It's been about 3 weeks post the NAEA conference in Seattle at the WA State Convention Center, and I've just now had the time to sit and write about my experience as a first time attendee.
As a newbie, it was exciting, mind-boggling, and overwhelming to see all of the sights, plan for the trip, witness the massive amount of classes, the presentations, and the hundreds of vendors to choose from and go see. I knew from what I'd read about the National Art Educators Association conference, that it was big, but to actually be there and see it in person is completely different. It was ginormous, gigantic, massive, and holy heck titanic! To be honest, about a week prior, I was getting nervous about going to the big event, and being by myself for the most part.
Luckily, I'd already made a few online connections with fellow art teachers from across the country, who were planning on attending. Thanks to a friendly, experienced, talented, and wise-lady by the name of Phyllis who started a meet-and-greet chat group, I was able to plan some meals, and meetings with some amazing art teachers. It really helped me feel welcomed to the event, just by the new friendships I'd made that weekend. Just talking to the various ladies over a meal, helped me feel much more comfortable with all of the surroundings and big event.
As a newbie, it was exciting, mind-boggling, and overwhelming to see all of the sights, plan for the trip, witness the massive amount of classes, the presentations, and the hundreds of vendors to choose from and go see. I knew from what I'd read about the National Art Educators Association conference, that it was big, but to actually be there and see it in person is completely different. It was ginormous, gigantic, massive, and holy heck titanic! To be honest, about a week prior, I was getting nervous about going to the big event, and being by myself for the most part.
Luckily, I'd already made a few online connections with fellow art teachers from across the country, who were planning on attending. Thanks to a friendly, experienced, talented, and wise-lady by the name of Phyllis who started a meet-and-greet chat group, I was able to plan some meals, and meetings with some amazing art teachers. It really helped me feel welcomed to the event, just by the new friendships I'd made that weekend. Just talking to the various ladies over a meal, helped me feel much more comfortable with all of the surroundings and big event.
One of the events that I'd planned on going to was the opening night dance party, and they had a fabulous theme that I was thrilled to participate in - Steampunk! So, I'd planned my costume with many things I already had in my collection. If you know me, you know that I love to dress-up in costume, make outfits, accessories, headdress', hats, jewelry, and sew various apparel to add to my wardrobe. The only thing that was a bit awkward about my outfit was that I had to think about... how was I going to get into my corset all by myself?
So, I gulped my hesitation away, and asked the chat group if anyone who was going to the dance, could help me into my corset at the hotel. Three different people said yes and offered to make arrangements to meet to get dressed together. It was more than I could have expected by all of the warm welcomes and offers of assistance. I had help from both Jenn and Melissa to get ready for the dance party, and we all had fun walking down to the event in our own small posse in Steampunk style! We found that not very many had realized that there was a theme, so there were only about 25ish people dressed-up for the night in the theme. This became fun in a different way, we got to chat about our costumes to many who asked, and one of the NAEA photographers took our photos - they were posted and shared on the NAEA 2018 for everyone to see!
I thought that the opening-night dance party was pretty huge, and exciting to see so many art geeks such as myself, dancing, socializing, and even some Artist booths to check out some Art Teachers Art work that was for sale! There was a moment, while dancing, that I thought this was the pinnacle of being an art geek. It was so full of art geeks that the energy was rising to the highest point on Mount Everest. I loved it!
So, I gulped my hesitation away, and asked the chat group if anyone who was going to the dance, could help me into my corset at the hotel. Three different people said yes and offered to make arrangements to meet to get dressed together. It was more than I could have expected by all of the warm welcomes and offers of assistance. I had help from both Jenn and Melissa to get ready for the dance party, and we all had fun walking down to the event in our own small posse in Steampunk style! We found that not very many had realized that there was a theme, so there were only about 25ish people dressed-up for the night in the theme. This became fun in a different way, we got to chat about our costumes to many who asked, and one of the NAEA photographers took our photos - they were posted and shared on the NAEA 2018 for everyone to see!
I thought that the opening-night dance party was pretty huge, and exciting to see so many art geeks such as myself, dancing, socializing, and even some Artist booths to check out some Art Teachers Art work that was for sale! There was a moment, while dancing, that I thought this was the pinnacle of being an art geek. It was so full of art geeks that the energy was rising to the highest point on Mount Everest. I loved it!
All of the workshops, presentations, free-walk-in-sessions, and hands-on art projects was awesome! The amount of shared knowledge, skills, advice, creativity, and inspiration was phenomenally uplifting in so many ways. As an art teacher, or an artist, there are times when you feel alone in your work. Believe me, I'd started to feel this way during this school year, while I was getting busier with art classes. To be a part of a collective of creators was such a fantastic experience!
When I first entered the gigantic vendors hall, I felt like I was transported into a world of artists and teachers, who all loved to do art as much, if not more so, than me. I had heard about how much there can be, so I prepared and brought along a small rolling bag to carry my essentials such as water, book, pamphlet, pencils, purse, coat, and plenty of room for all the free swag! This one tip that I got from another art teacher was the best! The first vendor I saw was one of mt favorites - Faber-Castell products. I made a B-line straight to their booth, tried all sorts of materials, and got a swag bag. I was in artist heaven. Every booth that I walked to, had some kind of free workshop/demo, and swag. Of course, they had items for sale, and on the 1st day, I chose to just browse and try things, while I decided what I wanted most to bring home. Not only did I learn about so many new products/materials, but I got to meet new people in the business, share fun experiences in the demos, and make art to take home! Oh, and I went there every day to see more. As it turned-out, I saw plenty of new things everyday, and got more and more swag. It was so awesome!
When I first entered the gigantic vendors hall, I felt like I was transported into a world of artists and teachers, who all loved to do art as much, if not more so, than me. I had heard about how much there can be, so I prepared and brought along a small rolling bag to carry my essentials such as water, book, pamphlet, pencils, purse, coat, and plenty of room for all the free swag! This one tip that I got from another art teacher was the best! The first vendor I saw was one of mt favorites - Faber-Castell products. I made a B-line straight to their booth, tried all sorts of materials, and got a swag bag. I was in artist heaven. Every booth that I walked to, had some kind of free workshop/demo, and swag. Of course, they had items for sale, and on the 1st day, I chose to just browse and try things, while I decided what I wanted most to bring home. Not only did I learn about so many new products/materials, but I got to meet new people in the business, share fun experiences in the demos, and make art to take home! Oh, and I went there every day to see more. As it turned-out, I saw plenty of new things everyday, and got more and more swag. It was so awesome!
I'd planned ahead to take 3 different registered hands-on-workshops, and each one of them was great on many levels. The first one I took on Thursday was called Da Vinci's Heart-Pounding Studies: Layering Authentic Scientific Illustration with the Emotional and Expressive Heart. This one called to me in so many ways of my love for mixed-media, the artist, mediums, and the scientific illustration aspects such as how to make your own quill, and pigments mixed with egg tempera. It's a unit that I know I will do with a future art class of kids in levels of 4th-9th grades.
The second ticketed workshop I'd registered for, was on Friday, and it was Gyotaku Eye Painting from the STEAMy Ecology Series: Gyotako Fish Printing, Culture, & Ocean Literacy. What an awesome one this was! I learned about how you can use various inks to do fish printing with or without real fish (and to use fish plates from Dick Blick), ways in which you can use science and oceanography, skills on painting layers/backgrounds, use of various papers, and for all sorts of grade levels. I know that in time, gathering all the supplies and preparation, I could do this lesson with kids for the next school year. I think this is a perfect subject to do here in the Pacific Northwest, since we have so many fresh water, and salt water marine life.
During the second and third days, I took the opportunity to walk-into several of the free presentations that were offered. So many different art educators were there to share and speak about their own personal experiences and practices. At a few of the following I learned about: Jewelry Making for secondary school levels, Journal and Sketchbook ideas, Meet-and-Greet-Art Teachers in Speed-dating-style, Art Installations of a different flavor, and an elementary schools experience on how to make Paper Mache Art Mural with an artist in residency. I could have gone to a lot more, but I really wanted to take my time and soak up everything that I could, without making myself overly stressed with too many things to do all at once. Within each hour of each day, there were literally 30-50 different things to go see in an art class, workshop, presentation.
On the third day, I took my registered workshop called, Oh What a Relief - Fabulous Tooling Foil, taught by Phyllis L. Brown, (yes, the same Phyllis I met via the chat group). I was excited about this class from the first time I read about it, 6 months prior. I've been wanting to learn how to do Tooling Foil for quite a long time and I've got a bunch of supplies for it, that's just waiting for me to use with some kids art. This was also the best class I'd taken all weekend for many reasons & not only because I liked Phyllis, but yes that did have an influence in my opinion. She was up-front and honest about the class, informative on the lesson to be used for future art classes, great with planning, various techniques/skills, all the supplies, the hand-outs, several demos, and enough time she allotted for the class to utilize for making our own art. Hands-down, this was the best in every way! Not only do I have the info to use for a future class, but I even have a few supplies to use for my preparation.
On the social side, I met up with fellow art teachers from various states such as Melissa, Jenn, Phyllis, Emily, and Clara. Thursday was great to meet and hang out with Melissa and Jenn over dinner and the dance. On Friday, I walked to Pikes Place with Phyllis and Emily to show them the sights and shop for a couple hours, & then we made time for some great seafood for lunch! That Saturday we went to the Chihuly Glass Garden and to the MoPoP by the Seattle Space Needle. Even though, I've seen all of these things many times, it's a treat to share them with guests for their first time. There really is so much to offer for tours and visits in Seattle. While I used to live there about 12 years ago, some things have changed. Since I live 1.5 hours north of Seattle, now I can enjoy being a tourist or a guest of the city, and really soak it up.
I'm so glad that I was able to have all of these fabulous experiences with new friends, and come back home to see the grand scheme of things in my wonderful word of art. I am blessed in so many ways, to be able to cherish these moments and thrive with new found creativity!
Looking back and on my own reflection, I know that I would totally do this again. Maybe even push myself to go teach a workshop, or give a free presentation to share some of my experiences in art. I'm also looking forward to meeting even more art teachers and artists, being a tourist at another city, and feeling that growth mind-set. One where anything is possible, and the weeds of our minds that get tangled in the worlds affairs, and stresses that build in our daily lives, can be opened up to learn, and see new things with others who have similar passions. NAEA opened my eyes. Thank you for this. I'm completely grateful to the event, my partner Jeffrey for helping me go, my friend Starry for having me as a guest in her home, the new art teacher friends, and all the people who make this event happen.
Looking back and on my own reflection, I know that I would totally do this again. Maybe even push myself to go teach a workshop, or give a free presentation to share some of my experiences in art. I'm also looking forward to meeting even more art teachers and artists, being a tourist at another city, and feeling that growth mind-set. One where anything is possible, and the weeds of our minds that get tangled in the worlds affairs, and stresses that build in our daily lives, can be opened up to learn, and see new things with others who have similar passions. NAEA opened my eyes. Thank you for this. I'm completely grateful to the event, my partner Jeffrey for helping me go, my friend Starry for having me as a guest in her home, the new art teacher friends, and all the people who make this event happen.
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