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Friday, February 28, 2014

Report from WCA National Conference in Chicago

Women from all over the country (and world) gathered in Chicago in mid-February for the 2014 national Women's Caucus for Art conference. It was held in conjunction with the College Art Association and the Feminist Art Project. This year's theme was "Balance," and the programming reflected the topic.

If you want to see the full program go to http://nationalwca.org/conference/currentconfer.php.

Chicago was cold (single digits), but we avoided the snowstorm that hit Philadelphia. I spent my days running back and forth among a variety of venues: the Chicago Hilton, the Essex Inn, Columbia College, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Here are some of the highlights:

The panel presentation "The Maternal Body Exposed" held on Friday morning in the overly ornate Grand Ballroom of the Chicago Hilton.

"Motherhood and the Exhibitionary Platform" on Saturday morning at Columbia College. That's a self-portrait by Diane Arbus when her pregnancy was just beginning to show. For the full program go to http://feministartproject.rutgers.edu/calendar/view/3347/.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards Ceremony at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Saturday evening. Unfortunately, Adrian Piper was unable to attend because she is listed as a Suspicious Traveler on the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s Watch List. For the full program go to http://www.nationalwca.org/awards/currentLAA.php.

Sunday morning Chapters meeting. I represented the Philadelphia Chapter and gave a report on our extraordinary (with both ups and downs) past year. That's Chapter Relations VP Ulla Barr welcoming everyone as the meeting began.

Here I am with Linda Gilbert-Schneider who I've known for many years as a member of the New York Chapter. She is now a member of the National Board.

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Next year the conference will be in New York City, so hopefully many of the Philadelphia Chapter members will be able to attend, even if you only Bolt Bus up for the day!



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