2023 Conference
April 13–15, 2023
Hosted by RMCAD
Intersections. Tension. Curiosity.
Artists and educators often find themselves at the intersection of their craft and their pedagogy. Likewise, student learning is bound by curriculum standards and assessment criteria while aspiring to instill wonder and creative risk-taking. Serious play is a balancing act, bridging the mischievous nature of creative exploration, the measurable necessities of education, and the high stakes of what lies ahead.
The 2023 FATE conference is focused on exploring these tensions by sharing the lessons we have learned and the innovative pedagogical approaches developed during this time. What will we take forward with us? What will we leave behind? Together, we can reflect upon these seismic changes, while re-imagining how we can positively impact future generations curricularly and civically. It is an opportunity to expand our understanding of how playful curricula and serious inquiry merge to create a hopeful curiosity for what is to come.
JURIED EXHIBITION
April 14–23, 2023
RedLine Contemporary Art Center, Denver
Serious Play
Inspired by this year’s conference theme, Serious Play features a selection of artworks that playfully reimagine materials and forms found within our ever-evolving natural world. Exploring the complex and at times, serious tension that exists between the built and natural environment, this exhibition spans media to include resplendent landscapes alongside sculptural elements derived from nature. Collectively, these works ask us to consider our interwoven terrestrial histories.
Featured Artists
Joel Allen, David Andree, Chung-Fan Chang, Katie Davis, Dahye Kim, Anna Lemnitzer, Kevin Mercer & Sarah Swist, Travis Neel, Carissa Samaniego, Howard Tran
Juror: Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas
The 2023 FATE conference committee is honored to have Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, recently named Curator and Director of Exhibitions at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, NY, as this year’s exhibition juror and conference keynote speaker. Kaitlin was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her research and curatorial interests have been primarily devoted to exploring themes of decolonial resistance, displacement, and cultural heritage in the United States and the Americas.
Prior to her appointment at Socrates Sculpture Park, Kaitlin was the Acting Curator of Visual Arts at the Momentary in Bentonville, AR where she organized several artist-driven projects and exhibitions with notable artists including Diana Al-Hadid, Garrett Bradley, Rashawn Griffin, Esteban Cabeza de Baca; and forthcoming exhibitions including Yvette Mayorga’s first solo museum exhibition and Firelei Baez’s largest sculptural installation to date (organized by ICA Boston). Prior to joining the Momentary, Kaitlin held curatorial positions at the Denver Art Museum, the Biennial of the Americas, and MCA Denver, establishing her deep connection to the Denver-metro and regional art communities. With Kaitlin’s knowledge of this year’s hosting institution location paired with her national and international curatorial reach and knowledge, we are thrilled to connect her to FATE members’ work and practice.
STUDENT EXHIBITION
CONFERENCE PLANNING TEAM
RMCAD
Jaime Carrejo, VP of Conference Planning
Agnes Ma, Programing Coordinator
Gretchen Marie Schaefer, Special Events, Exhibitions & Transportation
James Reiman, Design and Branding
Dr. Lucas Sheaffer, Program Coordinator
Regan Rosburg, Volunteer Coordinator + Social Media
FATE
Raymond Gaddy, FATE President
Jaime Carrejo, VP of Conference
Libby McFalls, VP of Communications
Shannon Lindsey, VP of Finance
Kariann Fuqua, VP of Development
Meredith Starr, VP of Membership
Colleen Toutant Merrill, DEIA Committee Representative
Casey McGuire, immediate past president of FATE
2023 Conference Statistics
Acceptance rate for sessions was 74%. Out of 102 proposals submitted, 73 were accepted and 27 were rejected.
SPONSORS
