NAEA Convention Chicago Adventures!

I had the incredible opportunity once again to attend the National Art Education Association National Convention. This year was in Chicago (just a short train ride away!) and I attended with my mentor and fellow Elementary Art Ed teacher in my district Kristie. Here is a look into our adventures!

I prepared for the convention with a Jamberry jammicure. Notice the Keith Haring ones I had custom made!

We got into Chicago Wednesday afternoon and took advantage of the sunshine and made our way over to The Bean at Millennium Park. We had a conversation about whether or not we thought Anish Kapoor was insulted that everyone calls it "The Bean" instead of it's real name "Cloud Gate" Thoughts on this would be appreciated!

We stayed at the Palmer House, a beautiful historical hotel in the Chicago Loop. It was just a short walk from Millennium Park and The Chicago Art Institute.

We started early Thursday at the convention and somehow ended up attending SEVEN sessions just on Thursday alone. But we did get to have a little fun in the expo hall before the sessions!

Faber Castell always has a great set up and fun things to try. This was my favorite...beeswax crayons and their black tempera over the top to create a make-your-own scratch art. However, they demoed that you don't have to let it dry first. They painted the black and then while it was still wet just used the end of the brush to draw.  Officially on my list to try!

Faber Castell also had this sweet photo booth! Think da Vinci would be proud or insulted?

Friday was much more relaxing with only 4 sessions and the rest of the expo hall...

Another product that has officially made my list to order is Jack Richeson's Semi-Moist Watercolors that are pearlescent! That is WATERCOLOR paint on the black paper. The next trick is finding black paper that responds the best. They were just demoing on black cardstock....any suggestions?

This mind-blowing product was one of Jack Richeson's too. Playcolor sticks! They feel like the gel sticks from other companies when you use them but they don't smear and are actually tempera! Not sure if I will order these since I don't know what to do with them but keeping them in the memory bank for sure!

Crystal Productions is another favorite company of mine and had this book with matching display cards. It is AWESOME. And already on my list to order for next year.

A shout out to Nasco for their awesome display. Tried to get a selfie with this one but it just didn't have the full impact!

Obviously we had to swing by The Art of Ed and take advantage of their clever St Patty's inspired display for a photo op!

One of my #1 sessions was on Friday and was with Elementary Art Educator RoseAnn LaBrocca. It was one of those sessions on research but unlike some that you leave going "whhhhhhhaaaatttttt was that even about?" this one was awesome. She was actually an Art Teacher and she talked about and showed the different activities she did to teach vocabulary in a meaningful and engaging way. The big take away was to embed the vocabulary and engage students with it in the art process to provide an authentic context for learning the words. Not just saying the words the words but embedding them in everything. The data she presented was also really incredible. I'm probably going to use her research as inspiration for my PDP! It was that good.

Saturday wrapped up our adventures with a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago to check out the van Gogh exhibit. The line was long and it was crowded but glad we went!

They did a full scale recreation of van Gogh's bedroom based on his famous painting...paintingS actually..did you know he made 3 versions of this bedroom painting!?!? I sure didn't. Another amazing part of the exhibit was side by side by side VERY high resolution photographs of different sections of the paintings to compare and contrast them.

And this almost made me cry... van Gogh's paint tubes and pallette. I don't know how they know it was his or what proof they have but I will believe it without any doubt!

I'm officially home and exhausted and had to go into school on Sunday to prepare for the week but it was so worth it and amazing experience as always. Until next time!

 New York maybe!?!