Yuma in Review- Part 1

I'd like to step you through my conference experience. I will offer some personal opinion and other reference information so that you can find out about these artists for yourself.

On Thursday February 24^th, participants of the Yuma Symposium met at Lutes Casino just as they had for years before to register and trade hand made Yuma pins. This tradition is one of my favorites. It’s a great way to meet new people and welcome old friends. This swap includes all media and gathers all levels of art experience.

Here is this year's loot. As you can see, I gave a few of mine away without trade.

After a couple of embraces, new meetings, and group gatherings, a voice yells out that it is time to go to the Yuma Theatre. About thirty minutes later and around 15 minutes after the schedule suggests, the opening introductions begin at the theatre. This year a comprehensive video started us out. Each speaker has the opportunity to summarize the speech and possible demonstration that they will give on Friday or Saturday and attempt to convince the crowd to come to their lecture. This year, the speakers included Harold Balazs (sculpture/ mixed media), Neal Rantoul (photography), Gary Griffin (metal), Peter Foley (painting), Arno Minkkinen (McCune Photographer), Victoria May (2D, mixed media, fibers), Holly Hanessian (clay), Jenny Robinson (printmaking), Michael Dale Bernard (metal), Martina Lopez (photography), Brad Reed Nelson ( wood/furniture), Lana Wilson (ceramics), and a special presentation by George Newell (The Tannery Art Center).