SECAC: Art Book Sales

Posted on by Thor

At SECAC in Winston Salem North Carolina, the Winston Ballroom in the Conference Center had many small tables set up so people could relax between sessions. Long tables were set up down the center aisle of the room which had a wide array of art books for sale. Stella Alberaéz Tascón found a book that showed how to mix your own pigments by finding the natural plants and crushing pigments using a mortar and pedestal. It took a Herculean amount of self control for me to resist getting some more art books to fill out my art book library. I walked down this aisle multiple times between session flipping through the selections.

On the far wall of the room away from the entrance doors were long tables full of coffee’s, Teas and pasties. Since my hotel didn’t have any breakfast options, I came in here each morning to grab a power bar. I resisted caffeine.

Here and the main entrance hall were the min social areas. Many professors researchers and artists had clearly been her at SECAC many times before and they would shout out in joy and hug when they spotted a friend from past years. This was all new to me and it was an uncharted adventure to learn what I could from as many lectures as possible.

I would enter this central conference room between sessions and sit down to figure out what I needed to see next. The titles of the sessions could be long and esoteric so choosing just the right talks was a guessing game. Sessions were organized into categories such as, Studio Art, Art History, Studio and Art History, Graphic Design, Art Education, and Interdisciplinary. I tended to want to see sessions relating to studio art, but almost all of the sessions were also related to art education.

Towards the end of the conference, I just started wandering into sessions with no preconceptions and I was never disappointed. Since I am endlessly curious and rushing to complete a sketch, there was never a moment to slow down and be bored. I honestly can’t imagine anyone being bored with so much research and artistic expression being shared.

SECAC: Opening Reception

Posted on by Thor

I drove to Winston Salem, North Carolina to attend a SECAC Conference with Stella Arbelaéz Tascón. SECAC stands for Southeastern College Art Conference. I was brought in as an illustrative journalist to cover the convention with sketches. Since I was offered a press pass, I felt I had to sketch every session I attended.

The drive to North Carolina was 10 hours, which was divided into two driving sessions. By the time we arrived at the Conference we were both exhausted. Stella’s world traveling mini poodle named Boo Boo came along for the Conference. Since we arrived late, there was no time to get him into a doggie day care. So, Stella brought him into the Conference in her shoulder bag. There is a hole in the shoulder bag which allows just Boo’s head to stick out. Most people never notice him or they think he is a plush stuffed animal.

The invitation said that the Opening Reception would happen in Salem 2, which was a large conference room. Outside that room there was plenty of small bites on tables, and each attendee got two drink tickets. Since I was waiting for the Salem 2 doors to open, I decided to get a plate of food and a white wine. I was feeling a bit tipsy from the single wine since I never drink. When I had finished the veggies, I had picked out for my dinner, I found that the Salem 2 Conference doors had still not opened. I opened one door and peaked inside to find a vast space filled with chairs. I decided to get a sweet slice of pie since I still had time to kill before I started my sketch.

When I finished my pie, I realized that the Salem 2 Conference room doors would never open. This informal gathering in the hallway was the event. I quickly whipped out my artist stool and sat down to sketch. Staff noticed me setting up and they complimented my on bringing along my own chair.

Then I dug into my art bag and pulled out my sketchbook. I had two sketchbooks to document the Conference. The small sketchbook I had used in the hotel room to write down the Conference Center address. I had then placed the sketchbook on my bed and forgot about it. At least I had the large hardbound sketchbook to work with. Then I realized I forgot my pen and pencil travel case. How on earth was I going to do a sketch, I didn’t have my art pencils, pens or watercolor brushes. Digging through my pockets I discovered I had a single yellow Ticonderoga pencil. I also had my watercolor palette but no brushes to apply the paint.

I had to put something on the page, so I started doing a very rough sketch with my pencil. Then I started applying watercolor with my finger and a rag. I wasn’t about to apply many colors I just needed to get something on the page.

While struggling with my sketch, I met Mina Rezghian. Mina is a University of South Carolina MFA candidate, She had three pieces on exhibit in the Annual SECAC Juried Exhibition. Thanks to exchanging Instagram information, I got to see some of her work. I briefly got to learn a little about her childhood in Iran. She mentioned a flood that washed away her collection of plush rabbits. My little sister had a plush rabbit that she held so often that it started to fall apart. She held the rabbit by its long partly detached ear and the rabbits butt dragged on the ground as my sister dragged it around. Mina’s childhood was washed away in a flash. Her father came to America feeling he could find a better life. Mina’s work reflects memories of a life that was tender and sweet and yet she came from a country that our President decided to bomb. On February 28, 2026 a U.S. Tomahawk missile struck an elementary school in Minab Iran, killing at least 156 people including 120 children and 26 teachers. After the brief conversation with Mina, I had a million more questions, but this is just an example of the amazing people that can be met at such an inspiring Conference.

In the Juried exhibition, Mina had two wooden pieces that had weathered photographs and that felt like antique momentous. A tiny photo of her cat walking in Mina’s grandmother’s courtyard was faded and yet evoked tender memories. The wooden panels were cut by Mina and she said the wood panels she had assembled stained and varnished held memories. I was lucky to meet this artist as I struggled with my sketch and at her opening at the juried group art show at Emerson Fine Arts Center at Salem College.

 

Military Cases Triple

Posted on by Thor

COVID-19 cases in the United States have surged almost three-fold in the military since just before Christmas of 2021 according to defense department statistics. The Defense Department reported just under 5,300 cases among service members December 22, 2021. By January 5, 2022 that number reached more than 13,900.

As of September 1, 2021 there were 40 military member deaths due to COVID-19. By January 5, 2022 the total was 86. In response, the military is increasing health protection protocols on many bases and at the pentagon.

Wright Patterson Air Force Base has moved to the highest level of health protection measures which includes now allowing only 15% of the workforce in the office at a time.

One base that has seen a post holiday surge is Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which currently has an estimated 50% positivity rate among those being tested. The base hospital, Womack Army Medical Center, was at 100% capacity at the end of last week, a military official there told CNN.

The jump reflects, to some extent, what is happening in civilian society as the Omicron variant has taken hold and case rates have risen in many communities across the country, defense officials say. The Defense Department does not test specifically for the Omicron variant but officials say there is every reason to believe the highly contagious variant has hit the military force.

Don’t Get Vaccinated

Posted on by Thor

A black Wilmore Funeral House truck  had “Don’t Get Vaccinated” emblazoned on it’s side. This messanging was actually Part of a Pro-Vaccine Campaign. The truck that circled outside of the Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina during Sunday’s Carolina Panthers game, CNN reported. Wilmore Funeral House is nonexistent, however — the creation of ad agency BooneOakley. When internet users access the website, the landing page has a message that simply states, “Get vaccinated now. If not, see you soon.” The page also has a link to StarMed, which allows people to register to get vaccinated at health care providers in the area.

Last month in Florida over 9500 people have died from COVID-19. Bringing the total number of deaths from COVID in the Sunshine State to over 54,000. That is about double the number of deaths compared to a country like Canada.

Business is too good for funeral directors. Funeral homes and grave diggers have to struggle to keep up with the demand. In Florida, according to CBS News, employees of funeral homes are absolutely swamped. In July 2021, the CDC reported that one in five new COVID-19 cases in the United States was occurring in Florida. CBS News’ Khristopher J. Brooks explained, “In the last week of August 2021, Florida hospitals averaged 279 deaths per day — up from 52 in July, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The spike in fatalities, is strongly suspected to stem from the ongoing surge in cases caused by the Delta variant.

Mass Psychosis

Posted on by Thor

The insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 was a failure, but the boiling anger continues to bubble up at school board meetings across America. Anti maskers are teaming up with the Proud Boys to threaten school boards about mask mandates.

A school board meeting in North Carolina got so chaotic that protestors attempted to overthrow the officials and install themselves as the new school board. Parents are being trained as front line disruptive soldiers. They are being taught how to die and kill others in the process.

Parents are also being trained to heckle and harass health care professionals who advocate masks to slow the spread of the virus. One petite nurse was purposefully bumped by an angry mask less dad as she was about to give testimony at a school board meeting.

The right continues to stoke the mob who need to vent their anger at anyone they can, be it school boards, who are trying to protect their children, or health care workers who are trying to save their life when they inevitably get sick from the virus.

It is fairly easy to seduce a loud minority to riot. So many have lost touch with reality and have descended into delusions. Ideas are expressed only through brute force. Anger is the fuel that radicalizes the white middle class who fear extinction s they commit viral suicide. The anger left over from the attempted insurrection is not fading away but rather getting more intense as it moves into every neighborhood.

As health care workers deal with the unvaccinated dying in their hospitals, they are often subjected to harassment because people refuse to accept the reality of the virus even as they are taking their last breaths. At the beginning of the pandemic heath care workers were hailed as heroes, but as time wore on they became villains in peoples minds who deny science and basic health measures. Health care workers have been the primary targets of coronavirus-related acts of violence, harassment, and discrimination recorded by the International Committee of the Red Cross across more than 40 countries. A total of 611 incidents were recorded between February 1, 2021 and July 31, 2021.