Conference Closeup: Small Group Discussions
by Kate Nixon
Every year at the National Arts & Crafts Conference, we provide the opportunity for attendees to sit down with other enthusiasts who share our passions and interests in a certain focused interest through our popular Small Group Discussions. In the space of an hour for three days, attendees will have their choice to attend one discussion each day all focused on a relevant Arts & Crafts topic – we purposely schedule several of these topics simultaneously to keep the numbers small so that the discussions are personal and lively. Several of these topics return yearly, lead by many of our return discussion leaders. Some discussion topics are brand new to us this year, even relating to a few of the seminars that will be given. The meeting rooms are small, so make sure to arrive early — and have a backup choice ready in case one small group discussion fills up quickly. The topics range in experience level and do not require any signups at all – just show up and be ready to talk!
Here’s a preview of the topics you can expect to see next month:
Art Pottery: How Do I Get Started? with Christine Boone and Patti Bourgeois of the AAPA
Fakes, Forgeries, & Repairs: How Do I Spot Them? with N. Gordon Gray
What’s the “Art” in Arts & Crafts? with Steve Thomas
Kalo and More: What Should I Know About Collecting Silver? with John Walcher and Michael Hingston
The Arts & Crafts Movement: What Movement? with Andre Chaves and Dianne Ayres
The Online Marketplace: What’s Your Experience? with Michael Lehr
Is that a Craftsman House? with Ray Stubblebine
The Arts & Crafts Movement: Philosophy or Propaganda? with Pat Bartinique
Collecting Roycroft with David Kornacki
Why Does the Arts & Crafts Movement Need John Ruskin? A Follow Up to James Spates’ seminar on John Ruskin
Arts & Crafts Textiles: Is Using Them Abusing Them? with Paul Freeman
Your Historic House: Do You Need an Architect? with Randy Crawford and Will Evans
Remuddling, Remodeling or Restoration? with Norman Blankenship
Native Plants and the Arts and Crafts Landscape with Rick Taylor
The Arts and Crafts Time Period: What Were People Reading? with Pat Bartinique
Problems – and Solutions – In Restoring Your Old House – with Gary Haynes & Jim McCord
Gustav’s Later Furniture: How Does it Rate? A Follow Up to Stewart Crick’s seminar on Gustav Stickley
Should I Insure My Collection? If So, How Do I Do That? with Michael McCracken
On Saturday the 16th, at 2:30 P.M. to 3:30 PM in Skyline Room A, we’re featuring a special Small Group Discussion called The Pitfalls of Preservation: Tales from the Trenches. Led by Vonda Givens (Executive Director of the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms) and Elizabeth Crawford (Senior Associate at Crawford & Stearns Architects and Preservation Planners), this group discussion will be a lively discussion of tales about Arts & Crafts period properties. Bring photographs to share of preservation pitfalls, historic hazards, demolition dangers, or surprise guests. Whether it’s your kitchen, or bathroom rehab, porch repair, floor refinishing, window restoration, or new roofing, they’ll look at the good, the bad, and the ugly and share in our successes and disappointments.
Again, these discussion groups are free to attend for Conference Events Pass holders and do not require signups. For the schedule of our see our Conference Catalog at the Conference for the Small Group Discussion schedule and a map of discussion group locations.
If you have any questions, please call our offices at (828) 628-1915!
Related Conference Articles:
Conference Closeup: Silent Auction Benefits A&C Research
Conference Closeup: Special Fundraiser Events
Conference Closeup: The Information Packets
Reserving Your Room for the 2020 Conference
Our 2019 Conference Demonstrators
Conference Closeup: Pre-Conference Workshops