Looking Forward

[Liz Steiner]

I've been looking forward to this conference for quite some time now, but at the moment the thing I'm looking forward to the most is being able to blog from my nice posh hotel room, with actual WiFi, instead of the floor of the office at Peter's Valley and their psuedo-WiFi. Don't get me wrong, I love it here. But five days without having to worry about ticks sounds like heaven about now.

What I'm looking forward to most in terms of programming, are:

- The pin swap. Always a good time. I always wind up with some fantastic pins (and a few duds). I only have about 60 or so, so catch me early. Plus, the earlier I'm done swapping the sooner I can hit the pool.

- The Emerging Artists talks, particularly Loring Taoka and Allyson Bone. I've been a fan of Allyson's work since I saw it at the Student Exhibition at the Savannah Conference (2008), and I've been a fan of Loring since I met him on the dance floor in Houston.

- Seeing Hot Under the Collar come together. This is a great source of pride and anxiety for me right now, and I'm just praying that it all goes smooth. I have an incredible group of artists in this exhibition, and I'm hoping that it gets a good response. And that nothing goes terribly, terribly wrong. Like, gas explosions, no work showed up, you'll-never-curate-in-this-town-again kind of wrong.

Swap Pins

- Bettina Speckner's lecture on her work, for obvious reasons. Her work is stunning. End of story.

- The SNAG Lifetime Achievement award. Always love seeing this presented. It's a great little history lesson and a sobering reminder of what it takes to succeed in this field.

- The Student Exhibition and the CU:29 show. I'm nosy in that I want to know what the students are up too, in all the programs across the country. I submitted to CU:29, and wasn't selected, so I'm curious to see the pieces that made it in. I'm betting it's going to be a great show.

Trunk Show Work

- Getting rid of this box of work so I won't have as much stuff to haul around.

And last but not least, the panel discussion on how to start independent cooperatives, private/non-profit instructional studios, and schools. This, this is what I need to see. I've got a big, devote my entire life to, will take years to achieve goal in mind, and this just might tell me how to take the first steps.

So much to look forward to! What are you most excited about?

[Brigitte Martin]

The best part of the conference is getting together again with people I have connected with for years and who share my interests, that is the biggest draw for me hands down. I can't wait to finally sit down with them for a drink and a chat, the many unplanned, chance meetings are wonderful too. Next up is the pin swap, the Trunk Show and, of course :-) the PDS on Saturday morning (9am SHARP) and the Humor in Metal show that will share the space with Liz' 'Hot under the Collar' show!! I look forward to Loring's presentation and, being the metal nerd that I am, I have marked Steve Midgett's presentation in red on my calendar.

I'll be coming in a day early, and so is Jillian Moore, my roomie. I look much !!! forward to spending some quiet quality time with her before the conference washes over us like a huge ocean wave. We had a great coffee outing in Seattle, I want a repeat. Jillian will also help me put up the Humor show Wednesday morning 9 am. It's going to be all-hands-on-deck at the museum. Liz, I think the 3 of us could probably just share a taxi to get over there, right? Unless, we find someone to get us there and back...

Ok, anyone coming in on Tuesday as well?

[Liz Steiner]

I'm flying in Tuesday afternoon. Danielle Embry, my FANTASTIC point person on the Exhibitions Committee has kindly agreed to give me a lift to SCPA. Maybe we can talk her in to taking all three of us in exchange for gas money/dinner/drinks/etc.

[Brigitte Martin]

Great plan! I will message you my cellphone number in a second so that we can coordinate this :-)