I am sorry I could not blog these entries until today, but I have just now gotten access to the internet.

The heat is really on, with 105 degree in Phoenix. I have never been to Phoenix and my trip was exhausting, but I was excited about everything, such as the grey desert without trees, the blue sky without clouds and the dry road without passerby. I checked in and registered for the SNAG conference after 3:30pm, which was the time for the portfolio review at 4pm. Portfolio review is designed for emerging artists and graduating students, who usually are reviewed by gallery representatives, curators and other professionals in the metals field by offering professional advice and guidance. I have had my portfolio reviewed two times and gained insight from listening to comments from different professionals. My portfolio reviewer during this year’s SNAG conference was Ivan Barnett, who is co-owner and gallery director of Patina Gallery in Santa Fe, NM. Ivan was super nice and carefully reviewed my portfolio, gave me a lot of suggestions on how to evolve into gallery business. I really appreciated all those encouragements.

Working as a volunteer at the raffle ticket table was my next schedule. It was my pleasure to help raffle ticket sales for raising student scholarship budgets. I was so glad to meet Lynn Cool and Bryan Peterson finally, who are on board member and coordinator for the SNAG 2012 Silent Auction & Raffle. Since it was at the beginning of the conference, we were collecting auction pieces from donators and putting them in files. We were so happy about every donated piece. Each is so unique with full of kindness. When I finished the volunteer work, I realized it was past 8:30pm, which was too late for the pool party pin swap.

I have to apologize I could not make any pins for this pin swap, but I really would have liked to go. When I came to there, I did not have any ideas about the pin swap place. It sounds an outside bar party rather than a warmer pin swap party. I stayed there for a while and left. The swimming pool really attracted me a lot. I planed I would go swimming in the next day.