Professor Tamara Brantmeier recently returned from a trip to the College Art Association (CAA) Annual Conference. We had some questions for her and here’s what she had to say:



What do you see as being the biggest benefit of belonging to CAA?

The annual conferences are a great place to network and make connections with other artists and educators. They also have a comprehensive website that provides a listing of opportunities and resources for job-seekers and artists.


What would you tell a student who was considering becoming a part of the organization?

The conference is a great place for recent graduates to be mentored and take advantage of professional development opportunities (workshops).


What, in your opinion, was the best part of the conference?

A session with artists, Petah Coyne, Robert Gober, Vija Celmins, Philip Taaffe and Janine Antoni - all internationally recognized artists. The session was titled, "Parallel Practices: What do you do when you are not making art?"


Why is it important to become involved with College Art Association?

Networking, professional development and a chance to travel to some wonderful cities around the US.

The conference was held in New York. What is your favorite place to visit, and where do you like to eat while you’re there?

My favorite thing to do while in NYC is walk. When not attending conference sessions, I walked until my feet, legs and back hurt. The city is rich with visual nutrients. The people, the traffic, the crazy drivers, the cyclists, the architecture, the graffiti, the sounds and smells...

As far as eating goes, that is my favorite part of traveling. On this trip, I went to a tiny Kosher, Middle Eastern place called Azuri that was recommended to me by a friend who lives in Manhattan. I also found a gluten-free Italian restaurant (Risotteria) that made me incredibly happy.