WIT Events

WIT eXchange

September 17 to 19, 2020 - CANCELLED
Arrowmont Arts and Crafts School
Gatlinburg, TN


About

The eXchange will take place September 17th through 19th - with arrival on September 16th and departure on September 20th.

Join in the fun of a three-day immersion into the creative process. Each day will be a new opportunity to work and get to know others in small collaborative teams of three. The first two days, group members will be assigned, so there will be a range of skill levels from newbie to professionals on each team. On the third day, you will be able to select those you want to work with.

Each day, your team will be working in a fun-filled and fast-paced exploration of designing and creating a piece based on randomly generated word pairs by using a variety of techniques including, but not limited to woodturning, pyrography, carving, and painting. We will all be sharing and learning from each other! If there is a certain tool or technique you want to use, but are not sure how to go about it, just ask. Someone will be able to help you.

As your day progresses, you will be asked to photograph the process your team goes though. Each evening we will come together and share your process with the whole group using a selected group of your images. In this way, we will be able to learn from everyone's experience. Groups do not necessarily need to complete the project by day's end, but we do hope to get those creative juices flowing and have fun! All levels of experience are welcome-including newbies.

Cost

Event has been canceled..

  • AAW Members: The  price is $325 for AAW members, which includes event registration and and all meals from Wednesday (9/16) dinner to Sunday (9/20) breakfast. 
  • Non-AAW Members: The cost is $385 for non-AAW members, which includes $60 one-year AAW membership, event registration, and meals. (We have a limited number of grants available for AAW membership.)

Rooms

Room/accommodations can be made through Arrowmont (865-436-5860 or https://www.arrowmont.org/contact/) - or on your own at local hotels or campgrounds in the area.

Plan to arrive in time to check in after 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday and join us for dinner which will start serving at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday evening we will have a Welcoming Event.

If you are not an AAW member, WIT is offering incentive memberships through your AAW WIT chapter liaisons or your AAW chapter president.

 

Cancellation and Refund Policy
Symposium registration cancellations will be charged a fee of $75, which will be deducted from the refund.

 
On and after August 17,2020 the registration fee is non-refundable except for medical emergency.

 

Want to learn more?

Visit Andi Wolfe's blog.

 

Reflections on the 2018 WIT eXchange

"When I got home and tried to describe the experience to my husband, so many emotions came out! It was exhilarating. It was frustrating. It was exciting. It was frightening. It was liberating. It was challenging. It was learning. It was teaching. It was mind-boggling. It was unexpected. It was a pool of creative energy. It was camaraderie. It was a starting point for many new friendships and artistic collaborations. It was WONDERFUL! I didn’t want it to end and I can’t wait to do it again!

I had a lot of firsts at this eXchange. I tried pyrography. I tried staining. I tried power carving. I used new equipment, including a vacuum chuck, a planer and various sanders.

I pushed myself creatively. I practiced patience, communication and teamwork. I challenged my perceived limitations. I accepted and learned from mistakes and obstacles, channeling them into design opportunities.

I observed others doing the same things, discovering resources both inside and outside of themselves. I learned from listening to the other groups’ design processes, how they came up with ideas and how they executed their plans. The sheer volume of creative energy and talent that we were immersed in was overwhelming. One refreshing aspect to me was having egos checked at the door and everyone willing to put in the work to make this a true eXchange: a place where talent, ideas, knowledge, and processes were freely shared.

I will and have already put some of the new skills and techniques to use at home. Three members of our local club attended the eXchange. On the way home we had lengthy discussions about bringing this type of creative exchange to our local group to see where it will lead. After multiple discussions, we organized a mini exchange event. I believe the ripple effect from the WIT eXchange is only just starting and these ripples will be felt for a very long time!”
~ Marie Anderson

The photo pictured above is entitled, "Curving Adventure," one of the collaborations Marie worked on during the eXchange, along with Joan Busby and Laura Schindler.