Fall 2017 Art With A Purpose Conference Registration Coming Soon!
The WAEA Fall Conference themed: Art With A Purpose is just around the corner. This will be a fantastic conference in Fort Atkinson, WI. Make your plans now to participate in this wonderful opportunity to collaborate with like-minded art education colleagues. The conference will be held at Fort Atkinson High School in Fort Atkinson, WI on Friday and Saturday October 27 and 28th. Please click the button to download a copy of the conference brochure. Conference for credit through UW La Crosse will also be available. See the button below for details. |

Start making art for the exhibit!! Showcase your talents as an artist-educator.
Show Details:
Work will be displayed publicly at Cafe Carpe (cafecarpe.com) in Fort Atkinson from October 9th-26th and is available for viewing during normal business hours.
The closing reception is Thursday, October 26th 6:30-8pm
Appetizers will be provided for members and their guests. Patrons and members are also able to purchase a meal (many delicious options) or drinks (also many delicious options) as they desire.
DEADLINE to Enter: Work Shipped and Postmarked 9-27-17
For more details and to enter click the button below.
Show Details:
Work will be displayed publicly at Cafe Carpe (cafecarpe.com) in Fort Atkinson from October 9th-26th and is available for viewing during normal business hours.
The closing reception is Thursday, October 26th 6:30-8pm
Appetizers will be provided for members and their guests. Patrons and members are also able to purchase a meal (many delicious options) or drinks (also many delicious options) as they desire.
DEADLINE to Enter: Work Shipped and Postmarked 9-27-17
For more details and to enter click the button below.
Art Book and Supply Exchange
Attention 2017 WAEA Fall Conference attendees! We will be featuring an art book and supply exchange at the conference in Fort Atkinson on October 27-28. Bring along what you no longer need and exchange it for what you can use. Look for our booth in the vender area!
The Fall Conference will feature multiple Nationally recognized presenters. You will not want to miss out.

Debi West, Ed.S, NBCT
Debi West, Ed.S, NBCT has been teaching in Gwinnett County Georgia since 1993. She teaches students via the visual arts at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, GA where she is the department chair of the visual art department, fine arts co-chair, NAHS co-sponsor and the owner of the Crystal Collage Children's Art Studio.
Debi is passionate about teaching children through the arts! Debi is an advocate for art education and has served as the President of the Georgia Art Education Association (2001-2007) and recently completed her term as elected Southeastern Vice President of the National Art Education Association in March (2012-2016). She has served on various boards for the National Art Education Association including the Secondary Division Director, the Elementary Division Director, as well as the Southeastern Rep for the NAEA Advocacy Committee. She has given over 80 motivational and educational speeches, locally, regionally, and nationally. In 1997 and 1998 she was the national recipient of the Claire Flanagan Youth Art Month award, the top award for art advocacy, representing the state of Georgia. At the state level, Debi was the Youth Art Month coordinator for 3 years, Conference coordinator 2000 and 2008 and Business Rep from 2008-2010, and again in 2016. Debi was the 2005 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year and a top 10 State Finalist for the 2006 Teacher of the Year.
Awards include: 2017 Southeastern Secondary Art Educator; 2012 National Outstanding National Art Honor Society Sponsor; 2012 ArtWorks! Gwinnett FUSION Award recipient, Art Educator of the Year; 2011 Georgia Honorary Youth Art Month Art Educator; 2009 Georgia Art Educator of the Year; 2009 Woodruff Arts Center Leader in the Arts Honoree; 2008 11 Alive Class Act Teacher Award; 2006 NAEA Marion Quin Dix Leadership Award; 2006 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalist; 2005 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year; 2005 National Elementary Art Educator of the Year, as well as the 2000 NAEA Southeastern Elementary Art Educator and the 1999 Georgia Elementary Art Educator. She humbly accepts each of these awards on behalf of the thousands of children she has taught throughout the years. Her line is: “My kiddos keep making me look good!”
She herself is an accomplished artist and author and is currently exhibited in several galleries in the Atlanta area. She has received national recognition for her work, “The Art of Making Art” showcased in the NAEA Electronic Exhibit, President’s Choice Award; New York, 2001. She has published 10 books and resource guides and is a contributing editor for “Arts and Activities” magazine, creating their first ever monthly “curricular series”. Her student’s work appears in “Emphasis Art” and the SRA Art books, “Art Connections”. She exhibits her student’s art throughout the community, state, region and nation! And you can currently read her Secondary Yearlong Art II Curriculum Series published in this year’s Arts and Activities magazine.
Debi earned her BA from the University of South Carolina in 1989 with a concentration in studio art. She earned her art teaching certificate from the Moore College of Art and Design in 1992, her MAEd in 1999 (art education) from the UGA and her Ed.S (art education) from UGA as well. She is currently a Ph.D candidate at UGA.
Debi and her husband, Chuck, are the proud parents of Croy and Carson. They reside in Suwanee, GA. Debi’s faith, family, friends and students are her TRUE inspirations! dewestudio@bellsouth.net (404) 915-7888 art.northgwinnett.com FB: Debi Dunavant West Twitter: dewestudio Instagram: dewestudio #room406
Debi West, Ed.S, NBCT has been teaching in Gwinnett County Georgia since 1993. She teaches students via the visual arts at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, GA where she is the department chair of the visual art department, fine arts co-chair, NAHS co-sponsor and the owner of the Crystal Collage Children's Art Studio.
Debi is passionate about teaching children through the arts! Debi is an advocate for art education and has served as the President of the Georgia Art Education Association (2001-2007) and recently completed her term as elected Southeastern Vice President of the National Art Education Association in March (2012-2016). She has served on various boards for the National Art Education Association including the Secondary Division Director, the Elementary Division Director, as well as the Southeastern Rep for the NAEA Advocacy Committee. She has given over 80 motivational and educational speeches, locally, regionally, and nationally. In 1997 and 1998 she was the national recipient of the Claire Flanagan Youth Art Month award, the top award for art advocacy, representing the state of Georgia. At the state level, Debi was the Youth Art Month coordinator for 3 years, Conference coordinator 2000 and 2008 and Business Rep from 2008-2010, and again in 2016. Debi was the 2005 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year and a top 10 State Finalist for the 2006 Teacher of the Year.
Awards include: 2017 Southeastern Secondary Art Educator; 2012 National Outstanding National Art Honor Society Sponsor; 2012 ArtWorks! Gwinnett FUSION Award recipient, Art Educator of the Year; 2011 Georgia Honorary Youth Art Month Art Educator; 2009 Georgia Art Educator of the Year; 2009 Woodruff Arts Center Leader in the Arts Honoree; 2008 11 Alive Class Act Teacher Award; 2006 NAEA Marion Quin Dix Leadership Award; 2006 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalist; 2005 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year; 2005 National Elementary Art Educator of the Year, as well as the 2000 NAEA Southeastern Elementary Art Educator and the 1999 Georgia Elementary Art Educator. She humbly accepts each of these awards on behalf of the thousands of children she has taught throughout the years. Her line is: “My kiddos keep making me look good!”
She herself is an accomplished artist and author and is currently exhibited in several galleries in the Atlanta area. She has received national recognition for her work, “The Art of Making Art” showcased in the NAEA Electronic Exhibit, President’s Choice Award; New York, 2001. She has published 10 books and resource guides and is a contributing editor for “Arts and Activities” magazine, creating their first ever monthly “curricular series”. Her student’s work appears in “Emphasis Art” and the SRA Art books, “Art Connections”. She exhibits her student’s art throughout the community, state, region and nation! And you can currently read her Secondary Yearlong Art II Curriculum Series published in this year’s Arts and Activities magazine.
Debi earned her BA from the University of South Carolina in 1989 with a concentration in studio art. She earned her art teaching certificate from the Moore College of Art and Design in 1992, her MAEd in 1999 (art education) from the UGA and her Ed.S (art education) from UGA as well. She is currently a Ph.D candidate at UGA.
Debi and her husband, Chuck, are the proud parents of Croy and Carson. They reside in Suwanee, GA. Debi’s faith, family, friends and students are her TRUE inspirations! dewestudio@bellsouth.net (404) 915-7888 art.northgwinnett.com FB: Debi Dunavant West Twitter: dewestudio Instagram: dewestudio #room406