Close Focus Groups
with Hosted Facilitators
© Rebecca Goldschmidt
Saturday, April 27 at 12:30pm
We all know that Medium is the best, but sometimes small is just what’s needed. Take this opportunity to find your crew and connect along shared interests and concerns. When you check in for the festival, you will choose a topic to focus closely on with a small group of like-minded people, see topics below.
Each group will be limited to 6–8 people and will have a facilitator whose only role is to welcome everyone and get the conversation going. Close Focus Group meetings will be held from 12:30–1:45pm at various Old Town establishments within walking distance to the festival so participants will have the option to enjoy a meal as they share thoughts, ideas, and connections.
| Topic | Facilitator | Meeting Place | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Photography and truth-telling." | Iva Sidash | Pizza Bella Italian Bistro 2707 Congress St, Old Town |
Chat with Iva over pizza, right before her artist talk. |
| "Photography as intrinsic reward." | Renee Billingslea | Old Town Urban Market 2548 Congress St, Old Town |
Bring your own lunch or grab something to go from Flor's Farm to Table or Elote. |
| "But is it art? The role of AI in the creative world." | Cesar Rueda | El Sueño 2836 Juan Street, Old Town |
Continue the AI conversation over lunch, right after Cesar's talk. |
| "How does photographing your family become art?" | Lana Z Caplan | El Agave 2304 San Diego Ave, Old Town |
Join Lana for some gourmet Mexican food after her artist talk. |
| "Intersecting commercial and fine art photography." | Marshall Williams | Miguel's Old Town 2444 San Diego Ave, Old Town |
Get to know Marshall, one of our Present Tense presenters, over tacos. |
| "Contemporary landscape photography in the context of climate change." | Caity Fares | Bhojan Griha Nepalese Restaurant 2367 San Diego Ave, Old Town |
Explore Nepalese cuisine as you chat about landscape photography. |
| "The future of photography education." | Amanda Dahlgren | Trattoria Don Pietro 2415 San Diego Ave, Old Town |
Get together with fellow photography educators and students over Italian food. |
| "Photography and queer identity." | Anna Berenice Garner | Old Town Tequila Factory 2467 Juan St, Old Town |
Enjoy Mexican food and conversation. |
Location and Event Info
This event takes place within walking distance of the Marriott Courtyard Old Town, located at 2435 Jefferson St, San Diego, CA 92110
Street parking is available in the surrounding area. A dedicated parking lot will be available to festival participants on April 27 from 9:00am to 10:00pm. Ride sharing and cycling are encouraged.
Public transit options to the festival include the Blue and Green Trolley lines, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, and MTS Bus lines 10, 30, and 44.
Access to Close Focus group meetings is included with Festival, VIP, and One Day Passes and are included with Medium Review and Big Pass registration.