Board of Directors Election
2011 Candidates
Georgia K. Strange, University of Georgia
Georgia K. Strange, director of the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia in Athens
Statement: I am the director of the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia, a major public research institution more than 225 years old. In this dynamic environment, my school has built a rigorous foundations program and hosts one of the premier study-abroad studio programs in the nation. In total, I have served four institutions of higher education as an artist, educator, and arts administrator.
The current and future members of the CAA Board of Directors have a special opportunity in a pivotal time as the organization nears its Centennial year. Many talented, committed artists and scholars have contributed to the organization over the past century in order to improve opportunities for the next generation of arts professionals. More broadly, they have contributed to the entire nation through arts advocacy, cultural preservation, creation of new knowledge, and outreach that increased cultural awareness and understanding.
As an advocate for the arts in higher education, I promote the critical relevance of fostering creative ideas in academia, professional practices, and daily actions. It is evident across academic disciplines that visual thinking dominates contemporary learning and knowledge acquisition. As the primary professional locus of intellectual exchange in the visual arts, CAA must develop innovative strategies to propel the reach of the arts as reflected in high and popular cultures. CAA can stimulate contemporary educational and public institutions to respond to the urgency of pressing global issues. Creativity and visual thinking can provide valuable expertise and possible solutions through the integration of art and design practices into organic, sustainable strategies needed to address complex social and environmental challenges.
The rapid evolution of communication technology continues to affect navigation of the educational landscape. The capacity to exchange information quickly has moved beyond the relatively static internet site. CAA board members must be able to do more than keep pace with technological transformations and must engage in imaginative, flexible thinking needed to envision the future of higher education.
As a national service organization, CAA transcends institutional identities associated with disciplinary field, artistic media, and location. Having lived abroad and in many regions of the United States, I will encourage CAA to serve as a conduit for international exchange and communication that will provide leadership in the international visual-arts community.
Biography: Georgia Strange, director of the Lamar Dodd School of Art, earned an undergraduate degree in biological sciences and graduate degrees in science education and fine arts from Indiana University. She held teaching positions at Centre College of Kentucky, Ohio State University, and Indiana University prior to her appointment at the University of Georgia. At Indiana, Strange received the James P. Holland Award for Exemplary Teaching and Service to Students and the Herman Frederic Lieber Memorial Award in Recognition of Distinguished Teaching.
In addition to serving on the board of directors of the National Council of Arts Administrators since 2005, Strange was a visiting evaluator for the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
The experience gained through serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia, West Africa, participating on a research team on an archaeological excavation in Greece, and studying and teaching in Italy provided opportunities for cultural immersion that enriched her educational foundation and training for artistic practice. She was awarded a Masters Fellowship from the Indiana Arts Commission and several competitive research grants at the universities where she has taught. In addition to many venues across the country, Strange’s sculptural work is exhibited at SOHO20 Gallery in New York, where she has been a member since 1990.
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How to Vote
If you have not opted to vote online, you will receive a paper ballot in the mail. If you have chosen to vote online, please log into your CAA account with your Member ID and password. Click the Vote Now link to begin the process. You may vote for up to four candidates, including one write-in candidate. Ballots with more than four candidates indicated will be void. No ballot received after 5:30 PM (EST) on Friday, February 11, 2011, will be accepted.
