Refrigerator Art Changed My Life

Posted byLisa ChesserPosted inEducation, Education Simplified, Inspiration, writingTags:, , , , , , , ,

by Lisa Chesser

One-eyed aliens, giant butterflies, flying dragons, mermaids, superheroes, self-portraits and other masterpieces mask our aged refrigerator. Without that in my life, even my morning coffee wouldn’t make me happy.

All parents believe their child is the next Picasso or Frida Kahlo, but we also recognize the need to connect with our child. Their art connects to a part of the soul where words can’t. At least, that’s what I find when I reach for the refrigerator door.

Family

The first time my daughter handed me a drawing a surge of pride and euphoria swept through me. I rushed to the refrigerator as if it were a wall in an art gallery, quickly selected a worthy magnet, and surveyed its magnificence on the refrigerator door. She has come to see the refrigerator as a showcase for her talent and superior abilities, a confirmation that she is the best.

Now, she snatches a piece of typing paper from the printer, grabs a pen or crayon and waits to see where I will display her next masterpiece.

There are moments when I silently grumble that we never have paper in the printer when we need to print, but all I have to do is reach for the refrigerator door and those words never materialize.

Mom’s Day

Over the years, this refrigerator art gallery has boasted various works of art that expressed her momentary whims and our family’s unique attributes, always with a positive spin. At one point it displayed a portrait of myself accentuating my ultra-curly hair in an afro-like halo with rays of light spraying from my head. When I asked why she added the light, my daughter explained that I looked like the sun in the morning.

My whole perspective changed. I went from being a giant, frizzy-headed mess to the sun. The day I couldn’t find that drawing was the day I realized how much I couldn’t live without my children’s art. I began to value it and make sure that, when it came time to replace old art with new art, the old art had a place to stay. I created a scrapbook where I could slip the ones that meant the most to me.

The depth of meaning has grown over the years. Early one morning, still holding a grudge over an unresolved problem, I made my coffee then reached for milk from the refrigerator. I looked up and stopped. Strange creatures jumped from the door with their disproportionate necks and misshapen lips, kissing each other, flying and floating. Despite all the masterpieces I’ve seen in museums and galleries, I finally fully grasped the value of art. Art exists to remind us of the beauty we forget about while attempting to maneuver through the difficulties in life. Even if the art stands as a testament of our bad behaviors, it still magnifies the beauty we’ve disregarded.

Colorful

Once my son arrived, the art collection filled our house. The refrigerator art migrated to our walls and doors. One evening after a shower, I found his refrigerator art carefully taped to the hallway walls and bedroom doors. He proclaimed that the house was too boring and it needed some color. He placed each one at his eye-level—so I learned to look down for inspiration.

Butterfly Go

Eventually, I myself moved some of the artwork to my little nook in the corner of the dining room where I work. A brightly dressed ninja reminds me of the power to fight but to be careful about wardrobe choices. Two flowing girls, outlined in blue and red, tell me to overcome differences. A butterfly splashed with color spreads its wings across my magnetic bulletin board. I hear its voice say, “Open your wings Mama. You’re still a child inside.” And a turtle calls out, “Slow down!” So, I do. Each piece expresses a new discovery, a silent insight, and an imperceptible moment that I would’ve rushed past had it not been my own child who handed it to me.

Living without that, wouldn’t be living at all.

Published by Lisa Chesser

I'm a writer, editor, award-winning educator, and marketing professional who hopes to rally everyone around one single mantra: Be brave, smart, and bold. As an educator, I love to remind students to dream in the midst of politics gone mad! Thus, I am also a dreamer.

124 thoughts on “Refrigerator Art Changed My Life”

  2. As a Mom to 5, I have boxes & boxes of “refrigerator art” My goal is to frame at least 2 per child (they are young adults now so they won’t mind) and hang in my home..those little artsy pieces are remnants of their childhoods.. I loved this post!!
    Congrats on the FP!!

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    2. I loved yours too, and I just read your reaction–hilarious. I love your blog and I’m following that and your other projects. After having five children, I think you’ve earned the experience of a doctorate in everything. I’m framing some of theirs already. Thank you for loving the post.

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  4. 😀 Thanks for sharing. I have an appreciation for refrigerator art too. You have to see my fridge! Covered in masterpieces from mindless doodling on cocktail napkins, and drawings from my nieces and nephews. Priceless.

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  7. That is really beautiful! Thank you for sharing those with the world. It makes me excited about the idea of having children though that’s miles of years away… it makes me happy about whats coming into this world right now, its smart and creative and that’s all we as a society can hope for!
    Charlie

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  11. Very heart-warming post. I’m not a parent but I am an artist and have been since the 2nd grade, so I know the importance of having my work boldly displayed on the refrigerator.

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  13. This is absolutely lovely. Thank you so much for sharing. It brought tears to my eyes. I do not have children; however, I am a self-taught artist and I appreciate beauty…in all forms. Thank you for sharing this heartfelt post. Blessings to you and yours:)

    Warmly,

    k i m b y

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  14. May I have your permission to reblog this on my blog? I think it is wonderful and I love your quote: “Art exists to remind us of the beauty we forget about while attempting to maneuver through the difficulties in life”. How very true this statement is. Thank you and I will wait for your reply. You can check out my art on my blog or my website: http://www.FairesFineArt.com.

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  16. Wonderful entry and congrats on being Freshly Pressed! My entry got selected today also and I’ve been on cloud nine! It’s amazing how much it means to get some “validation” that others like what you write. The house we moved to several years ago has a stainless fridge and I miss being able to hang things on it. Magnets work on the side, but it’s just not the same! I saw some gadget one day that would stick to stainless but I can’t remember how it worked or where I saw it. After reading your post, I may just need to try to find it!!

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    1. I’ve actually been told that my refrigerator has too much on it. The person was right. So, I rearranged the magnets, threw some art away then started a scrapbook. I did think that what happened to you would happen to me if we bought a new fridge. That’s actually why I said it was too much money. I wanted to keep my art.

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  18. What an absolutely beautiful way to tell the story about Fridge art!!!! I love putting things on my Fridge although I realize that in the last three years, as the kids grow older (all teens now – I realize that I have less and less fridge art! Loved your article. Congrats on being freshly pressed!

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  22. This is such a lovely post- and your kids artworks are great; don’t be surprised if you wind up with both a Picasso AND a Kahlo under your roof!! 😉

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  23. I have but one original piece of refrigerator art that I did. It’s one of Spider-Man battling Pikachu. I’d say it was the best bit of art I’ve ever done on animation-sized paper.

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  26. Pingback: Refrigerator Art Changed My Life « Safi-A-Moon

  27. Your children sound very creative and thoughtful. From reading I would imagine that your entire house is covered in art by now! “you looked like the sun in the morning”…so sweet!!

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  28. To this day, whenever I visit my Grandmother, she asks me if I can draw a picture for her refrigerator (I’m 25). Thank you for this post. Not having children of my own (or any friends that do) I have never understood it. But you wrote a beautiful piece that moved me unexpectedly! Thank you!

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  33. Your fridge reminds me of my own, and doors and walls too! I have several Rubbermaid containers spilling over with precious artwork and writings my children have brought to me, and I treasure every one. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed, it is well deserved!

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  34. All the blockbuster exhibitions now have a kids room where children can play and draw. Their works are always more interesting and fun. I still have my daughters early drawings almost 30 years later. Now she teaches art. Cheers

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  35. I used to be an art teacher and the art that my students would create was so inspiring. It’s amazing what kids can do in their art-so free and creative. Thank you for reminding me of this and for your post! I loved it!

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  37. “so i learned to look down for inspiration” that’s the best thing i’ve learned this week! and i really enjoyed reading this post 🙂

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  38. I was having a hard day recently so decided to put my daughter’s rainbow drawing on the fridge and then added a rainbow picture by her brother and they just made feel so much happier. Thought everybody;s fridge should have kids art. If you check out my blog, I recently wrote a post about all my fridge magnets and where they come from. You can click through from here. http://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/a-blank-canvas/
    I enjoyed your post!

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  43. Pingback: Refrigerator Art Changed My Life « reflections of a writer

  45. Wouldn’t it be neat if an art gallery set up a wall to resemble a larger version of your refrigerator door? And onto the door, they placed all your children’s art work over the years. Now that kind of exhibit I’d go to see! There is nothing like a well decorated door that nourishes the soul – and just beyond the door is the food that nourishes the body. Bravo!

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  48. I noticed that you replied to some with, “That is what I was hoping for” in regards to replies. In my opinion because your refrigerator is covered in love, the contents are filled with love. Talking about your fridge only would stir up more love from the readers 🙂 I am happy you poster this topic!

    I feel the art work children make are gifts. They don’t have the money to buy things for us but usually have drawing materials to make something. The focus (while they are creating) is that of gift giving, filling that page with love. Our reactions of pure joy upon receiving the art work only fuels that love, encouraging a greater more thought out masterpiece for the next. Beautiful.

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  49. this is beautiful!! I remember when my mother had my stuff on the fridge.she kept it up until i mvoed out to go to college. and when i had friends over they would see it and laugh at me lol. but i respected her for keeping it. great post 🙂

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