It's afternoon of Day 2! Whew! By now everyone has figured out how to navigate the Convention Center and pack as much into each day as humanly possible. Robert Root-Bernstein demonstrated the remarkable correlation between skills and ability in the arts and innovation in science. A tapestry of simultaneous sessions. The energy is palpable. We were "invaded" by artist Nick Cave's soundsuits. Don't miss this amazing exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum. Old friends have reunited and caught up in real time. New friends have been made and friended on FB. More sessions like the one I'm in right now on Pecha Kucha or the other one I stopped by on iPad art aps. Don't miss the Artisans Gallery at the Sheraton Ballroom for some great take home souvenirs from colleagues!
After a few cups of good Seattle coffee the convention center began filling with ART TEACHERS! The rain held off so the open-glass areas of the multi-level convention center were a colorful, moving installation of teachers going up, going down, finding their own pathways through a full convention. The first General Session was a big WOW. Mark Dion reminded us vividly of why we are so passionate about our field. He embodied CREATIVITY, IMAGINATION and INNOVATION with wonderful stories, images and his own unique sense of humor. Gotta love a guy for whom shopping is a major inspiration. He made us think. He made us laugh. He challenged us to carry on and be the best we can be as the artists and innovators of our classrooms. And the sessions and the learning and the inspiration continue. Wish you were ALL here!
Are they sleepless in Seattle or just pouring over their session guide to choose today's convention itinerary? There was lots of fun on the monorail ride to the Experience Music Project venue for Crayola's Opening Night festivities. Early arrivers had a chance to help start a memorial totem pole project for master carver John T. Williams.
There was some "wearin o the green." And Crayola invited NAEA revelers to create their own verions of the famous Seattle latte in one of several art activities stations at the Experience Music Project during the Opening Event.
Speaking of lattes. . . time to grab one before first General Session with Mark Dion, Media Salon and Exhibitions Opening!
Art in the cases at the arrival terminal at Seattle-Tacoma Boeing Field Airport. I sat next to a first time NAEA Convention attendee on the plane from Denver to Seattle. Nice to meet Nancy who told me a good idea about how art teachers can "recruit" elementary students for middle school art programs by taking a page out of the music educators who take student ensembles into elementary schools. Good point! Then I shared a light rail ride with NAEA vet Sherry, also from Austin who is "retired" but still teaches at San Marcos University and a small Christian elementary school. She told me how much she values NAEA Conventions as the best professional development available.
Loved the art cutouts at the Washington State AE Welcoming Table. But best of all is seeing colleagues from around the country. Nice to see Linda Kieling from Oregon and Denise Tullier-Holly from Louisiana. Welcome to Seattle!
So let me know what you learned today!
BJ from Seattle! (And yes, the sun really came out!)
Our colleague Kathi Levin has a good post today on Americans for the Arts Artsblog about our Convention themes of CREATIVITY, IMAGINATION and INNOVATION.
See you tomorrow in Seattle!
BJ
With digital technology businesses are able to move beyond their R & D departments to gather ideas from consumers. Nokia has created a Web site to collect innovative ideas. Ideas Project
I like their "Join. Create. Together." That's what we do at NAEA!
Safe travels to Seattle and stay tuned!
BJ
There's a lot out there in print and the blogosphere about CREATVITY, IMAGINATION, and INNOVATION, our Seattle convention themes. More and more these concepts are "sticking" to science and technology sometimes to the exclusion of the arts! Let's use our time together either in Seattle or virtually to rededicate ourselves to that in our teaching and practice which "sticks" these concepts back to being engaged in making art. Here are some inspirational soundbites to get you in the mood: What is Innovation
Hi from B.J. Adler, your guest blogger for the Seattle NAEA National Convention! I am busy studying the Convention schedule and getting ready to share insights, highlights and the creative energy generated when we gather to create both a real and virtual learning community. I am mindful of cataclysmic world events occurring in Libya and Japan, which remind us how critical our work is in developing a new generation of innovative and creative thinkers. I'll be "seein' ya" either in Seattle or online!
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