Reflections on Summer Symposium 2025

This summer, I attended the 2025 Ohio Art Education Association Summer Symposium at Mount St. Joseph University. The theme for this year was Embrace Creativity, and from the moment I arrived on campus, I felt fully immersed in activities that supported this focus.
I registered for graduate credit, so I kept a journal throughout the event to document my experiences.   Keeping a journal was a meaningful way to document and reflect on my learning.  I appreciate that the OAEA Professional Development committee offers the option of earning graduate credit at Summer Symposium, OAEA Conference and for leadership opportunities.
Choosing workshops over the two days was difficult because there were so many great options. The first session I attended was Embellishments to the Max! with Sue Ayers.  Hot glue guns buzzed as participants attached bits and baubles from their personal stashes to three-dimensional items they had brought from home. I had such a great time in this session that I went straight to Michael’s afterward to buy a hot glue gun so I could continue working on my project that evening!

The next workshop, Upcycled Goodness + Nature Craftiness, focused on creatively repurposing discarded materials to create home or classroom décor and handmade gifts. Adrian Vance Hawk did a fantastic job setting up stations that allowed us to explore various upcycling techniques.
On the second day, I attended Drawn to Stitch, a workshop hosted by Susan Ruttle Lawrence. We were introduced to a wide range of textile techniques, including cutting, appliqué, quilting, manipulation, embroidery, and machine stitching. We had ample time to explore these approaches using diverse fabrics and fibers, creating a compelling interplay between the visual and tactile surfaces of our fabric compositions.

My final workshop was Painting with Fibers: Using the Wet Felting Technique, led by Therese Waldbillig. We created mesmerizing felted paintings, beginning with undyed merino wool as our canvas. Dyed merino wool and other natural fibers served as our color palette. By blending and manipulating these materials, we developed vibrant compositions, which were then completed using the wet felting process.
My favorite part of the event was the art show. I loved seeing what other art educators created during the week—and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my own work as well!

Submitted by: Dawn Norris