you've got the room to store it all, then by all means keep it.
But if you're running out of storage space you'll need to do what archivist
call Ňde-accessioning.Ó Fortunately, we live in an age of technological
wonders, and digital copies can ease the pain of de-accessioning. Think of the
digital copies as surrogates. You still get to see the art, but you don't have
to look at the clutter anymore and you have more storage space.
Scanning is an option, but for kidŐs art you would need an
oversized scanner, which most folks simply don't have. I thought about
purchasing one for my business but large scans take a long, long, time -- which
makes the service too expensive for my clients.
A little while ago I had a real ŇEureka!Ó moment and realized that
digital cameras are the way to go. Quick, inexpensive, and within the reach of
most families these days. So snap away! Try to get even lighting and a good
straight shot. Use an easel if you have one to support the drawings. For 3-D
items like Paper Mache and clay, be sure to shoot from more than one angle.
STORING ARTWORK SO IT LASTS FOR GENERATIONS
The best kind of box for the long term storage of *any* paper
records (that includes letters, photographs, and artwork) is an acid-free,
lignin-free, archival box made without adhesives or unknown plastics. Oversize
materials are best stored flat rather than standing up. This way you avoid
permanent curling from paper that slumps down in a less-than-full box.
Good boxes are available from archival supply companies such as
Gaylord (gaylord.com), Metal Edge, Inc (www.metaledgeinc.com)
and Light Impressions (lightimpressionsdirect.com). My personal favorite and
the one I recommend most often for kidŐs art is Gaylord GH- DFB24. It's got a
drop front for easy access, a full lid to keep out the dust and light, it's big
enough and it comes in an attractive black. Cost is about $29 including
shipping. The price goes down if you order more than 5, so placing an order
with friends can save you money.
Schoolfolio (schoolfolio.com) sells polypropylene portfolios in
two sizes. Polypropylene is one of the inert (and therefore safe) plastics. The
larger holder has separate sections inside. The smaller portfolio comes in
exciting, lively colors and patterns. The company even started their own
foundation called Save the Art which donates money to "selected youth arts
groups." Everyone wins!
My only caution about plastic (even safe plastic) is that it tends
to hold onto moisture, so it's not a good idea to store one of these in a moist
basement or un- airconditioned attic. ItŐs also not the best choice if you live
in a humid climate such as Florida or Hawaii. In this situation youŐre better
off with archival boxes.
Where to store it? Attics, garages, and basements are all poor choices. The
temperature and humidity are usually uncontrolled which will cause stress and
damage over time. Plus they tend to have creepy-crawlies and other critters
that will literally eat your artwork. Closets located in the interior part of
your house are perfect. Under the bed works great, too -- but don't leave
treasures near a radiator or exterior wall.
Just because it's not worth storing in a very high quality
archival box, doesn't mean you have to throw it out!
Ideas for Sharing Paper Originals:
á
Send them
to grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.
á Use them to make envelopes.
Check out this free online template for envelopes.
(Tip of the hat to Stephanie's commment on Asha's Parent Hacks)
á
Use them to
make cards.
á
Use them as
gift wrap.
á
Laminate
ones with a seasonal theme and use them as placemats.
á
Punch holes
and store in a 3-ring binder.
á
Have your
local copy shop add covers and bind them into a book.
á
Kids Art Project
(kidsartproject.com) will transform up to 6 paintings into a single 18x24"
poster collage. Cost is around $100 for the basic unframed and unmounted photo.
á
Email them.
á
Use them as
the desktop image on your computer.
á
Create a
slideshow screensaver that cycles through a number of different masterpieces.
á
Upload them
to an online digital photo company like snapfish.com or imagestation.com - they
can create a dizzying array of products including calendars, playing cards,
mugs, puzzles, coasters, mousepads...the possibilities are practically endless!
I hope these basic archival principles and creative solutions will
help you enjoy the artwork in you familyŐs collection. Remember that even
archivists toss some things out to make room for new items. Select what you
love the most and invest in high quality storage materials. Artwork that you
store correctly for the long term will bring your family joy for years to come.
My mom saved a few ŇmasterpiecesÓ of mine, and itŐs a special treat to share
them with my daughter. Thanks, Mom!
About the author: Sally Jacobs, The Practical Archivist, has a MasterŐs degree in Library and Science with a Specialization in Archives Management. She has worked on collections at the Library of Congress, the Wisconsin Historical Society, and the University of Wisconsin, among others.
Did you enjoy this article? Read more about taking care of your family treasures (including your digital archives) on Sally's Practical Archivist blog. Her free e-zine includes longer articles like this one, emailed to your in box every other month. Learn how to organize,
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