COLLECTING CONVERSATIONS: PANEL DISCUSSION¬

Join us for a panel discussion exploring the art of collecting. Our panel will include seasoned and emerging collectors and an artist featured in Collector’s Edition and will be moderated by an art specialist. Each speaker will share their unique perspectives and how they intersect with one another in the world of contemporary art. We’ll also discuss the deeply personal reasons why people collect art and the narratives that emerge from their collections.

Panelists:
Hampton Boyer, Artist
Travis Dillard, Collector
David Goode, Collector

Moderator:
Rebecca Dimling Cochran, Director of Cochran Arts

Panelists:

Hampton Boyer is a visual artist Hampton Boyer’s paintings create an expanded view of the African American diaspora, incorporating spirituals, historical sayings, religious symbolism, and songs from his childhood. Paying homage to generational building blocks, avenues within the African American experience, and the form of the black body, Boyer’s highly expressive works probe the relationship between the past and the present. A self-taught artist, Boyer has been expanding and refining his process to create a sustained body of work that signifies strength and depth. Boyer’s work has been exhibited in various galleries and institutions, including the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. Boyer lives and works in Richmond, Virginia.

Travis Dillard, a native of the Hampton Roads Area, whose deep-rooted passion for art is evident in his history and present interactions within Virginia's vibrant artistic community. As an avid consumer of the arts, Travis curates an impressive collection of visually appealing artworks with an eye for pieces that hold the promise of appreciation over time.

As an art collector, Travis Dillard's journey is driven by a desire to be more than just a collector; he aspires to be a patron of the art community, actively supporting and nurturing the future endeavors of the talented artists represented in his collection. With a commitment to fostering creativity and artistic expression, Travis seeks to play a vital role in the growth and development of the artistic landscape.

David Goode, a retired CEO of Norfolk Southern, has resided in Norfolk with his wife and collecting partner, Susan Goode, since 1990. He is an ardent advocate for bridging the business world with art. Having chaired "Business for the Arts," he championed the integration of arts and commerce on a national level. David and Susan received esteemed accolades, including the Governor's Arts Award and Legacy Award of Americans for the Arts, in recognition of their profound contributions to the arts.

David served on various art organization boards, such as the Chrysler Museum and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts demonstrating his dedication to promoting and preserving artistic endeavors. David's and Susan’s passion for art extends to their diverse art-collecting interests. Their joint approach to collecting has resulted in a diverse and thoughtful collection that reflects their dynamic and artistic interests.

Moderator:

Rebecca Dimling Cochran is a visual arts professional based in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the director of Cochran Arts, an art advisory and appraisal company that works with clients to build, manage, and protect contemporary art collections.

For fifteen years, she served as Curator of the Wieland Collection. In that role, she built the collection through acquisitions of national and international artists, wrote, and published a 350-page catalog, handled the database and maintenance of the artwork, and designed the installation of the collection in the wareHOUSE, a 20,000 sq. foot exhibition space.

Prior to that, Cochran worked at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and the Jack Tilton Gallery in New York. She also served as Interim Director of the Atlanta College of Art Gallery. She has organized numerous exhibitions including Art at the Edge: Social Turf at the High Museum of Art; Genevieve Arnold: A Retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia; and Radcliffe Bailey: Spiritual Migration and Vik Muniz: Reparté at the Atlanta College of Art Gallery. The latter also traveled to the Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, and the CU Art Galleries in Boulder, Colorado.

Cochran is also a freelance art critic, writing for numerous publications focusing primarily on art and design. Her articles have appeared in Art in America, Art on Paper, Art & Auction, Artforum.com, ArtsATL.com, Flash Art, Frieze, Sculpture, and Art & Antiques magazine, where she co-authored the Top 100 Collectors list for six years.

Cochran has taught courses on Modern and Contemporary Art for the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, and the Continuing Education Department of the Atlanta College of Art. She is a member of the Appraiser’s Association of America, the International Association of Art Critics, the Association of Art Museum Curators, and the American Association of Museums.