How exciting to be at an opening game!

In and outside of the conference .....

I started the day early on Sunday by attending a workshop presented by a friend from Marlboro High School. Though she focused on her photography program, the concentrations created by her AP students gave me many great ideas for inspiring next year's AP Studio Art students...lots of very interesting contemporary photographers whom I had never heard of.

Then I had to focus on my presentation.  I was a bit nervous, not so much because I was speaking, but because I was presenting with three other award winners and I had all of our presentations formatted on my laptop.  So of course, knowing how technology "works" I was concerned about everything going ok.  When the workshop before ours ended we had 10 minutes to set up.... and of course the plug to the projector was bent and would not go into my laptop.  AWKKKKK!!!!!  Someone ran for the tech folks while I nervously searched for my back up flash drive.  But ta dah,
just about two minutes before we were to present the tech man replaced the plug and all was right with the world.

From left to right: Marjorie O'Shea-Southeastern Region, Sheila Tetler - Eastern Region, Donna Barnard-Western Region, and Karen Popovich - National Secondary Art Educator of 2013.

By the time I put all my machinery away and answered questions from participants I was too late to get to the next workshop session, so instead I took the opportunity to meet and get an autograph from Terryl Whitlatch.  If her name does not sound familiar her work certainly will.  Perhaps a google search?  Let me just throw out the names ... Pixar, Disney Feature Animations, Lucasfilm....

Just about everyone at the conference then packed into a large ballroom to hear artist Deborah Butterfield - one of my favorite sculptors.  She was very down to earth and funny and the opportunity to hear her speak about the progression of her artistic vision and career.

And the day was capped off with the opening night game of the San Diego Padres (vs the Dodgers) at Petco Park - a short walk from my hotel (My husband's idea of course).  I will upload a photo later today and I must say, the National League is a bit different from the American League! Never saw so many bunts in one game in my life!  And finally some great Mexican food for dinner.

Saturday was an awesome day!

After attending several inspiring presentations I was invited to join Scholastic Art Publications for a boat tour of the harbor. Then onto a reception sponsored by Mass. College of Art and dinner in the Gas Lamp District.

Art Matters!

So many art teachers in one place. Just attended a workshop on digital portfolios and am ready to try out our iPads!

A beautiful day in San Diego

Getting ready for San Diego

Just a bit of chaos as I finish preparing my presentation for the National Art Education Association conference in San Diego.  Let's hope my technological "skills" are adequate.  Will post from the conference .... Stay tuned.

Sent from my iPhone

Six art students' works to be exhibited

Congratulations to the following students whose work was selected to be included in the 2014 Mount Wachusett Community College Annual Exhibit of High School Art Work:  Amanda Baldi, Celeste Blodgett, Heather Cotter, Desiree Lothman, Stephanie Peterson, and Meredith Prato.