Representative Work

Art Curation

In 2012, we were tasked with curating all of the editorial exhibits at the TED Conference in Long Beach, CA. We found and commissioned artists and technologists from around the country to install projects based on the conference's "Full Spectrum" theme. Gabriel Dawe's installation was such a hit the Long Beach Performing Arts Center purchased the piece to include in its permanent collection.

Piloting Public Policy and City Master Plan

20ft Wide was a collaborative case study and public/private initiative to test the uses and functionalities of the downtown urban alley system. Originally laid out in the 1839 city plan by Edwin Waller, the alley system is at risk today because of rapid urbanization and "superblock" development. We curated the public exhibition and public art program to inform the master plan and the public policies that will follow. Full report here.

Change Management + Leadership Coaching

Following a search for a new executive director, we've worked with the leadership team at KIPP DFW to manage the transition, to formulate a strategy around community engagement and brand-building, and to position the organization for the successful launch of an expansion campaign.

Cultural Strategies

Design Waller Creek: A Competition
As cultural programs and public art consultant on the CMG/Public Architecture team, we developed a comprehensive, iterative strategy that activated the 1.5 mile stretch of the urban creek with art and culture as the conduit for the community to connect with its regeneration.  The team was one of four finalists in the international design competition and the jury stated “It is the engagement of community, integration of art and the process of regeneration that this proposal was truly exceptional.”

Public Art

We worked with internationally-acclaimed artist Shane Pennington to bring his vision for "Transcendence" to life at the 2011 TEDxSMU conference. The commissioned work involved recreating a Japanese rock garden using carved ice in lieu of the traditional boulders.

Program Development

In 2009, we had a little experiment to see what would happen if kids came to a TEDx conference. And TEDxKids @SMU was born. The first-ever TED program designed specifically for students (middle school, in our case) brought about 500 kids for free to a half-day TEDx held on SMU's campus. Now replicated around the world and by TED with its TEDYouth program, TEDxKids @SMU is still going strong and serving kids.

Brand Building

While serving as the executive director, Meredith shepherded Art Alliance Austin (formerly the Austin Fine Arts Alliance) from a two-day festival into a widely-recognized and respected brand and portfolio of award-winning programs that contribute year-round to the cultural and economic vibrancy of the city through events, commissioned projects and strategic partnerships.