Lynn Adamo

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SAMA Conference in Nashville

The 19th annual conference of the Society of American Mosaic Artists was held in Nashville April 22 –28.

Once again, it was a memorable trip. Rewarding on many levels, possibly most importantly because of the deepening connections to colleagues who have become dear friends. The conference itself presented a slate of informative and moving presentations, and the Mosaic Arts International Exhibitions were stunning. I am in awe of how far contemporary mosaic artists have pushed the envelope and are creating more impressive work than ever. To be included in the juried exhibition is an honor.

This was my 15th (!) SAMA conference, and as such, I have to admit I look forward to hanging with my friends and experiencing a new city probably more than the actual conference events. The opportunity to spend time with artist colleagues and have thoughtful conversations about art, especially advancing our medium of contemporary mosaic, fills me up and pushes me forward to more creativity in the year ahead. Although I haven’t taken any workshops at conferences recently, I do like to take one of the tours the conference offers. The tour I took this year gave us a good overview of the history of Nashville and Tennessee. So good for this Westerner, who learned very little of the South and its history.

Some fun the first two days…

And now, for some art…

Tidbits of Nashville…

Fun times with friends

Nashville after the conference

For years I’ve known about Hatch Show Print, an institution in Nashville. A traditional letterpress printshop, it was a must destination for Bob and me. I’ve always had a passion for letterpress, stemming from my background in graphic design, and Bob shares the interest now that he’s pursuing printmaking.