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March 2011
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WiVLA's Mission: To provide an inspiring
forum for women to explore and advance their creative
development, to promote their work in the marketplace, and to
infuse the community with their spirit of cooperation and
invention. |
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LETTER
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Greetings WiVLA
Members and Friends!
Thank
you for the support you have provided me and WiVLA during the
past two years of my presidency. I am honored to be associated
with such a dynamic group of creative artists, writers and
thinkers!
I
also want to thank both Boards of Directors, who individually
and collectively worked so diligently in the best interests of
the organization. We were Boards of strong women with diverse
opinions. We carefully and thoughtfully discussed the pros and
cons of each idea brought forward for consideration. After
actively listening and responding to the variety of concerns
expressed, consensus was reached.
WiVLA
celebrated its 15th Anniversary in March 2010, honoring the
founders and presidents, and noting the many achievements of
the organization to date. During the following Board Retreat,
we envisioned WiVLA's future and began strategic planning.
Part of the discussion reflected the desire for WiVLA to be a
"well-known, respected regional organization that supports
women in the creative arts." To that end, we began a series of
steps to raise its profile and visibility in the
community.
This
year has seen many changes in WiVLA's infrastructure
including: improving the financial system; updating the brand;
redesigning business collateral and the website; and revising
the by-laws and policies.
At
the March meeting, the membership will vote in WiVLA's new
officers. I will continue on in the
capacity of Ex-Officio for the next year. I look forward to
welcoming the new leadership and offering my support to them
in 2011-2012.
Sincerely,
Jeanne
Haner
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STATE OF THE ORGANIZATION
REPORT
by Jeanne
Haner
As our fiscal year comes to an
end and we begin anew, I want to bring you up to date on
WiVLA. As President, I am honored to have
led two Boards of Directors who worked together on behalf of
the organization. As a mission-driven organization,
the Board is committed and connected to WiVLA's
mission "to provide an inspiring forum for
women to explore and advance their creative development, to
promote their work in the marketplace, and to infuse the
community with their spirit of cooperation and
invention."From my years of service, I know
that WiVLA plays a meaningful role in enhancing the quality of
life and creative efforts for its officers and members.
For those of you who could not
attend the January 18th membership meeting, the
following is a brief summary of accomplishments. At that
meeting, we presented the results of our work so
that you can contribute to our future efforts towards WiVLA's
advancement.
These efforts are positioning WiVLA
as a well-managed, visionary organization. With sixteen
successful years behind us, we're looking to the future of
WiVLA with energy and enthusiasm. A new direction for WiVLA
focuses on promoting the impact of the organization both
regionally and nationally. Achieving a higher profile for the
organization will result in both tangible and intangible
benefits for our members.
In 2009, the WiVLA Board committed
to cleaning out files and moving items to the archival storage
we have through the University of Houston's Women's Studies
Program. Sorting through the material was "part scavenger hunt
and part treasure hunt." Among the treasures was an early logo
that we reinvented for last year's anniversary party. There
were also many photographs and program materials that
documented WiVLA's growth over the years and the dedication of
its members.
Working
on the archives sparked renewed excitement about WiVLA for
many of us there. That excitement was evident at the
15th Anniversary Party. The PowerPoint presentation
on WiVLA's history, the acknowledgement of all our past
presidents, and the honoring of our three founders, created a
new level of enthusiasm
among members.
At the Board Retreat in May 2010, we
committed to helping WiVLA attain a more influential position
in the Houston community and rise to prominence as a premier
arts organization for women writers and visual artists. A
strategic planning committee was formed, consisting of Jean
Caslin, Lane Devereux, Diane Griffin Gregory, Diana Meade and
myself. The Board's overarching questions in this process were
"How can WiVLA best serve its membership?" and "What is the
best way to achieve those ends?" Answering these two important
questions took the Board on a journey of discovery that
included understanding the original intent of our bylaws,
policies, and commitments and then updating them appropriately
for the times and our aspirations.
We also recognized that
advances in computer technology, the Internet, and social
media demanded a fresh look at how we used these tools. We
determined to protect and enhance our image and brand.
WiVLA's new website was launched in January and
is the embodiment of the forward thinking of our
organization. It is stylish and easy to
navigate. We hope that it will be an
important component in "broadcasting our message" to a diverse
constituency.
This past year, the Board also
has been working on WiVLA's infrastructure, including
financial analyses, budget building, and redesigning the
business collateral. After conducting a financial
analysis of the last three years, organizational budgets were
created for 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. We found
that WiVLA had been balancing its budgets over the past few
years by drawing on its cash reserves. Our intentions are to
stop and reverse this trend. These working budgets allow us to
focus on our fiscal responsibilities to WiVLA and plan for the
future.
The Board has made these necessary
recommendations as we move forward with our annual operating
budget of approximately $10,000: membership dues were raised
from $35 to $40 beginning in March 2011; WiVLA VOiCES,
our newsletter went "green" and will be available as an online
resource; and additional opportunities were made for online
donations through PayPal. The Board is focusing on expanded
fundraising efforts and is encouraging membership
participation.
To help achieve a higher
profile for the organization, the Board looked at the
guidelines for our annual print and photography exhibition. As
a result of our deliberations, membership
exhibitions will be juried and have higher entry fees to cover
those increased expenses. The Board also reviewed
the ECO Fund Award, which is offered each year at its
discretion. It was determined to test a
pilot program for 2011 to make the ECO Fund a more prestigious
award through a competitive jurying process. The recipients of
the 2011 ECO Fund Awards may be assured that the jurors were
persuaded by the quality of their written proposals. An added
benefit to having jurors for these kinds of activities is
another level of exposure for our creative
efforts.
WiVLA strives to provide its
members with the tools needed to be successful on their own
terms. We believe that if we take ourselves seriously as
visual artists and writers, then others will take us
seriously, too. In addition to fostering the careers of its
members, WiVLA also is committed to supporting
the creative efforts of young women through its Gold Key
Scholarship Fund. Two local high school seniors, identified by
the Harris County Department of Education, are given these
annual literary and visual art awards each year.
As we begin our new fiscal year, the
Strategic Planning Committee has created the following
statement, which will lead our organizational efforts.
WiVLA's Strategic Aims are: to
produce high quality programs and services; increase
participation of members in advocacy, fundraising and
committee activities; expand membership and audiences; ensure
the sustainability and longevity of the organization; identify
and implement non-profit models of best practice; and raise
the organization's visibility and profile through effective
communications.
WiVLA is well positioned for the
future. I encourage you to become more involved in its
evolution and thank you for your continuing
support! |
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LETTER FROM THE
EDITOR
Welcome to
the electronic issue of VOiCES. I hope you'll take
advantage of the many opportunites and upcoming
events published this month and congratulate your fellow
WiVLA members on their recent accolades. As always, if you
have a story idea for the newsletter, let us know at
newsletter@wivla.org.
Best,
Jennifer
Watson |
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CIRCLE
OF FIVE MEETING - FEBRUARY 15, 2011
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| The
ever-popular Circle of Five meeting provides members a
chance to share their projects and ideas among a
supportive group. |
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MEMBERSHIP
MEETING - MARCH 15, 2011
Feng Shui for
Creativity
Using the
6000-year-old tenets of Feng Shui, Trisha Keel (www.tomorrowskey.com),
will open the doors and windows of our minds to enhancing and
expanding "Creativity" in our lives. Trisha
received her Advanced Certification in Feng Shui from James
and Helen Jay (CA) in 1989 and is one of the most respected
and widely sought FS Masters in Texas.
Please join us for this fun, interactive and
wisdom-filled evening!
Also, this is our Annual Meeting at
which we elect the new Board of Directors. Your vote counts,
so do come! We look forward to having you at the meeting, and
following the meeting, at Cafe Express on West Gray for a
Dutch treat dinner full of camaraderie and
conversation.
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IT'S
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME!
WiVLA membership runs from March 1st through the
end of February. The regular membership fee is $40, beginning
March 1, 2011. The student membership fee is $10. A limited
number of membership fee scholarships are available.
To
renew your membership now, click here.
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ACCOLADES
Kay Sarver's piece
got into the second
jury process, making her a finalist for the Hunting Art Prize
for 2011. The winner will be announced in April.
Cindy Hickok is
preparing for a solo
show at Jane Sauer Gallery in Santa Fe NM, opening May
20. She will be honored by the New Mexican Women in the
Arts at a luncheon recognizing their choice of artist &
gallery in New Mexico.
Joan Son will be
presenting her work at "Part Geometry, Part Zen: a personal
exploration through paper" on April 9 through June 12 at the
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft at 4848 Main Street.
There will be an opening reception April 29 from 5:30-8 p.m.
www.crafthouston.org.
Margaret Colvin
will have a solo exhibit displaying her recent works,
"Abstraction," at Block 7. The artist reception will be
Wednesday, March 9th from 6-8 pm; the exhibit will remain on
view till April 25th. Colvin's mixed media collages
will also be on display. Block 7, 720 Shepherd
Drive, Houston 77007.
Lois Hudson's poem
was accepted and
printed, along with her
bio, in "Poetry in the Arts," a semi-annual journal.
Margaret
Dobbins has been named a Finalist in the 2011 Hunting
Art Prize competition.
Kaytee
Esser is having a one-person show entitled "Horse
Power," at the Upper Bay Frame and Gallery in Nassau Bay,
Texas. The reception for this show is Saturday, March 19
from 10-2. The show will feature paintings of horses and
classic cars. Several classic cars will be on display outside
the gallery for you to take a look. Bay Frame and Gallery
is located at 18069 Upper Bay Road, Nassau Bay, Texas. Phone:
281-333-9199. www.UpperBayFrame.com.
Melanie
Rosin will have her first poetry
collection, "Four Feet from the Surface," published
by Neo Literati Press this fall.
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GOOGLE
ART PROJECT
By
Diana Meade
You may already
know this but I didn't and I am excited to share this with
you.
Do you remember
when Google sent their Street View Camera crews up and down
every street in America and took a photo of your house with
your neighbor's garbage can blown over in your driveway and
posted it on the web for all the world to see?
Well,
Google has sent those same cameras to 17 art museums around
the world and this time they let them know they were coming,
and oh boy, you just have see some of the results! There
is now a lot more art on your computer at your
fingertips.
I
am including some of the videos at the end of this article and
you can check out how it works by clicking here. The project is a
boon for art lovers who might not be able to get across the
ocean for a visit or just want to do some art history research
in the comfort of their pajamas while drinking their favorite
beverage.
Selected
works are highlighted and some are even a part of a new
technology that photographs so closely that you can see the
brush stokes in the piece in a way you can bet you haven't
seen from behind the velvet rope. Google has given you
extra goodies including info from the museum and the
ability to save and share your discoveries with others to make
the experience even better.
You
control how you view the inside of the museum by clicking and
following the arrows on the screen. It takes a
little time to become accustomed to the way the system works
because the walls move as I imagine they would in a fun house
while taking a hallucinogen, but you can stare in wonder as
long as you please without a gloved docent herding you
along.
Fair
warning: The Google Art Project is best enjoyed when you
have a little time to wander down the halls at a leisurely
pace. I have been keeping a window open with the
project in my browser, and I stop in for little art breaks
until my eyes start crossing, or when I have to come back
to reality.
Here
are some videos that will explain further:
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| Art
Project - Visitor Guide |
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| Art
Project - Preview |
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| Art
Project - Behind the Scenes |
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VISUAL
ART OPPORTUNITIES
By
Anna Phillips
CALL FOR
ENTRIES
Houston Center for
Photography 29th Annual Membership
Exhibition
Submission deadline March
18th
This is an open themed show
with an entry fee of $35 for up to 10 images. It will be
juried by Ariel Shanberg, Executive Director of The Center for
Photography at Woodstock, NY www.hcponline.org
Houston Community
College - Central Art Gallery
Postmark deadline for entries:
March
26th; Drop off deadline: March
31st
Theme: "Evolutionaries: Art and
Healing" Subject matter can deal with personal, political or
environmental healing. Jurors will be Jean Caslin, Diane
Griffin Gregory and Cindy Wigglesworth. Entry fee is $35 for 3
jpegs.
There will be a two-month
exhibition in HCC's Art Gallery. Selected additional work
not included for the gallery will be available through
an Online Gallery and a Blurb Catalog. Submission guidelines
and prospectus: http://cc.hccs.edu/gallery/index.html
Archway Gallery
3rd Annual Juried Open Competition
Postmark deadline for entries:
May 14th
A Benefit for The Houston Area
Women's Center - This is an open themed show. In keeping with
the mission of the Houston Area Women's Center, imagery that
is overtly sexual or violent will not be accepted. Bert Long
has been selected to jury this competition.
www.archwaygallery.com
Local Film
Festivals
Visual artists benefit from
influences to be found in films. Check out the historic,
foreign and independent film offerings at the Museum of Fine
Arts, Houston. www.mfah.org/films/. Of special interest in March:
The seventh annual Houston Jewish Film Festival
(March 8-20) and Five Funny French Films (March 25-26). So you plan ahead, the MFAH will
present the 6th Annual Latin Wave: New Films from
Latin America (April
28-May 1, 2011) Also in April is the 44th
Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival (April 8-17) http://worldfest.org/indexb.html
Online
Resources
An excellent resource for
national Calls for Entry is Café, The Art of Online Calls
for Entry. All of these opportunities require an
online submission process. Their website is: www.callforentry.org
For complete listings
of exhibitions and events consult:
Artshound [Arts, Culture &
Entertainment Events in Houston, Texas] at: www.artshound.com
Glasstire [Texas visual arts
online] at: www.glasstire.com
We welcome your suggestions and
feedback for this column, so we can include the news you'd
like to read. If you have suggestions for inclusion, please
e-mail the relevant information by the 15th of each
month for the following month's newsletter to Anna
Phillips. |
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GOOD
PLACES TO WRITE & DRAW
By
Cary Reeder
G's & Z's Coffee
Shop, 4420 Almeda, Phone:
713-737-8366
After
experimenting with "corporate coffee" last month, I have
ventured back to the comforts of another Mom & Pop coffee
shop. G's & Z's is a hidden gem in the Third Ward/Museum
District area that I would have never known about if a friend
hadn't suggested it for coffee and conversation. More proof
that I do need to expand my circle beyond the Heights and
Montrose. I love to find hidden gems as long as I don't have
to drive outside of the 610 Loop to get to them.
General
Atmosphere: G's & Z's is in an
historic-looking building on the corner of Almeda and Rosewood
with lots of windows and natural light. There are about six
tables w/chairs and a four seated counter overlooking Almeda.
There is artwork on the walls by such luminaries as Houston
artist and UHD professor Floyd Newsum. Stairs lead up to a
rooftop balcony with a view of downtown. On this Monday
morning, some nice cool jazz plays in the
background.
Features:
Along with a relaxed
atmosphere for reading, writing or visiting with friends, G's
& Z's has a couple features that set it apart from other
coffee houses. This is the first coffee shop I've visited that
offers both a free Internet bar with three computers to use
and free WIFI if you bring your own laptop. I've yet to find
another place, besides the public library, that offers this.
They also have Poetry Night every Saturday at 8:00 p.m.
Coffee
and Comestibles: G's & Z'soffers a wide
variety of hot and cold coffee drinks, as well as teas,
Italian sodas, and soft drinks. I enjoyed my tasty latte made
tastier by the fact that I forgot to ask for skim milk. I
didn't sample any of the pastries but they looked pretty good.
G's & Z's also serves lunch, and while I cannot confirm
it, apparently their chicken salad sandwich is to die for. In
the evening hours, they serve beer and wine.
When
to Go: I've only visited G's & Z's on a
Monday morning but the word on the street is that it's a
pretty "chill" place. I take this to mean that it's quiet and
mellow. On the morning I visited, two other patrons and
I were quietly reading, writing, and typing. I imagine
that it's gets noisier at lunchtime and especially during
Poetry Night. You know how wild and crazy those poets
are.
The
Verdict: I immediately liked G's & Z's
the moment I stepped in the front door. The proprietor was
welcoming and ready to take my order. There were magazines,
newspapers and books to read and lots of windows to look out
and watch the world go by. I highly recommend this hidden gem
as a great place to write and draw.
Have
you found a Good Place to Write or Draw in your neighborhood?
We encourage WiVLA members to be guest columnists. Contact the
editor for details.
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LITERARY
DAY
By
Corry Austin
A
wonderful gathering of artists met on February 19 for Literary
Day. Both instructors helped jostle us out of our fears
and ruts, and let new ideas surface.
Poetry
seeds were planted and are growing, thanks to Sandi
Stromberg's creative teaching and exercises.
We wrote lists of "I wants" and created a group poem -
a WiVLA Want Rant. It was amazing the way
our words fit together into various themes. Sandi's gentle
guidance and creative energy jump-started a variety of new
projects for each of us. 
Sarah
Cortez took us on a visit back in time, and along the way, we
learned the meaning and mechanics of memoir
writing. Sharing our work and encouraging
our fellow writers helped us realize the gifts we give to each
other with our words. Sarah's expertise and
support provided an atmosphere of creative
possibility.
Thank you to both instructors, Sandi
and Sarah, and all the participants. Now,
write on! |
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mary
Wilbanks will be taking a group of artists to Costa
Rica July 5-11. 2011. There are only 2 available rooms
left. For more info call 281-370-7879 or write marywilbanks@gmail.com.
The Houston Empty Bowls Steering
Committee invites ceramists, woodturners and
woodworkers, hot and warm and cold glass artists, fiber
artists, mosaicists, polymer clay artists, metalsmiths,
painters and sculptors, artists of all kinds, to create and
donate handmade bowls for Empty Bowls Houston 2011. The event
will be held Saturday, March 19, at Lawndale Art Center and
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. For more information,
contact Thomas Perry at713-660-9488 or tomperry56@aol.com.
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WiVLA CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March
7, 6 p.m.
WiVLA
Board meeting
Live
Oak Meeting House
March
15, 6 p.m.
Membership
Meeting: Feng Shui for Creativity
Museum
of Printing History, 1324 West Clay (Map)
Annual
Member Social
We
will be having our Annual Member Social on Sunday, March
13th from 2-4 p.m. at the Altharetta Yeargin
Art Museum in Spring Branch. Please join us for an afternoon
of mixing and mingling with your fellow WiVLAites. Light
snacks and refreshments will be served. Contributions of
cookies and other sweet treats are welcome!
Where:
Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum, 901 Yorkchester, Houston, TX
77009 (Map)
When:
Sunday, March 13th, 2-4 p.m.
RVSP
to: membership@wivla.org
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