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VRA 2020 Baltimore: Registration Opens this Friday, December 6

Early Bird Registration for VRA 2020 Baltimore, March 24-27, opens this Friday, December 6, 2019The annual Visual Resources Association conference provides the opportunity for colleagues from diverse workplaces, including higher education, the corporate sector, museums, and archives to engage and collaborate at an ideally-sized conference of around 200 attendees.  Participants enjoy the long-standing association and conference culture of generous knowledge sharing while exploring digital asset management, intellectual property rights, digital humanities, metadata standards, coding, imaging best practices and so much more.The VRA will have almost exclusive use of the conference hotel, Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore, and we want to encourage you to take part in this amazing networking and community building experience.  This year’s program includes workshops on IIIF, visual communication, critical cataloging, digitization on the road, and grant writing, as well as sessions delving into topics such as diversity in the workplace, online exhibition platforms, managing rights data, community building, 3D digitization, accessibility, visual literacy, oral histories, and international intellectual property rights.  During registration, you will have the opportunity to sign up for tours at the American Visionary Art Museum, Enoch Pratt Free Library, George Peabody Library, the Walters Art Museum, Hirshhorn Museum, and Homewood Museum and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library at Johns Hopkins University.During the conference, explore Charm City! The hotel is right on the Inner Harbor with the Maryland Science Center, complete with IMAX theater, directly across the street. You’ll be able to walk to all of the harbor attractions, including the National Aquarium and the above mentioned American Visionary Art Museum, as well as many restaurants and shops. Wanting to venture slightly farther afield (really, slightly!)? You’ll be able to visit Fort McHenry, the Baltimore Museum of Industry, the Edgar Allan Poe House, the B & O Railroad Museum, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History & Culture, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium (home of the Ravens who just happen to be at the time of this post first in the AFC North), as well as all of these historic neighborhoods that will delight foodies everywhere (Fell Point, Canton, Federal Hill, and Mt. Vernon). We’ve got breweries and distilleries, art house movie theaters in Station North (Charles Theater and the Parkway), and so many theater companies! For more about visiting Baltimore, click here.Register early to get your first pick of workshops and tours and save $100 off regular registration rates!The VRA Executive Board and the VRA 2020 Baltimore Local Planning Committee look forward to seeing you soon in Charm City!Lael Ensor-BennettVice President for Conference Arrangements, VRA Executive BoardAssistant Curator, Visual Resources Collection, Johns Hopkins UniversityAmy McKennaPublic Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive BoardVisual Resources Curator, Williams College

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Conferences, Travel Awards Conferences, Travel Awards

VRA 2020 Baltimore Travel Award Applications Due Friday, November 15

Dear VRA Colleagues,

The clock is ticking on applications for Travel Awards to support attendance at the 2020 VRA Conference in Baltimore, MD this coming March 24 through 27.  The deadline for receipt of applications will be this Friday, November 15, 2019, at 11:59 EST. The list of recipients will be announced via the VRA listserv on Friday, December 20, 2019.

Before you apply, PLEASE READ “Travel Award Rules, Guidelines and Tips” for VRA Travel Awards Applicants, and “Types of Travel Awards.”

HERE’S THE LINK TO THE APPLICATION.

You do not need to be a member of the VRA to apply for a travel award, but please note that to receive an award an applicant must become a member of VRA and must attend the 2020 Conference.

Please also note that award checks are distributed at a designated event during the conference and as such, recipients will not have access to those funds ahead of the conference to use for their travel expenses, and must thus use awards as reimbursements following the conference.

In order to allow funding to assist the greatest number of attendees, Tansey awards will be distributed according to financial need, i.e. full awards (up to $850) may be given to some, whilst lower amounts may be awarded to others with partial institutional and/or other support. Travel Awards are intended to provide partial support for an individual’s conference attendance, and typically supplement support from one’s employer and/or personal resources.

For the 2020 award cycle, we are fortunate to have generous financial support from sponsors and funds provided by the membership including:

  • The Kathe Hicks Albrecht award of $850, for a first-time VRA Conference attendee.
  • Two New Horizons awards of up to $850 each.  These awards are aimed at members in the following categories: solo VR professionals, part-time VR professionals, geographically isolated VR professionals, VR professionals in smaller institutions, and/or first-time conference attendees.
  • The New Horizons student award of $300, for a full-time student enrolled in an accredited degree program and considering a career in visual resources.
  • The Garneta E. Taormina Memorial Student Travel Award of $300, for a full-time graduate student enrolled in an accredited degree program and considering a career in visual resources and/or digital humanities.
  • Tansey fund awards ranging from $250 to $850 each.

Please email me if you have any questions not answered by the documents noted above.

Each year, we typically receive many more applications than the number of awards we have to bestow.  So, don’t delay – apply today!

The Travel Awards Committee looks forward to receiving your applications,

Allan Kohl
Co-Chair, VRA Travel Awards Committee Librarian, Visual Resources and Library Instruction
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
akohl@mcad.edu
612-874-3781

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Apply Today for a VRA 2020 Baltimore Travel Award

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce that VRA Travel Awards are available to support attendance at the 2020 VRA conference in Baltimore, Maryland, March 24 (Tuesday)-March 27 (Friday), 2020.  The deadline for receipt of applications will be Friday, November 15, 2019, 11:59pm EST.  The list of recipients will be announced via the VRA listserv on Friday December 20, 2019.

Before you apply, PLEASE READ “Travel Award Rules, Guidelines and Tips” for VRA Travel Awards Applicants, and “Types of Travel Awards.”

HERE’S THE LINK TO THE APPLICATION.

You do not need to be a member of the VRA toapply for a travel award, but please note that to receive an award an applicant must become a member of VRAand must attend the 2020 Conference.

Please also note that award checks are distributed at a designatedevent during the conference and as such, recipients will not haveaccess to those funds ahead of theconference to use for their travel expenses, and must thus use awardsas reimbursements following the conference.

In order to allow funding to assist the greatest number ofattendees, Tansey awards will be distributed according to financial need, i.e.full awards (up to $850) may be given to some, whilst lower amounts may beawarded to others with partial institutional and/or other support. Travel Awards are intended to provide partial supportfor an individual’s conference attendance, and typically supplement supportfrom one’s employer and/or personal resources.

For the 2020 award cycle, we are fortunate to have generous financial supportfrom sponsors and funds provided by the membership including:

  • The Kathe Hicks Albrecht award of $850, for a first-time VRA Conference attendee.
  • Two New Horizons awards of up to $850 each.  These awards are aimed at members in the following categories: solo VR professionals, part-time VR professionals, geographically isolated VR professionals, VR professionals in smaller institutions, and/or first-time conference attendees.
  • The New Horizons student award of $300, for a full-time student enrolled in an accredited degree program and considering a career in visual resources.
  • The Garneta E. Taormina Memorial Student Travel Award of $300, for a full-time graduate student enrolled in an accredited degree program and considering a career in visual resources and/or digital humanities.
  • Tansey fund awards ranging from $250 to $850 each.

Please email me if you have any questions not answered by the documentsnoted above.

Each year, we typically receive many moreapplications than the number of awards we have to bestow.  So, don’t delay – apply today!

The Travel Awards Committee looks forward to receiving yourapplications,

Allan Kohl
Co-Chair, VRA Travel Awards CommitteeLibrarian, Visual Resources and Library Instruction
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
akohl@mcad.edu
612-874-3781

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VRA 2020 Baltimore Conference Site and Program Live

VRA 2020 BaltimoreMarch 24-27  |  Visual Resources Association Annual Conference

Engage and collaborate with colleagues from diverse workplaces, including higher education, the corporate sector, museums, and archives at an ideally-sized conference of around 200 attendees.

Enjoy the long-standing association and conference culture of generous knowledge sharing while exploring digital asset management, intellectual property rights, digital humanities, metadata standards, coding, imaging best practices and so much more.

The VRA will have almost exclusive use of the conference hotel, Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore, and we want to encourage you to take part in this amazing networking and community building experience.

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One Month Left to Submit a Proposal for VRA 2020 Baltimore

VRA 2019 attendees agree: Sessions, Meetings, and Workshops are the most valuable parts of the conference!

In free text answers to Which elements or aspects of the conference did you find most valuable and why?

Networking and New were in the top 10 of words used, so share this Call for Papers widely so 2020 Baltimore can be a great networking opportunity for us all!

Sara Schumacher; vpcp@vraweb.org
Vice President for Conference Program,
Visual Resources Association

httpS://vraweb.org/vra-2020-baltimore-call-for-proposals/

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VRA 2020 Baltimore: Call for Proposals

Photo: Sam Amil, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, CC BY 2.0

Call for Proposals

The Visual Resources Association’s 2020 Annual Conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland from Tuesday, March 24th through Friday, March 27th, 2020 at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore. Presenting at the VRA Conference provides you with the opportunity to see how your ideas, research, work, and passion connect to those of other dedicated professionals while building networks and friendships in an open, collaborative environment.

Click here to access the conference proposal form.

The VRA Executive Board is soliciting proposals for papers, sessions, special interest/user groups, and workshops for the 2020 program until Friday, July 19th. All proposals are welcome, and if you have other conference ideas or suggestions that do not fit the conference proposal form, please reach out to the Vice President for Conference Program, Sara Schumacher. Please note a call for Lightning Round presenters will go out in the fall/winter, so that we can better accommodate recent innovations and activities, as well as, students and emerging professionals.

  • A paper is an individual idea submission, which will be reviewed for possible grouping into a session. Your ideas, whether they come to us alone or in a group, are equally valued in the Board's proposal and selection process.
  • A session is a maximum 60-minute moderated panel, usually consisting of no more than 3 presenters each, speaking for 15 to 18 minutes, followed by a brief facilitated question and answer period. If you feel your session topic requires more time, consider dividing it into two sessions, consisting of a Part I and a Part II.
  • A special interest/user group is a 60-minute informal, community -driven, facilitated group discussion on topics related to a specific segment of the VRA membership.
  • A workshop is a 2, 4, or 8-hour workshop to develop skills and experience in the field of visual resources with hands-on activities.

What should you propose?

Past conference schedules can give you an idea of the range of topics presented in previous years or read through the list below of suggested topics compiled from the 2019 post-conference survey responses to find inspiration. Please, do not be afraid to deviate and propose something new or highlight an area of concern that you feel has not been adequately addressed previously, as you may find new collaborators and colleagues. Moderators may put out calls for presenters within a proposed topic before or after the submission of a proposal. The VRA Executive Board will be looking for articulate and concise submissions with lists of presenters, but submissions without presenter lists are encouraged as well.

Suggested topics:

  • Coding (PHP, Python, SQL, etc.)
  • Community Outreach
  • Copyright/Intellectual Property
  • Digital Asset Management, Digital Curation, Digital Preservation, etc.
  • Digitization (Workflows, Digital Capture and Imaging Technologies)
  • Digital Scholarship and Digital Humanities
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Cultural Competencies, Social Justice
  • Project Management (Communication, Grant writing, Prioritization, Leadership, etc.)
  • Linked Data
  • Materials/Objects collections
  • Metadata/Cataloging Ethics (Decolonizing vocabularies, Radical cataloging)
  • Storytelling and Oral History
  • Technologies (GIS and mapping, 3D imaging, etc.)
  • Tools: Open Source, Evolution, Future Trends
  • Workplace cultures and professional transitions (academic departments, libraries, cultural heritage institutions, archives, corporate, etc.)

Please contact the Vice President for Conference Program, Sara Schumacher at vpcp@vraweb.org with any questions or concerns.

Again, the proposal deadline is Friday, July 19th, 2019.  Click here to access the conference proposal form.

We look forward to hearing your ideas!

Sara Schumacher 
Vice President for Conference Program
Visual Resources Association
vpcp@vraweb.org

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Donate & Win: Congrats to Allan Kohl & Amy Lazet!

The Executive Board is delighted to announce the donation drawing winners, Allan T. Kohl and Amy Lazet! They can choose a free conference registration for 2020 Baltimore or a one-year membership to the VRA for themselves or a friend.

Regarding his reasons for supporting VRA with his donation, Allan wrote “I really do believe in the spirit of ‘members helping members’ in a direct and tangible way.”

Amy responded that “VRA has been a fabulous source of professional development opportunities…as well as a prime place for networking and forming lasting relationships, both professionally and personally.”

Thanks again to all the members that donated in our donation drive, and the Executive Board looks forward to providing new raffle or donation prize opportunities in Baltimore for 2020!

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VRA LA 2019: Conference Survey: Attendees and Non-Attendees

Dear colleagues,

The VRA Executive Board is already hard at work preparing for future conferences, but we need your voice to ensure everyone can benefit from conference activities.

Attendees of the VRA 2019 Annual Conference in Los Angeles should have received last week, an email invitation to complete a post-conference survey. With your experiences in Los Angeles still fresh in your mind, the VRA Executive Board would greatly appreciate it if you would take 10-15 minutes to complete the 28-question survey and share your comments and suggestions. If you did not receive this invitation, here is a link to the survey for attendees:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7G88HFG

If you did not attend VRA 2019, we would also like to hear from you, to gain some insight into why you didn’t attend this year, and to hopefully get some feedback that will make it more likely that you will attend future conferences. Here is a link to the survey for non-attendees:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7ZF8LR2

Your responses will give the Executive Board guidance as we plan the programming for the 2020 Baltimore conference. The surveys are anonymous, so please be open and honest with your feedback. The surveys will close on Friday, May 3rd, 2019.

Again, thank you to everyone that participated in the 2019 conference, and thank you for taking the time to assist us as we consider ways to improve future VRA conferences. Please feel free to contact me directly (vpcp@vraweb.org) if you have any questions or concerns.

-Sara

Sara Schumacher
Vice President for Conference Program
Visual Resources Association

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VRA LA 2019: Conference Photos

Welcome Reception, Kyoto Gardens, VRA LA 2019, Photo: John Trendler

View and Upload Conference Photos at the VRA Events Group in Flickr

Conference attendees are invited to upload their photographs from VRA LA 2019 to the Visual Resources Association Events group in Flickr.  Visit https://www.flickr.com/groups/vra_events/ to join the group, upload your photos, and browse some amazing shots that just might include you!

Please assist the VRA in documenting our past, current, and future conferences, meetings, and other events.  Add your favorite photos and let them go down in history!

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Donate, Win, and Save-the-Date

Would you like to win a free conference registration for 2020 Baltimore, March 24-27, or a one-year membership to the VRA?

CLICK HERE FOR THE DONATION BUTTON

Due to strict gambling laws in California, the Executive Board was unable to include a raffle at this year’s conference in Los Angeles. However, we did implement an inclusive giveaway that everyone can participate in, whether you attended the conference or not! 

For every $5 you donate to the Visual Resources Association by April 15, your name will be entered to win a year-long membership OR a 2020 conference registration (i.e. if you donate $15, your name will be entered three times). Two names will be drawn, and each winner will select which prize they prefer. The prize is fully transferable, so you can pass along your prize to a friend if you wish!

For every $800 raised, the Executive Board has pledged to offer an additional travel award for the 2020 conference! We have set an overall goal of $2400, with the hopes of adding three additional awards for travel to Baltimore. Please donate by clicking the link above to support this initiative and win yourself a membership or 2020 conference registration!

**Please note that due to restrictions on how we are able to allocate funding as an organization, any donations to the VRA Foundation will not be entered into this drawing.**

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Conferences, Food, Tours, Transportation Conferences, Food, Tours, Transportation

VRA LA 2019: See you in Los Angeles!

The Executive Board and the Local Planning Committee do so look forward to welcoming you to Los Angeles next week! The weather forecast looks fantastic with sun and temperatures around 70 degrees.  Please keep reading for some important last minute info, tips, and reminders.

Getting to the Hotel:

For options and details on getting to the hotel from the airport, Union Station, the Little Tokyo Gold Line Station, etc. please visit the recently updated conference site travel page.

Dinearounds:

Looking for an opportunity to meet new colleagues in a relaxed social setting and enjoy local cuisine?  Four dinearounds have been planned for conference attendees on Thursday evening, with two group reservations at 7:00 pm and two at 7:30 pm.  For a listing of restaurants, see Sched. Sign up at the Registration Table in the Golden State Ballroom Foyer before spaces fill up.  Attendees will meet up in the lobby to walk together to restaurants and are responsible for the cost of their own food and drinks.

Tours:

Want to learn about the historical and cultural landmarks of downtown LA from the 18th century to the present?  Sign-up for the Los Angeles Conservancy Walking Tour of Historic Downtown on Tuesday at 10:00 am.  Be sure to check at the Registration Table in the Golden State Ballroom Foyer for any last minute availability in the engaging tours organized by the Local Committee. 

Donate & Win:

For every $5 you donate to the VRA by April 15, your name will be entered to win a year-long membership OR a 2020 conference registration (i.e. if you donate $15, your name will be entered three times). Two names will be drawn, and each winner will select which prize they prefer. The prize is fully transferable, so you can pass along your prize to a friend if you wish! 

For every $800 raised, the Executive Board has pledged to offer an additional travel award for the 2020 conference! We have set an overall goal of $2400, with the hopes of adding three additional awards for travel to Baltimore. Please donate to support this initiative and win yourself a membership or 2020 conference registration!

Grocery Stores,Pharmacies, and Print & Copy Centers:

These locations have been added to the conference map.

Fedex Print & Ship Center, 181 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Office Depot (Print & Copy Center), 401 E W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Little Tokyo Pharmacy, 402 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
CVS Pharmacy, 201 N Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Marukai Market, 123 S Onizuka St. #105, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Whole Foods, 788 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Ralphs, 645 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

See you soon!

Contributors:

Krystal Boehlert
Local Planning Coordinator, VRA LA 2019

Lael Ensor-Bennett
Vice President for Conference Arrangements, VRA Executive Board

Amy McKenna
Public Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive Board

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VRA LA 2019: Walking Tours of LA & Beyond

Hike to the Hollywood Sign (Burns Photo, 2011)

Hope you signed up for some of the wonderful tours that the local planners put together for the LA conference.  It’s not too late to add tours to your conference registration. Please contact the VRA membership services coordinator (join@vraweb.org) for assistance. These specially organized tours are filling up fast and are first-come, first-served, but there may still be room if you want to decide upon arrival, so check at the registration desk.

In your conference registration tote bag, you’ll find many goodies and a lot of information about local attractions, which are also listed on the VRA conference map. After you’ve worked on the historic map of LA jigsaw puzzle during session breaks, you’ll surely be inspired to venture out! If you are itching to explore on your own, you might check out some of these self-guided walking tours. We have also included a few that are docent led. Most are free, but check the websites for more information. And, if you are looking for a nature break, there are many hiking trails just outside the city, too.

LA Central Library Pyramidal Tower with Skyscrapers Behind (Burns Photo, 2017)

Swisher Sweets & White Owl Cigar Advertisement in Downtown LA (Burns Photo, 2018)

Contributors:

Krystal Boehlert
Local Planning Coordinator, VRA LA 2019
Visual Resources Specialist, University of California Riverside

Maureen Burns
Development and Tour Coordinator, VRA LA 2019
IMAGinED Consulting and Archivision

Jackie Spafford
Local Planning Committee Member, VRA LA 2019
Image Resources Curator, History of Art and Architecture, University of California/Santa Barbara

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VRA LA 2019: Community Partnership Event: Collaborate and Win

Join us for the Community Partnership Event on Wednesday, March 27 from 2:15-4:00 pm.  Refreshments will be served and VRA members will have the chance to meet with VRA’s commercial partners as well as leaders of the Association.  This one hour and 45 minute event will provide plenty of opportunities for conversations about products, projects, and information about how to become more involved in the work of the VRA.

How do I learn more?  Want to publish in the newly open source VRA Bulletin? The editors can help you get started on an article.  Want to learn about the work of the VRA Foundation? Talk to representatives about grants for interns, projects, and professional development. Have you been thinking about joining a VRA committee? Come talk to the people already involved.  Maybe you are wondering about the Summer Educational Institute (SEI)... Representatives of the Implementation Team will be in attendance. Looking for a new tool or platform to catalogue and deliver content, equipment to capture collections, or libraries of stunning images?  Our commercial partners will happily share their offerings.

What about those prizes?  Talk to the representatives at the various tables to collect stamps and be eligible for the drawing at the end of the event.  The prizes include exciting offerings from our commercial partners and items specially selected by the Local Committee to enhance your stay in Los Angeles.

And just who are these sponsors?  Check out their websites linked below and come prepared with your questions.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

PLATINUM

SILVER

BRONZE

Contributors:
Amy McKenna
Public Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive Board 

Chris Strasbaugh
Chair, VRA Development Committee

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VRA LA 2019: Special Room Rates Ending Soon

Reserve your room today at the DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown and receive special room rates.  The deadline for this offer is March 11 or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first.

To make reservations online please click the link below:
https://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/L/LAXDTDT-VRA-20190324/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

To make telephone reservations:
Dial (800) 222-TREE or (800) 222-8733 and follow the automated instructions.

Why should I stay at the DoubleTree?
Besides being well appointed, super convenient, and where all your brilliant colleagues will be, staying at the official conference hotel helps to insure the financial health of both the conference and the association.  When the VRA signs a contract with a hotel to host a conference, the cost of meeting and event spaces is greatly reduced by our guarantee that a certain number of sleeping rooms will be booked by our members.  If this number is not met, fines may be imposed and the cost to register for future conferences could be significantly increased.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown is nestled between Little Tokyo and the Arts District, and conveniently located near Bunker Hill and the Financial District, in the heart of lively DTLA. The hotel is situated off the 110, 101 and 5 freeways, and is just 3 blocks from Union Station. It offers stunning skyline and Kyoto Gardens views and complimentary transportation within 3 miles. Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Broad, Museum of Contemporary Art, Japanese American National Museum, Grand Park, and Grand Central Market are all within walking distance.

Each of the spacious guest rooms feature sophisticated Asian-fusion decor and are rich in comforts. Enjoy modern amenities such as 42-inch HDTVs and high-speed internet access.

Book your room today!

Contributor:
Amy McKenna
Public Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive Board

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VRA LA 2019: Must-see Museums and Art Galleries

In addition to the museums that are featured as tours, there are many more art institutions and galleries that you might like to visit while staying in Los Angeles. If you are attending the LACMA tour, you can stop by Craft Contemporary while you are there; it’s right across the street. Also, David Kordansky Gallery and Kayne Griffin Corcoran are nearby. If you are headed to the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens tour in San Marino, nearby, in Pasadena, you’ll find the Norton Simon Museum (free admission with conference badge), USC Pacific Asia Museum (half price ($5) on general admission with conference badge), or the Armory Center for the Arts among other venues. Pasadena is accessible from the Metro Gold Line. The Memorial Park Station is right across the street from the Armory. The Pacific Asia is about a five-minute walk and the Norton Simon is about a sixteen-minute walk from that station as well.


Gardens at Norton Simon (Photo: Jennifer Faist)

Galleries in LA tend to gather in communities, and one of those, the Arts District, is within walking distance of the conference hotel. In addition to the Hauser & Wirth tour you might also want to check out DENK Gallery, which will be exhibiting new works by Tim Hawkinson through March 30th, or the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, Jason Vass, Mash Gallery and The Box.

A few of the popular art gallery and museum destination areas are easily reached by Metro Rail. There are several museums in Exposition Park which are easily accessed via the Metro. The California African American Museum, California Science Center, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and USC Fisher Museum of Art are all within walking distance of the Expo Line's Expo Park/USC Station. Also, the Chinatown galleries are just a few blocks away from the Gold Line Chinatown Station. Most of the galleries are on Chung King Road including Charlie James Gallery, Lisa Derrick Fine Art, Coagula Curatorial and The Good Luck Gallery plus a few others around the neighborhood. The Bergamot Station arts complex in Santa Monica is right next to the Metro Expo Line 26th Street/Bergamot Station. While many of the heavy hitters have left the complex since the Metro stop opened, there are still some good galleries left like Richard Heller Gallery, William Turner Gallery, Lora Schlesinger Gallery, Craig Krull Gallery and Patrick Painter, Inc. Barnsdall Art Park in Hollywood is near the Vermont/Sunset stop on the Metro Red Line. The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House are both located in the park which is on top of a hill with spectacular views of the Los Angeles basin and the Hollywood Hills including Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign.

For some of the other major clusters of galleries it would be better to drive or use ridesharing services. There are numerous galleries in Culver City congregating along La Cienega and Washington Boulevards. Baik Art Gallery has a group show called Re-Verb on display. Lisa Bartleson will be showing at FP Contemporary, Kim Dingle will be at Susanne Vielmetter, and Betye Saar at Roberts Projects. There are many more galleries in this area like Edward Cella Art + Architecture, Philip Martin Gallery and Honor Fraser Gallery, so it’s easy to hit a dozen or more galleries in a short amount of time. A little further off the beaten path in Culver City, you’ll find the Museum of Jurassic Technology, a quirky Wunderkammer.

West Adams is the newest blossoming art scene in LA and hosts an eclectic group of galleries including E.C. Liná Gallery. Hollywood is another gallery hot spot focusing around Highland Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard and is home to Regan Projects, Kohn Gallery, Diane Rosenstein, Steve Turner Contemporary, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, Gavlak, Various Small Fires and Nonaka-Hill. Close by, two New York gallerists have recently opened new spaces in West Hollywood, Matthew Marks who is showing Gary Hume and Jeffrey Deitch who has a large group show of figurative sculpture. LAXART, an independent, nonprofit art space showcasing contemporary & experimental art, is also in the neighborhood.


Getty Center Balcony and View (Photo: Jennifer Faist)

One of LA’s most well-established, blue-chip galleries, Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills, will be showing Takashi Murakami. Other outstanding museums in Los Angeles include the Hammer Museum in Westwood which will be showing a comprehensive exhibit of Allen Ruppersberg’s work, and the J. Paul Getty Museum with two locations, the Getty Center in Brentwood (with beautiful vistas of the skyscrapers of Downtown to the coastline beaches) and the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades. If you would like to visit the Broad Museum Downtown or the Marciano Foundation in the Mid-Wilshire area, be sure to reserve your tickets in advance starting February 1st. Unfortunately the current shows at the the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo will be ending on March 25th, but the permanent collection will be on view at their Grand Avenue location Downtown on Wednesday, March 27 and Thursday, March 28 (free admission with conference badge).

Gallery hours vary, and some galleries are closed between shows for installation, so be sure to check their websites. For more information and additional galleries and museums see our museum and gallery list which is organized by neighborhood.

Contributor:

Jennifer Faist
Local Planning Committee Member, VRA LA 2019
Library Systems & Digital Collections Administrator, ArtCenter College of Design Library

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VRA LA 2019: Let's Eat!

In a city with an overwhelming range of food choices, we wanted to provide some top picks to help you navigate your conference culinary experiences. The Little Tokyo neighborhood has a plethora of sushi, ramen, tempura, dumplings, and sake to keep you satisfied. Likewise, the Arts District, Civic Center, Chinatown, Olvera Street and other surrounding neighborhoods all have great places to eat. Below is a list of recommendations, which will also be included on our VRA LA 2019 map. All are walking distance from the hotel. Any walk  >15 minutes, has a rideshare travel time included. Find more reviews on Jonathan Gold’s 101, Yelp, The Infatuation, Eater LA, and LA Taco.

Fine Dining

Here are some top rated fine dining experiences, if celebrity chefs and home-cured charcuterie are your thing. Plan to secure a reservation ahead of time for these restaurants:

  • Redbird (New American $$) 114 E 2nd St redbird.la,
    2 min walk

  • Majordōmo (Californian $$$) 1725 Naud St, majordomo.la,
    25 min walk / 10 min rideshare

  • Bestia (Italian $$$) 2121 E 7th Pl  Bestiala.com,
    30 min walk / 10 min rideshare

Good Value

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is grand-central.jpg

These hot spots will keep you under budget without missing out on the flavors of LA:

  • Chado Tea Room (Tea House) 369 E 1st St (inside JANM)  chadotearoom.com,
    7 min walk

  • Lemonade at MOCA (cafe, lunch $-$$) 250 South Grand Ave,
    15 min walk / 5 min rideshare

  • Guisados DTLA (Mexican $)  541 S Spring St #101 guisados.co,
    15 min walk / 5 min rideshare

Plant Based & Allergy Friendly

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Lots of healthy options and vegetarian friendly food around, here some safe bets:

  • Cafe Gratitude (Vegan $$) 300 S Santa Fe Ave cafegratitude.com,
    15 min walk / 5 min rideshare

Libations

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Head out for a drink with friends new and true:

  • Far Bar (Gastropub $$) 347 E 1st St farbarla.com ,
    7 min walk

  • Boomtown Brewery (Brewery $$) 700 Jackson St boomtownbrew.com,
    16 min walk / 5 min rideshare

Historic Buildings

Each one of these historic gems has a story to tell:

  • Imperial Western Beer Company (Brewpub $$) Union Station, 800 N Alameda St imperialwestern.com,
    15 min walk / 5 min rideshare

  • Cole’s the Originator of the French Dip & Speakeasy (since 1908) (American $$) 118 E. 6th St.,
    [no website] 14 min walk / 5 min rideshare

Sweet Tooth

Satisfy your sweet tooth with Japanese mochi, French macarons, and vegan donuts, oh my:

  • Mikawaya (Japanese Mochi ice cream $) 118 Japanese Village Plaza Mall ,
    5 min walk

  • Midori Matcha Cafe (Tea Room, Bakery $) 123 Astronaut Ellison Onizuka St, Ste 101- C midorimatchatea.com,
    3 min walk

  • Bae (Ice cream $) 369 E 2nd St,
    4 min walk

  • DŌNATSU, (Donuts, Vegan $)  330 E 2nd St #C ,
    3 min walk

Contributors:

Krystal Boehlert
Local Planning Coordinator, VRA LA 2019
Visual Resources Specialist, University of California Riverside

Maureen Burns
Development and Tour Coordinator, VRA LA 2019
IMAGinED Consulting and Archivision

Jackie Spafford
Local Planning Committee Member, VRA LA 2019
Image Resources Curator, History of Art and Architecture, University of California/Santa Barbara

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Conferences, Tours, Workshops Conferences, Tours, Workshops

VRA LA 2019: Save $100 off Conference Registration

Register by Friday, February 15 to save.  Take advantage of early bird rates to save $100 on your conference registration for members and non-members or $50 for student, retired, and unemployed rates.

"Just think it’s like getting 2 or 3 workshops or tours for free."

Workshops:  
Perhaps you want to learn how to manage a large digital humanities project centered on mapping, streamline your embedded metadata workflows, or deliver active learning experiences that empower students to understand copyright and take advantage of fair use.  We have workshops to teach you all of these skills and many more.  See our full listing of workshops that range in price from $30-$80.

Act Fast: 
Monday’s workshop The Only Thing to Fear is Fear Itself: Public Speaking for Introverts and Other Reluctant Presenters only has one slot left!

Tours: 
How about taking a break from the hotel and learning out and about in this amazing city?  The local committee has crafted some excellent tours to experience with your fellow conference attendees.  Do you want to go behind-the-scenes at the Library and Archives at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and tour 3D: Double Vision, visit the Imaging Lab at the Huntington Library while enjoying their art galleries and botanical gardens, take a walking tour organized by the Los Angeles Conservancy of glamorous art deco architecture, or take a curator-led tour of Oscar-nominated costumes and designers at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM)?  The list goes on and on!  See our full listing of tours that range in price from $10-$25.

Act Fast: 
Thursday’s Behind the Scenes Tour of the Japanese American National Museum only has one slot left! The same tour is also available on Wednesday.

Register Today!

P.S.  Don’t forget to book your room.  Special room rates are still available at the DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown.

Contributor:
Amy McKenna
Public Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive Board

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VRA LA 2019: Car-free Los Angeles


Allan Kohl, John Trendler, and Krystal Boehlert at the Bradbury Building

Like a lot of big cities, Los Angeles can seem daunting, especially if this is your first visit.   But we want to reassure you that this is a city you can safely navigate with ease.

Little Tokyo, our conference hotel neighborhood, is approximately one square mile of restaurants, cafes, bars and quick-bite stops; shops of all varieties; banks and other services; and museums and other cultural highlights.  It is lively, even very late at night, and populated with locals and visitors alike. 

Surrounding neighborhoods are also accessible on foot.  Many iconic sites are an easy 5-10 minute walk, such as the Bradbury Building, Central Market, and the grand old movie houses on Broadway. 

A 10-15 minute walk northwest will get you to the Broad Museum, LA MOCA, Disney Hall, and the Music Center.

In 20 minutes you can walk to the wonderful LA Central Library (and be sure to cut through the Biltmore Hotel across the street for a peek – it was home to the first Academy Awards and there’s a terrific photo of the event in the lobby). 

The Arts District covers many blocks, and there are numerous galleriesand murals 5 to 30 minutes from our conference hotel. 

Of course as you walk around downtown you will want to stop for a bite or drink – and you will not be disappointed in the variety of options! (More emails to come on this topic!)

If you’re up for venturing further, Chinatown is about 25-30 minutes on foot, and you can visit the beautiful Union Station and historic Olvera Street en route.

To the south is the Fashion District, home to hundreds of fabric stores, vendors selling knock-offs, and the Fashion Institute of Design and Marketing Museum. [Note that it is on the other side of Skid Row, an area you may not be comfortable walking through – but if you take Main Street you can avoid this area.]

There are also many great self-guided walking tours of the city (in addition to the terrific VRA-organized tours on offer), such as this onegeared to photographers.

And when you are going farther than walking distance, or it’s late and you’re tired, we have  a comprehensive list of transportation options for you: public transit trains and buses, ride-shares and taxis, and for the truly adventurous,   bike or scooter shares!  This link to the Metro public transportation system, for example, will help you calculate the best method to get anywhere.  (And if you do decide to rent a car to go further afield, it’s not as bad as you think – your phone’s GPS (Google Maps or Waze) is your friend to help you find the most efficient route, and there are always parking lots nearby.)

We hope you all venture out and explore this exciting, rich city, and please ask any of the VRA LA locals for advice, suggestions or directions!

Contributor:

Jackie Spafford
Local Planning Committee Member, VRA LA 2019
Image Resources Curator, History of Art and Architecture, University of California/Santa Barbara

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VRA LA 2019: Announcing Convocation Speaker Dan Goods

Photo: © Shaughn Crawford

The VRA Executive Board is pleased to announce that our VRA LA 2019 Annual Conference Convocation speaker is Dan Goods.

Dan Goods is an independent artist and the Visual Strategist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. During the day he runs The Studio at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, leading a team developing creative ways of communicating and working to transform complex concepts into compelling stories that can be universally understood. In his leadership role there, Goods uses his artistic talents and passion for creating experiences where people are reminded of the gift and privilege of being alive. After hours, he works on a wide range of personal creative projects. Currently he is collaborating with others on new public art pieces in San Diego and San Francisco and is developing the “Museum of Awe,” an experience of art, science, theater and surprise, with David Delgado and Ivan Amato. Goods won an International Design Excellence Award for his work on the eCLOUD, a 110-foot-long digital sculpture at the San Jose International Airport. He has worked on other large-scale art projects at the Atlanta International Airport, at SIAS International University in China and for BMW in Paris, and has shown his work in museums around the world.

Goods was named “One of the Most Interesting People in Los Angeles” by LA Weekly and has been profiled in The Los Angeles Times, Leonardo magazine and the National Endowment for the Arts Magazine. He is also on the board of the Caltech Management Association and ITACCUS (International Astronautical Federation’s Technical Activities Committee for the Cultural Utilization of Space), and is an advisor to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Art and Technology program.

Dan Goods was born in Palmer, Alaska and was raised in Salem, Oregon. In 2002 he graduated valedictorian from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Goods explains his life and career in one sentence: “After doing the dishes, reading bedtime stories to my kids, and spending time with my wife, I work on other creative problem solving projects around the world.” He lives in Altadena, CA with his wife and three children.

We hope that you will join us at the Convocation on Wednesday, March 27th, to hear Dan Goods speak about his unusual journey and how he has found that innovation, passion, and creativity can be unleashed to understand what it means to be you and what it means to be human. His talk will follow the 2019 VRA Awards ceremony, with a reception afterwards.

You can learn more about Dan Goods and his work at his website: http://www.directedplay.com/
We look forward to seeing you in Los Angeles March 26th-29th! For more information about the conference program, travel logistics, accommodations, etc., please visit the VRA 2019 Annual Conference website. As always, if you have any questions please email me.

Contributor:
Jacob Esselstrom
Vice President for Conference Program, VRA Executive Board


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