THE ART OF STORYTELLING


OCTOBER 10: Pre-Conference
OCTOBER 11 & 12: Conference 

​The Art of Storytelling - The act of storytelling has been around long before recorded history. From cave paintings to teaching children to read picture books today, we have been engaging the imagination through stories throughout history. Stories have been critical in our communities and lives as a way to help us remember our history. Stories teach, entertain and inspire us.  

FRIDAY KEYNOTE: Monica Leo
SATURDAY KEYNOTE: Edwin Gil

FULL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE & SESSION DESCRIPTIONS HERE 

HOTEL & THINGS TO DO IN DECORAH

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Graduate/Recert credit
1 Grad credit will be available through university of northern iowa.  Click Here for the Grad credit syllabus & requirements.  cLICK HERE TO BE DIRECTED TO  gRADUATE cREDIT registration. *This is separate from conference registration* Direct questions to Wendy miller at wendy.miller@uni.edu

Future Conference Locations
2020 Conference- Iowa City
2021 Conference- Davenport
2019 Conference Coordinator: Kathleen Sweet
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CONFERENCE KEYNOTES

MONICA LEO

Monica Leo is a first generation American, born to German refugees in the waning days of World War Two.  After the war, her parents ordered a set of hand puppets from a German craftswoman, and Monica was hooked. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Monica studied for two years at the State Art Academy in Düsseldorf, Germany with Josef Beuys.          
Since 1974, she has been the sole puppet creator and lead puppeteer of Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre, headquartered in West Liberty, Iowa, and touring nationally and internationally. From 1975 through 2006, she worked with artistic partner Teri Jean Breitbach.  The two performed exclusively as a duo until the 1990's, when they began to incorporate musicians and other puppeteers.
In addition to creating all of the puppets and scenery for Eulenspiegel productions, Monica Leo also makes dolls, creates block prints, and writes about puppetry in the Midwest for The Puppetry Journal, a national magazine published by Puppeteers of America.

EDWIN GIL

Edwin Gil is an avid social activist and uses his art to bridge cultures and diverse groups living in the U.S. His Con ‘A’ de Arte (A For Art) and Art Si (Art Yes) through the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, connects youth and promotes art as a vehicle to affect positive change in the community. ​
Gil’s Home Sweet Home project achieved critical acclaim by actively involving the children of the Charlotte school system in the creation of a giant mural. As a result of this project, Gil met with then Senator of New York and current Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and presented her with one of his paintings.
Edwin has overcome numerous obstacles to become one of America’s premier Latino Artists. In his Faces of Diversity Project, Edwin shares his story of triumph and how it helped shape his idea of social awareness through art. Edwin takes you on his journey across Europe with his Nuestra Bandera, Nuestro Pais, Nuestro Hogar (Our Flag, Our Country, Our Home) project with images and music as he tells the stories of the more than 25,000 people who participated in his global art project. Most recently, Edwin toured North Carolina with his Flag of Hope collecting handprints, stories and memories to make the nation’s first ever flag made with the handprints of North Carolinians. With these types of adventures behind him, Edwin is sure to motivate and spread his message of hope to all that encounter this feel good presentation.
Wondering what you missed?  Check out our conference resource folder
​IOWA: SITE SPECIFIC 
​OCTOBER 12-13, 2018
BUENA VISTA COLLEGE, STORM LAKE
Pre-conference October 11th
Post-conference Enjoy the Artisans Road Trip self guided studio tour October 14th!

Full Conference Schedule and
Session Descriptions  HERE

Iowa is home to communities that are as  opposite as rural and urban, or majority minority and homogeneous. How do you respond to your specific community characteristics and student needs in your corner of the state of Iowa? Whether your district is consolidated or inner city, public or charter, you can connect with other educators who share the same challenges and experiences throughout the state. What do you have to offer to teachers in very different districts to yours?

Stayed tuned to see sessions from rural Iowa art teachers, art teaches in special education settings, art programs serving a highly diverse population, as well as hands on learning from Iowa's teaching artists.
Friday Keynote Panel
Connecting to Your Audience
Jennifer Drinkwater, Iowa State
Heidi Fuchtman, Youth Art Team
Ian Coon, Student Voice
Saturday Keynote
Aurora Robson
Site Specific Sculpture
Trash+Love

2018 Conference ​Coordinator: 
Lynsie Maynard


Committee Members:
David Boelter; Mary Mello-Nee; Libby Whyte

​​Thank you to our conference sponsor,
Stanley Museum of Art at the University of Iowa
Keep reading for more detailed information.  For questions or to join the committee contact conferencechair@artedia.org. For help with registration contact programs@artedia.org
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Conference Archive

2017

October 5-7, 2017
West Des Moines
Hilton Garden Inn
Valley High School
Chair: Pamela Ballard
Keynote: Nathalie MieBach