I've just returned from the best SAQA conference ever!
Kudos to the Special Events Committee, headed by Mary Pal, who literally spent years planning this conference.
The always smiling Desi Vaughn gracefully handled any glitch that came her way, and our own Pat Gould set up the vendor marketplace on sign up day and arranged for bus tours on Saturday.
Here's a pic of most of our online challenge group, Viewpoints 9, reunited at the conference-
Kate Themel and Diane Marie Wright (CT), founder Martha Wolfe from CA, Mary Pal (Ottowa, Can), and of course moi.
It was a treat to see SAQA friends from all over the world, and to meet new ones.
Highlights, for me, were the privilege of hearing Patty Hawkins' presentation on her long and brilliant career, and the closing speaker, Geoffrey Gorman, a Santa Fe based sculptor who had great insights on the gallery world.
Pat Pauly, who is a professional gallerist from New York, discussed effective and professional methods of hanging shows that will help all of us present our work better.
The vendor marketplace on Thursday and the silent auction of mini quilts benefit on Friday were both smashing successes, the auction alone raised $5,200 for SAQA.
Due to scheduling conflicts our show at the Capitol could not officially be included in the conference, however, we had many willing volunteers to drive people over to see the exhibit.
I'm happy to say that the feedback from those who were able to see the show was very positive.
The next conference will be the first weekend of May next year in Washington DC- consider attending!
Betty Busby
