UAEA Spring Conference

UAEA Spring Conference 2024

March 8-9th
Grand County High School
608 South 400 East
Moab, UT

CONFERENCE KEYNOTE

Heidi Moller Somsen

Heidi Moller Somsen was born in Saskatchewan, and raised on the coast of British Columbia. She received a BFA in ceramics from Brigham Young University (1995) and an MFA in studio art from the University of Utah (2011). Heidi is currently teaching at the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah.

Keynote:
What If…

What if we could just make art all day long? Heidi will speak about the complexities of maintaining a consistent art practice while teaching full time. Her passion for research and recent book project: An Artist and a Mother, will also be discussed. Heidi will share ideas about how we might integrate the separate facets of our lives and creativity into an imperfect whole, while narrowly side-stepping burn-out…sometimes.

Breakout Session 1: Body Extensions Pared-Down Performance Art

Our bodies are our greatest tools.  In this workshop we will look at artists, both professional and student who, along with other media, have used their bodies as an important element in their art practice. A few of these artists are Cannupa Hanska Luger, Nick Cave, Rebecca Horn, and yours truly.  After this introduction, we will move into smaller groups and, with a variety of simple every-day objects, such as grocery bags, scissors and tape, create a wearable art piece that one member of the group can model. We will consider concepts of becoming “other” and the beauty of a simple “gesture”.

Breakout Session 2: Installation
More is More and Clay Bombing

Installation is art that transforms a space.  We will begin with a slide show of artists, like Antony Gormley, who use installation as a method for their art.  We will briefly examine “street art” and “yarn bombing” as alternative movements aimed at pushing back against the traditional art gallery or museum.  We will then decide on a simple object to create en masse for a “collection” installation project.  Finally, our raw clay sculptures will be set free individually in an environment of your choice, and optionally, shared via Instagram:  #uaeaclaybomb

Spring Conference Master Classes

  • Fun Facial Features with Clay | Ellice Taylor

    Friday Afternoon

    In this class I will teach you how to sculpt different facial features focusing on eyes and mouths. You will follow along and make your own creature. You can use these techniques to create realistic or whimsical creatures. They work for both beginning and advanced students and can be used on handbuilt or wheel thrown projects. These are the same techniques that my students have used to win awards at the national K-12 Ceramics show.

  • Paint a Watercolor Landscape with Me | Anna Davis

    Friday Afternoon

    Follow along with Anna Davis as she shows, step-by-step, how to paint a beautiful watercolor landscape of the barn at Capitol Reef National Park. Paint, brushes, paper, and palette will all be provided (please bring your own board to paint on). The reference picture will also be provided, although you are free to bring your own reference. Build layers step-by-step through this three hour master class to create your own painting and learn more about how to improve color, texture, shape, and value in watercolor. Videos of the process will also be shared so you can review them at home or finish if you run out of time.

  • Stained Glass | Heidi Israelsen

    Saturday Morning

    Heidi is a ceramics teacher at Springville High School and is on the board of trustees for the Springville Museum of Art.

    Participants will make a small copper foil stained glass piece. They'll learn to design a pattern, cut & grind glass, copper foil the pieces and solder it together.

    THIS IS A FOUR HOUR CLASS HELD IN TWO SESSIONS.

  • Painting with Procreate | Sarah Samuelson

    Saturday Afternoon

    Sarah Samuelson is a Utah artist best known for her flower paintings and her religious paintings. Her work is found in various permanent public and private collections including The Springville Museum of Art, the Governor's suite in the Utah State Capitol Building and The University of Utah.

    Sarah has begun creating paintings using Procreate on the iPad and will share her working knowledge of that app along with tips and advice for composing an artwork using both reference and inspiration. Bring your iPad loaded with the Procreate app (available in the app store for under $15 as a one time purchase) and Sarah will teach you how to create beautiful paintings!

Add a Master Class to Your Conference Registration

Our Spring Conference Schedule is Now Live!

Thursday Pre-Conference Activities

  • Ceramics Throwdown

    There is a $10 cost per person paid directly to the studio. Desert Sun Ceramics can accommodate up to 10 participants per wheel and 12 participants per hand building session. They provide the clay and tools. Spectators are welcome depending on space.

  • Paint Out & Shoot Out

    Connie Broadbent will be leading this event,’Travel Sketching - Worth More Than 1,000 Words’. Bring your own painting supplies. There will be the opportunity for Paintout participants to carpool to Arches National Park with free entry, after the demonstration.

  • Evening for Educators

    Join the StateWide Art Partnership for an evening of hands-on workshops and art-making demonstrations to kick off the 2024 UAEA Annual Conference in its new location, Moab. Those that pre-register will receive artmaking materials for the hands-on workshops and dinner - non registered walk-ins are welcome on the day as observers.

Conference Pricing

Registration with:

Current NAEA/UAEA Member Conference Admission $90
New NAEA/UAEA Membership and Conference Admission $170

Current NAEA/UAEA Pre-service Members Conference Admission (with volunteer service) $35
New NAEA/UAEA Preservice Membership and Conference Admission $85

Current NAEA/UAEA as Retired Professional Conference Admission $85
New NAEA/UAEA as Retired Professional Membership and Conference Admission $165

Catherine Ford Donation (Optional)

Community Partners

  • Element by Westin

    Element by Westin is offering a 10% off discount code for UAEA! Click HERE to book with them for the conference.

  • Sweet Cravings

    Sweet Cravings is offering a 20% discount on one entree to UAEA conference attendees for lunch on Friday. Just show them your conference badge to receive their discount! Click HERE to visit their website.

  • Curve Coffee Roasters

    Curve Coffee Roasters will be serving fresh hot beverages on Friday and Saturday morning the high school commons during the conference. They take card, cash, and Venmo.

  • Devils Breakfast Burritos

    The Grand County High School Art Club will be selling breakfast burritos during check-in/registration on Friday morning. $5 for meat or veggie. They accept cash or Venmo.

Find Places to Eat

Not sure where to eat while you are at the conference in Moab? There are tons of choices! While you can Google for yourself, we have also compiled a spreadsheet of eateries for you. Check it out!