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Past SPE Annual Conferences

Midwest Chapter Conference Overview

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Developing Spaces/Places

When October 12-15, 2017
Where Embassy Suites by Hilton East Peoria Riverfront Hotel & Conference Center, East Peoria, IL
Keynote Speaker Penelope Umbrico
Featured Speakers William Fox, David Taylor, Wendel White
Honored Educator Judy Natal

Online registration is now closed, but you may register onsite at the conference.

We are excited to host this year's Midwest SPE Chapter Conference! Located in the geographic center of our SPE region, we look forward to seeing members from every state in the Midwest come out in full force to Peoria, Illinois. The bulk of the programming will take place at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria. Exhibitions and receptions will take place across Peoria including at the Bradley University Galleries, Illinois Central College, Peoria Riverfront Museum, Contemporary Art Center, Prairie Center of the Arts, and Peoria Library Downtown. Hands-on workshops will be given throughout the weekend at Bradley University's Heuser Art Center. Featured speakers and exhibitions at Developing Spaces/Places include Guggenheim-award winners Penelope Umbrico, David Taylor, Wendel White, William Fox, and esteemed 2017 Midwest Regional Honored Educator Judy Natal.

Schedule of Speakers

Check out our schedule of amazing presentations -- invited speakers, imagemakers, lectures, and workshops -- at conference details.

Bridge SPE Membership

Are you a recent photo grad? Register for the conference through the new Bridge SPE membership level to help individuals who have graduated from a degree program within the last two years and/or currently seek employment opportunities to stay professionally engaged.

Free Workshops

Are you looking for a new process to bring back to your school? We're incredibly excited that our free alternative process workshops are quickly filling up! Slots for these workshops are limited and pre-registration is required. Because of limited availability, please only register for one. Check out:

Portfolio Reviews

Share your work through one-on-one professional and student portfolio reviews. Slots for reviews are limited and pre-registration is required.

Confirmed reviewers for professionals:

MWSPE Juried Members Exhibition

This juried show will highlight the unique environmental and cultural character of the Midwest in its diverse expression, cultural insight, and experimental practice. The exhibition will take place at the Contemporary Art Center (CAC) in Peoria, Illinois. The CAC is a non-profit, 14,000-square-foot facility on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a renovated warehouse located in Peoria's Riverfront district. Jurors: Marivi Ortiz and Marico Fayre.


MWSPE Juried Student Members Exhibition

The Juried Student Members Exhibition will be held at the Peoria Public Library and Project 1612 in Peoria, IL. The exhibition, part of the 2017 Midwest SPE conference and the PRN Wild and Scenic Film Festival, is a collaboration geared to draw attention to contemporary water issues. Thank you to our esteemed jurors, Carol Hayes, executive director of Prairie Rivers Network, and artist Alexander Martin. 

Special thanks to:

Bradley University, Illinois State University School of Art, Jacob and Lorrie Bunn, Peoria Riverfront Museum, Contemporary Art Center, Peoria Public Library, Illinois Central College, Prairie Center of the Arts, Bradley University Parent's Association, Bradley University Intellectual and Cultural Activities Committee, Bradley University Instructional Technology and Media Services, Bostick and Sullivan, Roberts Camera, and Hasselblad Bron.

Thank you to all our new and current SPE members!

2017 Conference Co-Chairs

Margaret LeJeune, Bradley University

Jason Reblando, Illinois State University

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