Return from Yuma- Motivations for commitment

[Lauren McAdams Selden]

I've just returned from my trip to the Yuma symposium.  Being a blogger without my computer (didn't feel appropriate for camping), I reverted back to the most reliable method of collecting my thoughts using a pen and my trusted sketchbook.  As I've catalogued the wonderful events that occurred this past weekend, I've decided that the place to begin conversation is to discuss why I was motivated to travel half way across the country for this "family style" conference.  

When we arrived in Yuma and set up our tent behind the Tompkins Pottery studio, we spoke to Neely Tompkins, owner of conference headquarters and founder of the Yuma Symposium.  We spoke about why loyal participants still travel through snow, delayed flights, rental cars, or simply drive for a couple of hours to attend a conference in Yuma, Arizona.  After 32 years of hosting a conference, I imagine it is an overwhelming and warming feeling when she welcomes a new crowd at the Yuma theatre to see guests of all ages and different backgrounds from locations ranging from Washington, Michigan, North Carolina, California, EAST Texas (yeah, it's personal) and beyond.  People continue to come back for a variety of reasons.  I'd like to start this discussion by expressing mine.  

After moving to Texas to head the metals program at Stephen F. Austin State University, my life has separated into bizarrely precise categories: service, teaching, research, counseling, falling in love, and attempted leisure. I brought my best friend and life partner to Yuma to share a place that feels like home and mixes my typical categories and helps me re-center to find the true me.  Yuma never feels like a place you need to rush.  It's not pretentious. It's a place to meet new people, learn new techniques, catch inspiration from the talent surrounding you, laugh and forget about the average grind.  

 

My intentions were not recognized completely until I arrived home.  I wanted to see the ocean (optional depending on the travel hoops that need to be jumped through to get all the way to Yuma from a remote location), drive through mountains and dunes, enjoy travel and adventure, learn from demonstrations and lectures, pay homage to those artists we have lost, gather information to inspire future work, remember that art making is a gift, reconnect with old friends, gather advice from mentors, introduce my lifestyle to my mate, drive with the windows down, view great art work, and feel like an uncategorized me.  

 

All of my motivations were recognized.  Let this be the initial start to the story I can tell about Yuma.  It might not always be in perfect sequence and it won't be a precise report about all of the information received, but I will try to show you a little about who I am and how places like Yuma have helped me and can hopefully help you.  I hope that the overall message is that community is extremely important and that participation in these events will keep you coming back for more.  So I ask to those of you who have been to the Yuma symposium, what was your motivation for attendance?  

[Maureen Brusa Zappellini]

I go to re-connect with creative thinkers and artists- to spend a supportive weekend with people who have become my creative family, to meet new friends, to exchange ideas, and to not have to explain myself to anyone. Plus, a year without Casa Gutierrez carne asada is a sad sad thing.

this was my 5th time, I got home yesterday night and am already yearning for next year's gathering.

[Lauren McAdams Selden]

Thanks Maureen for the feedback.  I imagine that being a winner of the saw, file, solder sprints helped make this year even more special:)