A look back...12/31/23

Here we are on the precipice of a new chapter, I want to reflect on the profound symphony of artistic growth, friendships and opportunities that defined 2023. 

                                                                                                   Alicia Eggert

 I will carry forward into 2024 the lessons learned and the inspirations gleaned from this year. May the echoes of artistic growth continue to resonate, driving me to push the boundaries of my creativity and explore new territories. 

The support system built among kindred spirits has been a source of strength, propelling me to keep pushing myself. Being part of the School for Art Leaders is proving to be a rich growing experience.  Reminding me it is important to broaden horizons and grow my circles. 

 

In the crucible of collaboration ideas find new dimensions. The Artist Teacher Exhibition highlighted the many ways artist collaborate. It also provided delightful open studio time for artist teachers to come together to make art, laugh and dish. 

 I also had the pleasure this year to give closing remarks for a GMU Student Art Exhibition at NAEA headquarters in Alexandria. It was joyful and heartening to mingle with the next generation of art educators.

In the tapestry of everyday life, inspiration weaves itself seamlessly through the threads of mundane moments and social interactions. 

It is in the shared laughter over morning meetings and coffee, the subtle dance of conversation with strangers in elevators, and the quiet symphony of scenic views along the bike trail and all the other ordinary gestures that the extraordinary takes root. 

Each encounter, however fleeting, becomes a a source of fascination and prompting me to see the beauty in the ebb and flow of the human experience...like that time Elvis came to the dinner party!

Stepping into 2024, I will carry forward the lessons learned and the bonds strengthened in 2023. I look to continue collaborations, flourish friendships, and share more artistic journeys.

Cheers to the friends who stood by us, the fellow makers who inspired us, and the art that binds us all together.

As we bid adieu (was that your starter word for Wordle?) to 2023, let us carry forward the lessons learned and the inspirations gleaned from this remarkable year. Remarkable like Beyonce, Barbie, female voters in Ohio and Taylor Swift, demonstrating the ultimate girl power!

May the echoes of artistic growth continue to resonate, driving  the boundaries of our creativity and explore uncharted territories. This year I am proud that my artwork was included in several exhibitions around the DMV and throughout the postal system...so much mail art! 

Wishing you a year ahead filled with inspiration, creative triumphs, and the enduring warmth of artistic camaraderie. Here's to a future where the arts continue to thrive, shaping a world that values the profound impact of imagination.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

NAEA Member Exhibition 2022

 NAEA received 425 entries during the call for submissions and 80 artworks were jury selected for inclusion. I am so tickled to be included in the exhibition this year!  It is so cool to be a member of an organization that celebrates artmaking and provides an opportunity to showcase its members skills. 

Velvet Grip

View the complete exhibition, here in the NAEA Virtual Gallery.

Founded in 1947, NAEA is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts, design, and media arts educators. Members include elementary, middle, and high school visual arts educators; college and university professors; university students preparing to be art educators; researchers and scholars; teaching artists; administrators and supervisors; and art museum educators—as well as more than 40,000 students who are members of the National Art Honor Society.

It's Time...

Celebrate our differences and learn from those opportunities!

Commit to engage in your communities...be kind to each other...practice random acts of generosity...

Be honest...

Create an environment with the kind of energy you crave...

ACTIVATE

*Inspired by Barbara Kruger and created at the National Gallery Teacher Workshop

#22...Gaining Inspiration..

As I prepared to begin another school year, nice even year 22,  I had the total pleasure of taking off to NYC for a day trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. I went with my clever and intrepid studio art department friends! 

   It was awesome to see the work of Diane Arbus: In The Beginning in the new Met Breuer as well as the Thoughts Left Unfinished a thorough and beautiful exhibition of artwork that remain unfinished by their makers beginning from the Renaissance to now.

Our studio art department has grown this year! We are so lucky to have four in our little department!

To celebrate we headed down to Richmond to enjoy the Kehinde Wiley A New Republic as well as the Gordon Parks: Back to Fort Scott exhibitions.

If these short inspirational jaunts are any indication, it is destined to be fabulous school year!

                       

 

      The New York Trip was outstanding! We accomplished so much in two day! I am just going to highlight the Chelsea Gallery district today. The photography students loved the tour, even though we were schlepping through giant snowflakes and high winds! The art work was riveting. We saw a variety of digital installations, photography, painting and sculptural installations.

 

                   Doug Aitken was a favorite at 303 Gallery with his installation that took out part of the concrete floor and had water dripping from the ceiling it tantalized the senses! Additionally we got to see the always edgy street artist from the 80's  Jean-Michel Basquiat at the Gagosian.   Another highlight, Ragnar kjartansson's a nine panel video and musical installation that really made an impact with the students!  Charlotte Dumas had a very intimate portrait exhibit at the Julie Saul Gallery of the burial horses from Arlington National Cemetery. It was an incredibly handled and remarkable viewing experience.

                     Merrily Kerr did a fabulous job moving the students through each gallery space and safely in the crazy snow!  Sadly, it was snowing so hard I was doing my best just to walk (those of you who know me, know this a challenge on a sunny day) and not fall down that I did not get any photos of the snow! My students captured some lovely images, perhaps they will let me share here sometime.

        This first experience in New York really set the tone and raised the bar for a superb trip! More soon....