Fall Conference 2024

Fall Conference 2024

We are thrilled to announce that we are going to McCook, Nebraska, for our fall conference,

October 11-12 2024!

Deb Goodenberger of McCook Public Schools and Deonne Hinz of St. Patrick's School in McCook, are our wonderful co-chairs. They, alongside a very generous host, the 6th Floor Project, are all very excited to share with us all that has developed in McCook since we were last there in 2016.

McCook was recently named a Creative District and is home to the community’s flourishing arts and culture scene. The creative district is also home to historical museums, active community organizations, art galleries and the latest addition, the McCook Community Mural, which involved more than 100 community members to come to fruition. McCook is also home to Nebraska's only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, The Sutton House.

The 6th Floor Project, formed in 2022, is an innovative McCook non-profit that seeks to elevate the art of under-appreciated creators from across the globe while reinvigorating rural Nebraska. The 6th Floor Project is excited to co-host the event and provide use of ArtBank, a new 17000 sq.ft. contemporary art space, and the 6th Floor itself, which is at the top of the historic Keystone Building and was called "quite possibly the coolest art space in all of Nebraska" (Matthew Hansen, Flatwater Free Press). These art spaces have rotating exhibitions for local, regional and visiting artists as well as a permanent collection featuring works from John Thein, former Professor from Creighton University, Shonto Begay, and many artists from Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, California, a studio for adult artists with special needs. (www.creative growth.org) These artists have works in major art museums!

Photo: Joann Falkenburg from McCook Murals Facebook Page

Mural Credits: @mural_OTW @OTWmurals2023

Lead Artists: Amber Hansen, Darcy Millette, Reyna Hernandez. Mural created with various other artists

Keynote Speakers

Friday 10/11

Tom di Maria has served as Creative Growth Art Center’s Director since 2000. As Director, he has developed partnerships with museums, galleries and international design companies to help bring Creative Growth's artists with disabilities fully into the contemporary art world. He speaks around the world about the Center’s major artists and their relationship to both Outsider Art and contemporary culture.

Prior to this position, he served as Assistant Director of the Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive, at UC Berkeley. Tom has also worked as the Executive Director of FRAMELINE, and as Director of Development and Marketing at the San Francisco Film Society. He holds a B.F.A. from Rochester Institute of Technology and a M.F.A. from Maryland Institute, College of Art, in film and photography. Tom is also an award-winning filmmaker, with short film awards from Sundance, Black Maria, Sinking Creek, National Educational Media, and New York Experimental film festivals. In 2019, he was awarded the Visionary Award by the American Folk Art Museum in New York.

Saturday 10/12

The art of Shonto Begay captures the striking beauties of a Navajo upbringing and the realities of modern reservation life. A traditional life of sustainability and prayer helped Shonto endure the brutality of the U.S. government boarding school he was forced to attend as a child. He paints in a series of small brush strokes that repeat like the words of a traditional Navajo blessing prayer. His images harken heartfelt childhood memories and resonate the constant struggle for balance and harmony with humankind and Earth.

Born in a Hogan, Shonto grew up herding sheep in sheep in Kletha Valley in Shonto, Arizona. One of 16 children, his mother is a traditional Navajo rug weaver from the Bitter Water Clan, and his father was a medicine man born to the Salt Clan.

Shonto began professionally writing, illustrating, and painting in 1983. He is represented in numerous museums and fine-art galleries. A true storyteller, he has written and illustrated several books for Scholastic and Random House publishers. Shonto speaks to audiences of all ages about inspiration and the importance of education and embracing cultural backgrounds.

Registration

Registration Fee Schedule

Early Bird Rate, now through August 31st

  • NATA Active Professional Member - $125

  • NATA Pre-Service Member - $50

  • NATA Emeritus Member - $100

  • Not Yet a Member - $200


Registration September 1-6

  • (after October 6, you will have to register on-site)*

  • NATA Active Professional Member - $140

  • NATA Pre-Service Member - $75

  • NATA Emeritus Member - $120

  • Not Yet a Member - $225

One Day Passes, now through October 6

  • (after October 6, you will have to register on-site)*

  • NATA Member Friday - $75

  • NATA Member Saturday - $75

  • Not Yet a Member Friday - $125

  • Not Yet a Member Saturday - $125

BANQUET TICKETS: $25

Must be purchased separately at the NATA STORE by October 1st

Key Note Guest Pass: $24

This pass is for 1 person that is not attending the conference as a registered attendee or invited speaker to attend BOTH keynoted speakers for their presentation and Q&A session following. Please check in at the registration table both Friday and Saturday. 

Must be purchased separately at the NATA STORE by October 1st

Complete this registration form BEFORE purchasing your pass, link to purchase included in  registration form

Extras

Frank Lloyd Wright Sutton House Tours - $10

We have the opportunity to tour the Frank Lloyd Wright Sutton House! If you are interested in one of the scheduled tours, you will be required to sign up for the time you would like and pay with your conference registration invoice.

Hands-on Workshops - $ Varies

If you are interested in a workshop that has a cost associated with it, please sign up for the time you would like and pay with your conference registration invoice. 

Drop in Breakout Sessions

Are listed on the schedule for your planning but do not need to be signup up for as they are drop in by nature and have no maximum #of interested participants.

Drop in Tours of the ArtBank Gallery, McCook Mural & 6th Floor Gallery

Led by Joann Falkenburg founder of the ArtBank, participants will be able to learn more about wonderful story of these amazing spaces. Tours will be limited to approx 25 people and offered during each breakout session on Friday.

PAYMENT

All payments for this conference will be INVOICED and payment must be remitted with 30 days of registration submission.

If your district is paying your registration by check, an invoice will be emailed to you following this submission. Please look for an email from NATA Treasurer Trish Hinrichs within a week of your submission.

Your Invoice payment receipt is your confirmation to attend the conference.

Schedule at a Glance

Full Conference Schedule

To use the “Build Your Own” page,

remember to MAKE A COPY first!

NATA Art Educator Exhibit

Exhibit and Awards

Show Dates: September 12th-October 12th 2024

Location: ArtBank

Awards Ceremony: October 12th 3:30-4:00 PM (tentative)

Juror - Rebel Mahieu

We are so excited to have Rebel Mahieu as our juror for the NATA Art Educator Art Show 2024!

From 1995-2003 Rebel Taught grades 6-8 art at Ruppenthal Middle School. Since 2008, she has worked as an Art Instructor at Colby Community College in Colby, KS. She says, “I love teaching students and community artists to get out of their ‘reality box’ and express their world with color, shape, and expressive qualities. I quite frequently say, ‘if you want something to look real then simply take a pic,’ but if you want it to come to life, ‘paint how you feel about it.’ Let the art take you somewhere that you cannot go in your tangible, everyday world.”

Awards Ceremony Banquet

Friday, October 11th 2024 - ArtBank

Full Banquet Info

VENUE
ArtBank

PARKING
Street and lot parking available around the area

Dress Code


Wear what you feel most comfortable in.

As it is an awards banquet,many guests will wear business casual and cocktail dress.

Banquet Menu:

Citta’ Deli and Restaurant:

Buffet Style Pasta and More!

Cavatini with Marinara 

Chicken Alfredo with Penne pasta

Meatballs

Bread sticks 

Salad , cheese on the side, Ranch and Italian dressings

Mini cheesecakes and Cannoli 

2024 Award Winners

NATA Outstanding Art Educator of the Year - Kylie Kubicka, Kenesaw, NE

NATA Elementary Art Educator of the Year – Sarah Gabelhouse, Lincoln, NE

NATA Middle Level Art Educator of the Year- Elizabeth Thomsen, Lincoln, NE

NATA Secondary Art Educator of the Year – Mike Trotter, Schuyler, NE

NATA Secondary Art Educator of the Year - Paula Yoachim, Omaha, NE

NATA K–12 Art Educator of the Year – Kylie Kubicka, Kenesaw, NE

NATA Higher Education Educator of the Year- Christy Kosmicki, Kearney, NE

NATA Francis Thurber Preservice Educator of the Year – Carrisa Hill, Bartley, NE

NATA Marvin Spomer Novice Art Educator – Ashley Piquet, Elwood, NE

NATA Roscoe Shields Service Award – Cathy Barta, Niobrara, NE

  NATA Administrator/Supervisor of the year- Cody Talarico, Nebraska Department of EDU

NATA Prism Award – ArtBank, McCook, NE
     

Schedule

5:30pm- 6:15pm Social/Cash bar and Silent Auction
6:15pm- 7:00pm Banquet Service
7:00pm-9:00pm Awards Ceremony (break and close auction @ 8:30)
9:00pm- End of Banquet/Auction payments*


    *we will accept cash and check ONLY for silent auction purchases

General pricing only.

Lodging

Holiday Inn Express

711 North Hwy 83, McCook, NE, US

The Venues

  • ArtBank

    108 W D St, McCook, NE 69001

    Join us on Friday, October 11th at McCook’s ArtBank with our keynote, Tom Di Maria for a full day of breakout sessions, workshops, awards banquet, networking,and FUN!

    We will also be at ArtBank Saturday October, 12th for the Keynote Shonto Begay.

    The Art Educator’s Exhibit will also be at the ArtBank where we will close out the conferennce with the show awards!

    Directions

  • St. Patrick's School

    401 East F Street McCook, NE 69001

    McCook’s St. Patricks School is excited to host us on Saturday October 12th, for our full day of workshops and breakout sessions.

    Directions

  • Harvey P. Sutton House- Frank Lloyd Wright

    602 Norris Ave, McCook, NE 69001

    Saturday we will have sessions scheduled to tour the beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright designed Harvey P. Sutton house for $10 tours in groups of 20 per tour.

    Please see schedule for more information.

    Directions

Please direct all inquiries and questions to natafallconferencechair@gmail.com