GAEA Conference Fall 2024

Check-in at the registration table! 

Come make art for the NAHS Auction! The Artome studio is open from Thu 11am to Sat 10am. You can also bring work to contribute to the show. The work needs to be 9x12 and 2D. 

Thank you to Artome for sponsoring this open studio and auction! www.artome.com

Take a docent-led tour of the GIANTS exhibit.

The High will be the exclusive venue in the Southeastern United States to present the first major exhibition of the world-class art collection owned by musical and cultural icons Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys.
Organized by the Brooklyn Museum, where it debuted in February, Giants will feature a focused selection from the couple’s holdings, spotlighting works by multigenerational Black diasporic artists, from 20th century legends such as Nick Cave, Lorna Simpson, and Barkley L. Hendricks, to artists of a younger generation including Deana Lawson, Amy Sherald, and Ebony G. Patterson, who are expanding the legacies of those who came before them.
Giants stands as a testament to the Deans’ ethos of “collecting and preserving the culture of ourselves for ourselves, now and into the future.” Through approximately 115 objects, including 98 major artworks, the exhibition will trace the evolution of an audacious and ambitious collection and explore the ways in which the featured artists and their work have grappled with societal issues, embraced monumentality, and made a palpable impact on the art canon. In addition to paintings, photographs, and sculptures, the galleries will include noteworthy examples of the Deans’ early non-art collecting interests, including albums, musical equipment, and BMX bikes, along with related ephemera.

Take a docent-led tour of the GIANTS exhibit.

The High will be the exclusive venue in the Southeastern United States to present the first major exhibition of the world-class art collection owned by musical and cultural icons Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys.
Organized by the Brooklyn Museum, where it debuted in February, Giants will feature a focused selection from the couple’s holdings, spotlighting works by multigenerational Black diasporic artists, from 20th century legends such as Nick Cave, Lorna Simpson, and Barkley L. Hendricks, to artists of a younger generation including Deana Lawson, Amy Sherald, and Ebony G. Patterson, who are expanding the legacies of those who came before them.
Giants stands as a testament to the Deans’ ethos of “collecting and preserving the culture of ourselves for ourselves, now and into the future.” Through approximately 115 objects, including 98 major artworks, the exhibition will trace the evolution of an audacious and ambitious collection and explore the ways in which the featured artists and their work have grappled with societal issues, embraced monumentality, and made a palpable impact on the art canon. In addition to paintings, photographs, and sculptures, the galleries will include noteworthy examples of the Deans’ early non-art collecting interests, including albums, musical equipment, and BMX bikes, along with related ephemera.

Take a docent-led tour of the High Museum's Higlights tour.  The HIGHlights tour offers an overview of the High’s collection. 

Take a docent-led tour of the High Museum's Higlights tour.  The HIGHlights tour offers an overview of the High’s collection. 

Local Artist, Elaine Stephenson, presents abouit her mural work. Elaine Stephenson is an Atlanta artist and muralist creating bright and colorful art with positive messages to uplift and inspire.


After a 10 year design career, she now combines both her strategic design skills and an artistic voice to create art that enhances spaces. Elaine is very involved in public art and has several large permanent murals around Atlanta, such as a bridge underpass and a parking garage entrance at Atlantic Station. Her fine art has been exhibited at ABV Gallery, FreeMarket Gallery, Cat Eye Creative, MINT Gallery, The Print Shop, Empire Arts Gallery, Avondale Arts Center, and Arches Brewing. Stephenson has been featured in publications such as the AJC, Arts Atlanta, Shoutout Atlanta, Reporter Intown Newspapers, City Lights on WABE, and the Atlanta Street Art Map.

Come see all the Vendors. Stop and speak to companies, universities and others that have helped make this conference affordable and possible for all of us to attend!! 

Learn about local artist, Krista Jones aka Jonesy, and her work. Krista M. Jones, also known as JONESY, is a contemporary artist, based in Atlanta, Georgia. She is best known for her vibrant, symbolic patterned murals and complex canvas paintings. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Columbus State University. Her canvas works have been featured in exhibitions throughout the United States, including The Hudgens Center for Art & Learning; LAC-Lawrenceville Arts Center in Lawrenceville, Georgia; MOCA GA- Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia; ABV Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia; Blue Mark Studios in Atlanta, Georgia; MINT gallery in Atlanta, Georgia; Echo Contemporary Art in Atlanta, Georgia; Atlanta Contemporary Art Center in Atlanta, Georgia; ArtFields in Lake City, South Carolina; LaGrange Art Museum, LaGrange, Georgia; DooGallery in Atlanta, Georgia; Red Ink Studios in San Francisco, California; Kibbee Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a multiple grant recipient, including the Laura Patricia Calle grant, Gwinnett Creativity Fund grant, Georgia Council for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts grant.

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She has received public art commissions from notable clients such as the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, the City of Atlanta Department of City Planning, the City of Chamblee in conjunction with St. Vincent de Paul, The Hudgens Center for Art & Learning, the City of Doraville, Georgia; the Roswell Arts Fund, Mill Creek Residential/Modera Vinings, Jon Ossoff for Senate, Sugarloaf CID, Atlanta Beltline, Inc., Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Livable Buckhead, Path Foundation and Living Walls, the City Speaks. Her murals around the Atlanta metro area are rich with vibrant colors, stylized flora/fauna, and patterns.

The Art of local artist Lisette Corea @arrrtaddict SINCE I WAS A KID THE ONLY THING I EVER WANTED TO DO WAS BE A FASHION DESIGNER. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO BE LIVING MY DREAMS FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS. I BUILT MY CAREER IN THE FAST FASHION INDUSTRY BY HAVING GRAPHIC APPAREL IN STORES SUCH AS TARGET, MACY'S, ZUMIEZ, URBAN OUTFITTERS AND FOREVER 21, JUST TO NAME A FEW. THE COMPANIES I HAVE WORKED FOR HAVE TRUSTED ME TO DESIGN FOR EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC, GENRE AND STYE WHICH HAS MADE ME A WELL VERSED DESIGNER. MY SPECIALTY FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON MENS STREETWEAR APPAREL. I LOVE BRANDING AND BRINGING PEOPLES VISIONS TO LIFE. I AM SOMEONE WHO CAN PUSH BOUNDARIES AND CREATE TREND SETTING DESIGNS THAT APPEAL TO THE MASS MARKET. EARLY ON I LEARNED THAT A T-SHIRT IS REALLY JUST A CANVAS AND IT HAS HELPED ME EXCEL INTO THE ARTIST I AM TODAY. MY ARRRTWORK UNDER MY ALIAS ARRRTADDICT HAS LEAD ME TO DO CONCERT POSTERS FOR RED BULL, TWO COLLABORATIONS WITH NIKE, BEER LABELS FOR SEVERAL BREWERIES, FLYERS FOR EVENTS AND MURALS ALL AROUND THE CITY OF ATLANTA. THERE ARE NO LIMITS WHEN IT COMES TO MY ARRRT. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN BE APART OF MY JOURNEY.

This workshop is a hands on making workshop where participants will learn how to weave a basket. The history, skills, and vocabulary will be transferable to any K-12 classroom with whatever materials. Course includes power point, handout, all materials, and guided step by step process of making a woven base, start/stop. rimed basket.

Calling all clay enthusiasts! Inspired by the whimsical creatures of Funk Artist David Gilhooly, this workshop will unleash your inner artist as you learn the magic of transforming clay into your favorite animals. No matter your creature preference or artistic experience, this workshop is designed for everyone. We'll explore fundamental techniques like scoring, slipping, and pinching to build a menagerie of amazing animals, all while adhering to essential art standards. It's sure to be a wild (and educational) time!

Take a docent-led tour of the GIANTS exhibit.

The High will be the exclusive venue in the Southeastern United States to present the first major exhibition of the world-class art collection owned by musical and cultural icons Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys.
Organized by the Brooklyn Museum, where it debuted in February, Giants will feature a focused selection from the couple’s holdings, spotlighting works by multigenerational Black diasporic artists, from 20th century legends such as Nick Cave, Lorna Simpson, and Barkley L. Hendricks, to artists of a younger generation including Deana Lawson, Amy Sherald, and Ebony G. Patterson, who are expanding the legacies of those who came before them.
Giants stands as a testament to the Deans’ ethos of “collecting and preserving the culture of ourselves for ourselves, now and into the future.” Through approximately 115 objects, including 98 major artworks, the exhibition will trace the evolution of an audacious and ambitious collection and explore the ways in which the featured artists and their work have grappled with societal issues, embraced monumentality, and made a palpable impact on the art canon. In addition to paintings, photographs, and sculptures, the galleries will include noteworthy examples of the Deans’ early non-art collecting interests, including albums, musical equipment, and BMX bikes, along with related ephemera.

Take a docent-led tour of the High Museum's Higlights tour.  The HIGHlights tour offers an overview of the High’s collection. 

Take a docent-led tour of the High Museum's Idyllic Space exhibit by the artist Tyler Mitchell.

Tyler Mitchell is an American photographer and filmmaker renowned for his tender and innovative portrayals that center Black self-determination and empowerment through scenes of love, leisure, and camaraderie. Mitchell rose to global prominence in 2018 when he photographed Beyoncé for the September issue of Vogue as the first Black artist to shoot the cover in the magazine’s then 126-year history. He explores style, beauty, and identity through playfully theatrical, expressive photographs that seamlessly blend his fashion and conceptual work.
Drawing inspiration from the landscapes, homes, and communities of suburban Atlanta where he was raised, this homecoming exhibition features work made from 2017 to 2024 and considers Mitchell’s exploration of themes such as family lineage, play, companionship, the natural world, and domestic spaces. His lens captures the essence of relationships, weaving an intimate narrative of shared experiences.

Local artist, Liz Alzona, presents about her work and leads a mixed media collage workshop. Liz Alzona is an award-winning, published artist and gifted storyteller. Inspired by extraordinary individuals and their stories of struggle and triumph, Liz uses bold and vibrant mixed media collages to ignite inspiration and foster connection. Her work emphasizes the desires, dreams, and legacies of both renowned figures and unsung heroes. Raised in Chicago by artist parents, Liz's passion for art began at a young age. She studied art alongside biology (B.S.), and neurophysiology (M.S.) at Loyola University Chicago, seamlessly integrating science, art, and narrative in her work. Currently based in Atlanta, Liz's work is featured in both private and public collections, including the James Clerk Maxwell foundation in Edinburgh, Scotland.

She was awarded the Rosemary Cox Award for Art from Georgia State University, featured in the Creative License magazine and has been mentioned on various digital platforms. Liz's most recent exhibitions span venues such as the Douglasville Cultural Arts Center, Hudgens Center for Art & Learning, the Alpharetta Arts Center, the Emma Darnell Aviation Museum and Conference Center, and the Swan Coach House Gallery. Notably, her collages also grace Midtown as banners in the “Art! Everywhere” project, the Southeast’s largest outdoor gallery bringing art to the community.

Beyond her artistic pursuits, Liz has been a guest lecturer at Georgia State University and actively engages in local artistic events and workshops.

Please connect with her on

Instagram @lizalzonaart

View her work on lizalzonaart.com

Take a docent-led tour of the GIANTS exhibit.

The High will be the exclusive venue in the Southeastern United States to present the first major exhibition of the world-class art collection owned by musical and cultural icons Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys.
Organized by the Brooklyn Museum, where it debuted in February, Giants will feature a focused selection from the couple’s holdings, spotlighting works by multigenerational Black diasporic artists, from 20th century legends such as Nick Cave, Lorna Simpson, and Barkley L. Hendricks, to artists of a younger generation including Deana Lawson, Amy Sherald, and Ebony G. Patterson, who are expanding the legacies of those who came before them.
Giants stands as a testament to the Deans’ ethos of “collecting and preserving the culture of ourselves for ourselves, now and into the future.” Through approximately 115 objects, including 98 major artworks, the exhibition will trace the evolution of an audacious and ambitious collection and explore the ways in which the featured artists and their work have grappled with societal issues, embraced monumentality, and made a palpable impact on the art canon. In addition to paintings, photographs, and sculptures, the galleries will include noteworthy examples of the Deans’ early non-art collecting interests, including albums, musical equipment, and BMX bikes, along with related ephemera.

Take a docent-led tour of the GIANTS exhibit.

The High will be the exclusive venue in the Southeastern United States to present the first major exhibition of the world-class art collection owned by musical and cultural icons Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys.
Organized by the Brooklyn Museum, where it debuted in February, Giants will feature a focused selection from the couple’s holdings, spotlighting works by multigenerational Black diasporic artists, from 20th century legends such as Nick Cave, Lorna Simpson, and Barkley L. Hendricks, to artists of a younger generation including Deana Lawson, Amy Sherald, and Ebony G. Patterson, who are expanding the legacies of those who came before them.
Giants stands as a testament to the Deans’ ethos of “collecting and preserving the culture of ourselves for ourselves, now and into the future.” Through approximately 115 objects, including 98 major artworks, the exhibition will trace the evolution of an audacious and ambitious collection and explore the ways in which the featured artists and their work have grappled with societal issues, embraced monumentality, and made a palpable impact on the art canon. In addition to paintings, photographs, and sculptures, the galleries will include noteworthy examples of the Deans’ early non-art collecting interests, including albums, musical equipment, and BMX bikes, along with related ephemera.

Take a docent-led tour of the High Museum's HIGHlights tour.  The HIGHlights tour offers an overview of the High’s collection. 

Meet at the bottom of the ramp in the Atrium.

Take a docent-led tour of the High Museum's Idyllic Space exhibit by the artist Tyler Mitchell.

Tyler Mitchell is an American photographer and filmmaker renowned for his tender and innovative portrayals that center Black self-determination and empowerment through scenes of love, leisure, and camaraderie. Mitchell rose to global prominence in 2018 when he photographed Beyoncé for the September issue of Vogue as the first Black artist to shoot the cover in the magazine’s then 126-year history. He explores style, beauty, and identity through playfully theatrical, expressive photographs that seamlessly blend his fashion and conceptual work.
Drawing inspiration from the landscapes, homes, and communities of suburban Atlanta where he was raised, this homecoming exhibition features work made from 2017 to 2024 and considers Mitchell’s exploration of themes such as family lineage, play, companionship, the natural world, and domestic spaces. His lens captures the essence of relationships, weaving an intimate narrative of shared experiences.

As a new-er art teacher, the list of all the things you’re navigating is endless: You’re learning a new school & community culture, building relationships with students & their families, preparing project materials, creating displays, and figuring out a new curriculum…in addition to teaching! There is so much to navigate as a new-er art teacher, and it can get overwhelming. This session will draw from the real-life experience of new and veteran art teachers and provide best practices tips for teaching, classroom management, and finding work-life-fit. Come ready to collaborate through interactive conversation and walk away with tangible strategies to try out in your classroom!

Meet your President and mingle with your fellow colleagues. YAM Teacher of the Year will be announced. There will be art making stations including buttons and friendship bracelets. Make some art in the ARTOME station and browse the Member's Exhibit in the Green Family Education Center (just downstairs from the atrium) Join the fun as we go down memory lane with a live DJ spinning music from the 80s.  A cash bar will be available with light snacks.

catlanta: Learn about the free art movement through a presentation about Catlanta kittens and the #fafatl community. After the presentation, participants will create a kitten of their own to take home or hide for others to find. Catlanta aka Rory Hawkins, is an Atlanta based artist primarily known for his colorful and fun paintings of cats. Though he was born in New Orleans, Rory has been a lifelong resident of the metro Atlanta area. Rory attended Georgia State University as a Berner Scholarship recipient where he received a B.A. in Studio Art in 2010 primarily focusing on printmaking during his studies. Since graduation, Rory has produced hundreds of paintings under the moniker ‘Catlanta’, a name that grew from a few cats Rory spray painted on the walls of underpasses and abandoned properties throughout the city of Atlanta in 2011. The cats, three-legged with dots for eyes and hearts on their chests, quickly became known as an Atlanta street art character popping up all over town. Not interested in being labeled a vandal and inspired by nondestructive art movements like Free Art Friday, Rory transitioned from painting cats on walls to creating small hand painted wooden cutouts of his iconic three-legged cat (called kittens) which he hides around town for anyone to find. Rory shares photo clues of the piece’s location and invites his followers to track down and keep any kitten that they can find. Since he began hiding art pieces in 2011, Rory has shared over 1,000 pieces of art via photo scavenger hunt. These ‘art drops’ are meant to highlight the people, places, and events that make Atlanta and other cities unique while inspiring exploration and engagement within the community where the artwork is hidden.

In addition to painting and hiding cats, Rory is an accomplished muralist with large outdoor works in Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Costa Rica. He has worked with several local and national brands on a variety of projects from label designs to chalkboard art and has volunteered with organizations like One Love Generation and Paint Love to lead art workshops for Atlanta area students. He lives in Ormewood Park, and enjoys evening walks around his neighborhood, Atlanta sports teams (not you, Cobb Braves), and taking hot baths.

In this workshop participants will hear about grant opportunities, teacher resources, new careers in art video’s, and how to get free art PD for your county or RESA.

Local Artist, Dustin Timbrook, presents his work. Timbook describes himself as a Renaissance Man, a creative jack of all trades. He grew up in Montgomery, Ala., and attended the University of Montevallo, a small liberal arts college near Birmingham. He worked in Huntsville for a decade, working for Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment.

Before moving to Tucker with his wife, Molly, in 2021, the pair ran a small toy company in Huntsville, Ala. Timbrook handmade a game called Hedge Lord, which blew up in the maker space and game-con world.

The toy shop was very hands-on and there was confusion about how COVID was transmitted in the beginning, said Timbrook, so he and Molly shifted gears. They moved to Atlanta, and he pursued his desire to work on film and TV sets.

As a freelance artist, Timbrook creates handmade, specialty props for film sets. For “Just Beyond,” a comedy-horror show filmed in Tucker, he recently made a decrepit-looking conspiracy board, and for an upcoming Netflix series called “Florida Man” he created a mural and large sculptures.

Take a docent-led tour of the GIANTS exhibit.

The High will be the exclusive venue in the Southeastern United States to present the first major exhibition of the world-class art collection owned by musical and cultural icons Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys.
Organized by the Brooklyn Museum, where it debuted in February, Giants will feature a focused selection from the couple’s holdings, spotlighting works by multigenerational Black diasporic artists, from 20th century legends such as Nick Cave, Lorna Simpson, and Barkley L. Hendricks, to artists of a younger generation including Deana Lawson, Amy Sherald, and Ebony G. Patterson, who are expanding the legacies of those who came before them.
Giants stands as a testament to the Deans’ ethos of “collecting and preserving the culture of ourselves for ourselves, now and into the future.” Through approximately 115 objects, including 98 major artworks, the exhibition will trace the evolution of an audacious and ambitious collection and explore the ways in which the featured artists and their work have grappled with societal issues, embraced monumentality, and made a palpable impact on the art canon. In addition to paintings, photographs, and sculptures, the galleries will include noteworthy examples of the Deans’ early non-art collecting interests, including albums, musical equipment, and BMX bikes, along with related ephemera.

Take a docent-led tour of the High Museum's Higlights tour.  The HIGHlights tour offers an overview of the High’s collection. 

Take a docent-led tour of the High Museum's Higlights tour.  The HIGHlights tour offers an overview of the High’s collection. 

Meet at the bottom of the ramp in the Atrium.

Take a docent-led tour of the High Museum's Idyllic Space exhibit by the artist Tyler Mitchell.

Tyler Mitchell is an American photographer and filmmaker renowned for his tender and innovative portrayals that center Black self-determination and empowerment through scenes of love, leisure, and camaraderie. Mitchell rose to global prominence in 2018 when he photographed Beyoncé for the September issue of Vogue as the first Black artist to shoot the cover in the magazine’s then 126-year history. He explores style, beauty, and identity through playfully theatrical, expressive photographs that seamlessly blend his fashion and conceptual work.
Drawing inspiration from the landscapes, homes, and communities of suburban Atlanta where he was raised, this homecoming exhibition features work made from 2017 to 2024 and considers Mitchell’s exploration of themes such as family lineage, play, companionship, the natural world, and domestic spaces. His lens captures the essence of relationships, weaving an intimate narrative of shared experiences.

Local Artist, Amy Lee Gonzalez, shares about her life and work.