Who is trace layer play?

We are an immersive research incubator composed of graduate students from the  Department of Arts Administration, Education, and Policy at The Ohio State University.

Four trace layer play members, Robin Gordon, Aelim Kim, Tamryn McDermott, and Noor Murteza, will be facilitating a workshop series at the Illinois Art Education Association's 75th Anniversary conference from October 19 - 21, 2023 at the Q Center in St. Charles, IL.

How are they taking part in the 75th IAEA celebrations?

Who are we? Who are we becoming? Where am I? Where do I see myself in the archive? Why archive?

Join the art collective trace layer play as we democratize the IAEA archive! Participate in scheduled workshops during the conference. If you can't make it to the scheduled workshops, drop in to see us at our permanent spot in the 2nd floor endcap space. Your contributions during the conference will engage with and expand the IAEA archive.

Why are they talking about an IAEA archive?

Because we are democratizing the archive! Visit the scheduled workshops to contribute to the archive through arts-based activities, or drop by to participate in the practices on your own or with a friend during or between conference sessions from October 20 - 21, 2023.

Connect with us during the IAEA conference and beyond:

tracelayerplay@gmail.com or call us and leave a message at 703-705-2701

tlp Facilitators

Robin Gordon is a Ph.D. candidate in the Arts Administration, Education & Policy program at The Ohio State University. She received her MFA in Acting & New Works Creation from The Ohio State University and her BA in Theatre & Dance from Reed College. Robin brings her sensibilities as a theatre maker, educator, & administrator to the study of arts workers & organizational cultures. She is co-founder of the trace layer play collective.

Aelim Kim is a Ph.D. candidate at The Ohio State University. She received her BFA in Sculpture and MA in art theory and art education. Aelim has work and research experience in a broadcasting station, art museums, and research institutes. Aelim is co-founder of the trace layer play collective. 

Tamryn McDermott is a Ph.D. candidate in the Arts Administration, Education and Policy program with a concentration in Art Education and graduate interdisciplinary specialization in fine arts. She received a BFA in Sculpture and Painting and an MA in Art History and Arts Administration from Tyler School of Art & Architecture, Temple University, and an MFA in Fibers and Sculpture from the University of Missouri.  Tamryn uses arts-based research methods to explore possibilities within collective reflection and creative practice and is co-founder of the trace layer play collective. 

Noor Murteza is a Ph.D. candidate in the Arts Administration, Education and Policy program at The Ohio State University. She received her BA in Interior Architecture and her MFA in Design Research and Development. Noor explores the intersections of design, fractal patterns, and psychological well-being to develop a fractal mindset. Her work with codesign and participatory methods led her to co-found the trace layer play collective. 

Schedule of events (all workshops are located in the 2nd-floor endcap unless otherwise noted)

Friday, Oct. 20

9:10 A.M.- 10:00 A.M. Let’s Get Oriented! Arts-Based Dialogue Workshop

Robin Gordon, MFA, SEP, Certified Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework

with trace layer play (tlp) Cohort
Orientation to the archives and conference engagement at the co-creation station. Also an introduction to art-based dialogue.  Join the trace layer play collective for a hands-on exploration to celebrate IAEA’s 75th anniversary through its archive materials. This is our orientation session to our co-creation station and arts-based dialogue with each other and the archive materials.

10:10 A.M.- 11:00 A.M. This Way to the Archive: Found Poetry Workshop

Noor Murteza, PhD Candidate and Graduate Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University

with trace layer play (tlp) Cohort

Responding, reacting and repurposing archive materials to tell our own story. You are invited to choose from the digital archive, print out, and physically manipulate, draw and annotate. Physical collage, found poetry, zine making are all possible outcomes.  Join the trace layer play collective for a hands-on exploration to celebrate IAEA’s 75th anniversary through its archive materials. Respond, react and repurpose archive material to create your own found poem, zine or collage. Come and join us to tell your own story of IAEA. 

11:10 A.M.- 12:00 P.M. This Way to the Archive: Walking Timeline Workshop

Tamryn McDermott, PhD Candidate and Graduate Teaching Associate, The Ohio State University

with trace layer play (tlp) Cohort

Using the existing whiteboards mounted on walls throughout the conference space, we will populate and create an evolving timeline during the conference with collaged materials, dry erase markers, and yarn.  Join the trace layer play collective for a hands-on exploration to celebrate IAEA’s 75th anniversary through its archive materials. Together we will create an evolving timeline using the whiteboards throughout the conference space. Join us as we take history for a walk. 

2:10 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. This Way to the Archive: Oral Histories and Futures Workshop

Robin Gordon, MFA, SEP, Certified Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework

with trace layer play (tlp) Cohort
Join the trace layer play collective for a hands-on exploration to celebrate IAEA’s 75th anniversary through its archive materials. Bring your voice to the archive. In this session, we will record oral histories and dialogue with archival materials and each other to enliven and co-create the IAEA archive.

Noor Murteza's session (E L208/10)

2:10 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.  Fractal Curriculum: Bringing the natural world to your classroom

Noor Murteza, PhD Candidate and Graduate Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University

How can we enrich our artistic teaching through dialogue with nature? The presentation shares ongoing action research towards developing a fractal curriculum. This fractal curriculum takes on an interdisciplinary STEAM mindset with a strong commitment to well-being-centered pedagogy. The presenter will share classroom materials that are flexible and customizable for age and classroom types. Attendees will leave with a unique and easy way to implement a strategy to dialogue with nature in their classroom by unpacking the multidisciplinary potential of fractal patterns.

Tamryn McDermott's session (E L208/10)

3:10 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.  How to develop an Intermedia Journaling practice with your students

Tamryn McDermott, PhD Candidate and Graduate Teaching Associate, The Ohio State University

What is an intermedia journal? Learn about the process of developing an intermedia journaling practice within your art classroom. Intermedia journaling engages students (and teachers) in exploring multi-media processes for connecting with learning content and strengthens reflective practices. Intermedia journaling integrates arts-based, multi-modal approaches to collective and individual reflection. This highly flexible and inclusive approach to journaling invites students to design their own process through digital and analog multi-modal activities. Intermedia journaling encourages conversations between students, and teachers, in hybrid, online, and in-person teaching contexts. Attendees will leave with concrete activities for introducing and engaging students in critical reflection through intermedia journaling.

Saturday, Oct. 21

9:10 A.M.- 2:00 P.M.  This Way to the Archive: Collective Reflection Workshops re-play

Aelim Kim, PhD Candidate and Graduate Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University

with Robin Gordon and trace layer play (tlp) Cohort

Material-led reflective discussions in smaller groups throughout the day.  Celebration of past, present, and future.  Join the trace layer play collective for a material-led reflection on the IAEA’s 75th anniversary. Together we will reflect and examine the arts-based works created by participants during the previous days of the conference. 

Robin Gordon's session (E L208/10)

11:10 A.M.- 12:00 P.M.  Purposeful, Motivated, & Sustainable Humans: Practices that Promote Co-Regulation and a Collaborative Culture

Robin Gordon, MFA, SEP, Certified Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework, The Ohio State University

The purpose of this session is to introduce practices that can support co-regulation and aid in cultivating a collaborative culture. Attention will be given to activities that also support UDL 9: Self-Regulation. This session is for artists, educators, leaders, elders, and collaborators who are invested in cultivating sustainable people and practices.