GAEA Conference Fall 2024

Do you hoard things in your storage room? Are there collections of lysol containers, cardboard scraps, foam, plastic bins, and an assortment of items that you might use one day? I have the project for you! Create Claes Oldenburg sculptures to use up those extra materials in a fun and collaborative project that can chase away the end of semester blues. In this session I will review and provide the lesson materials for a Claes Oldenburg inspired sculpture. Then we will make our own travel size Oldenburgs, putting problem solving skills to the test. Come by and join us for a fun, out of the box studio project.

For over 30 years, Cosplay has been an avenue of connection and creativity for fans of media, anime, movies, video games, theatre and pop culture. Across the world, cosplayers gather at conventions to show off incredible handmade costumes that feature robotics, metalwork, sculpture and sewing. Cosplay can offer an enjoyable and inclusive experience for students of all ages, fostering self-expression and camaraderie. Learn the basics of EVA foam, thermoplastics, mold making and more!

In "Fostering Artistic Autonomy: Choice-Based Learning in the Classroom," educators will embark on a journey to transform their art classrooms into dynamic hubs of creativity and self-expression. Through guided self-paced modules, students will explore new materials and techniques while learning essential studio habits of mind, such as proper cleanup and responsible use. These modules will provide a framework for students to take ownership of their artistic process, engaging with new ideas and finding the resources they need to bring their visions to life. The workshop will also showcase diverse mediums, collaborative challenges, and common writing prompts, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment where every student's voice is valued. Educators will leave equipped with practical strategies and resources to cultivate choice-based learning environments that inspire creativity and empower students to unleash their full artistic potential.

In this workshop, you will create a variety of sample book making techniques that can be incorporated into your classroom or for personal use. From quick and easy 1 page folded books to multi-page stitched bindings all levels can find something to take away and use.

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 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.

Last year's GAEA award winners share their knowledge! Come celebrate these winners.