Hello everyone,

All the hard work our WiVLA members and board members have put in the past few months is coming to fruition - the "Finding Balance" show will be this Thursday, September 1 at the Museum of Printing History. How exciting!

I would also like to thank all of the members who submitted work for August's art prompt. I hope you all enjoy viewing other members' work, and I look forward to seeing what fabulous creations spring forth from September's prompt.

On a different note, Cary Reeder will be stepping down from writing Good Places to Write and Draw. I know I am not alone when I say that I have enjoyed reading her funny and informative column. If you would like to contribute a GPWD column to next month's newsletter, please let me know.

Here's to a creative and productive month!    

Andrea Waguespack

SAVE THE DATE: CULTURED COCKTAILS___________________________ 

By Jennifer Watson       

Save the Date: Thursday, September 22, 2011 from 5-10 p.m. 

On September 22, WiVLA will be the featured organization of Cultured Cocktails, a fundraising and marketing event created by Spacetaker to support local arts organizations. A portion of the proceeds from the evening benefit WiVLA programs and services - so the more people you invite, the merrier! Join us as we raise a glass (or 2) to the women of WiVLA! 

The event will be held at Boheme Cafe and Wine Bar, located at 307 Fairview at Taft.  For more information, click here.  

See you there!    

ACCOLADES_____________________________________________________ 

Sally Stubbs has 2 images in the "Body Image" show at The Arts Alliance Center at Clear Lake (TAACCL), located at 2000 NASA Parkway, Nassau Bay 77058. The show runs through September 22nd. She will also exhibit "Flamenco Dancer" in the National Society of Artists juried show opening Oct. 5 at The Arts Alliance Center at Clear Lake. The reception will be from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Art in Dimension and The Culinary Institute "Le Notre" presents a contemporary art collection by Becky Soria at the new Kris Bistro located at 7070 Allenby, Houston 77022. There will be an opening on September 6th, 2011.

Anna Mavromatis' Urban Story II is currently being shown at the Center for Book Arts-New York exhibit "The [Un]framed Photograph." In conjunction with the show, Anna gave an Artist Talk at the CBA center on July 27. On September 3, Anna's paper structure "in the wings" will be showcased at the Bodies of Text III dance performance in Philadelphia's Clark Park.  

Lauran Perry English, along with about 15 other artists, enjoyed the opening reception of Island Art Gallery on NASA Parkway on August 6. Lauran also juried in to the National Society of Artists with one of her original creations, Seashell Seascrolls---photo, poetry/prose, and mixed media. The NSA exhibit will be at The Arts Alliance Center at Clear Lake on October 6-27.

Kay Sarver just completed a 72' x 8' mural for Ethel R. Coop Elementary School, which now adorns a long wall in the school cafeteria.  She hopes the children enjoy gazing, dreaming, laughing or maybe even puzzling over it as they eat their tasty school lunches. 

Sally Worthington has two paintings in the 'Water Works' exhibit at Buchanan Gallery in Galveston. The opening was August 27 and the exhibition will be on view until October 1.

Justina Page will be signing her book, Circle of Fire, at the World Burn Congress in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 20-24.  

Michelle O'Michael has been accepted into Houston Baptist University's Master of Fine Arts degree program, a terminal degree.  In addition to her ongoing sculpture shows and commissions, she now has a full class load.  A new adventure begins. She was also named Texas Executive Women's "Woman of Excellence" for the Federation of Houston Professional Women.  Michelle will be recognized at the Federation's Awards Gala, "Black and White and Red All Over" on September 17 at the Hyatt Regency Downtown.     

SuzAnne C. Cole had two prose poems published in Prose-Poem Summer 2011, 2:1.  SuzAnne's poem also won 1st prize in Binnacle's Ultra-Short Contest.  Other recent publications include the New York Times travel blog, Flashlight Memories, Generations of Poetry, Writeradvice.com, and Trees of Heaven. She recently won 2nd and 3rd prize in the Abilene Writers Guild June prose contest and 2nd prize in its May contest.

Dianne K. Webb is currently directing a dramatic reading of My Small Pistola, a musical which will be performed at the Country Playhouse in Houston. Dianne was also chosen as September's Artist of the Month by Vox Culture in Houston. Dianne will also be featured in two upcoming art shows: Second Saturdays and Parallel Universes, both at Winter Street Studios on September 10 from 2-5 p.m., and September 17 at 5 p.m. respectively. Winter Street Studios is located at 2101 Winter Street, Houston 77007.   

Patricia "Trish" Barry Rumble wrote "Aesop's Funny Fables," a completely bilingual English/Spanish play, which was produced at MECA (a multi-cultural arts center for inner city children) for 4 performances in July. It was performed by over 40 children in the summer arts program, who also helped make their own costumes, paint the set, and create props.

Have news you'd like to share? Send an email by the 20th of the month to newsletter@wivla.org. 

WiVLA WRITING GROUP UPDATE_________________________________ 

By Diana Meade       

Please mark your writing calendars! The Monday night WIVLA Writing Group will begin on September 12 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The group will be held at the SOSA Community Center at 1414 Wirt Road, Houston 77055. The phone number is 713-956-0881. There are plenty of plugs for computers, but there is no WiFi.

The Tuesday morning WIVLA Writing Group has been such a success that it has been extended until October 4, 2011.

Come join your fellow WiVLA writers as we persistently show up to put words on the page and put resistance and procrastination off for another day.

Have questions or need encouragement? Please send me an email!

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN VISUAL ARTS___________________________ 

By Donna Durbin   

FINDING BALANCE SHOW ____________________________________ 

GOOD PLACES TO WRITE AND DRAW______________________________ 

By Cary Reeder     

Whole Foods Market

701 Waugh Drive, Phone: 713-284-1260

My first attempt at this column took me to Revival Market on Heights Boulevard. This new market for locavores, foodies, and people who watch Top Chef has lots of yummy gourmet foodstuffs and outstanding iced coffee but lacks the proper atmosphere to write and/or draw. I tried to gain inspiration from the ricotti gnocchi, infused olive oils and artisinal breads to no avail. With a tiny seating area, there just wasn't enough room to breathe. Luckily I had a backup plan with the other new kid in the neighborhood, Whole Foods or as some lovingly call it "Whole Paycheck."

This new Whole Foods location has been greatly anticipated by those of us who were tired of braving the throngs at the Kirby location while searching for our soy corn dogs. The first few weeks were dicey and pretty crowded from what I hear, but it has now calmed down and you can get a parking spot within a mile of the store. Pretty soon though, you should have no problem finding parking because the dreams of many Houstonians will come true when Trader Joe's comes to town providing similar offerings at a decidedly less handsome price.

General Atmosphere: Lest you think I have lost my mind, I did not plant myself in the produce section or near the seafood counter for my writing session but rather in the large "break room." Although it's just a big room with tables and chairs, the atmosphere is wonderful. My guess is that is that it is the huge windows letting in glorious natural light that make it so special. There are lots of places to sit, free water to drink, interesting people to look at, the din of many simultaneous conversations, and an odd sense of camraderie. There is also a very nice patio but the temperature was once again over 100 so I didn't try it out. There were two or three hardy souls out there. I bet they worked in freezing cold offices and were trying to thaw out.

Features: No matter what type of vice you have to help you write: coffee, wine, chocolate, or spelt noodles, they have it here so there is no excuse to leave. Also, you can gain a lot of creative inspiration right in the store. If you're stuck on a poem, just walk the aisles and you'll surely find something that rhymes with Nantucket. If you're writing fiction, there are plenty of interesting people around just waiting to be shaped into characters for your book. For the artist, the break room provides the perfect opportunity to practice perspective drawing skills or for quick sketches of humans in their natural habitat. If you want to avoid writing or drawing, they have WIFI and a window to look out at the cars whizzing by as well.

Coffee and Comestibles: As I mentioned, Whole Foods has a whole range of foodstuffs from snacks to ready-to-eat meals. They have a very nice looking Wine Bar to help you mellow out and a full service coffee bar to help you wake up. I stopped by for lunch and had a Sonoma Chicken Salad on Seeduction Bread sandwich with a Peach Oolong Tea. Beware, writing and drawing in the midst of so much yumminess could be dangerous for the diet!

When to Go: I have been to the new Whole Foods just a couple of times during weekday afternoons and it has been calm and pleasant. Anytime is a good time to go, although weekends tend to be very busy. Stick to weekdays if you would like less rowdiness.

The Verdict: While it doesn't have the charm of a coffee house, my writing visit to Whole Foods Market was very enjoyable. The good thing about Whole Foods is that you can write and draw without attracting much attention, especially when the baby in the high chair next to you already has several tattoos.You can feel free to be your artistic and writerly self. I recommend the Whole Foods Market on Waugh as a good place to write and draw.

Inclusion in this list does not indicate endorsement by WiVLA. We recommend you research each contest, and contact the sponsor(s).  

Mozelle Memoir Writing Contest (Writers' League of Texas) is accepting submissions. Deadline is September 15. First place will receive $500 and publication on the Writers' League website and blog. Download the guidelines and entry form.

ByLine Magazine sponsors monthly contests for essays, short stories, poetry, articles, essays and more. Deadline: open. For more information, visit Byline Magazine.

Fiction Weekly accepts submissions via email, reads year round, and responds to submissions within 30 days. For more details, please visit Fiction Weekly.

Austin Poetry Society Monthly Contest sponsors two regular monthly contests from October through April, in the categories of General and Light Verse. Deadlines are monthly, September through March. For more information, click here.

Scratch is a monthly writing contest that seeks new short fiction to be selected by rotating guest judges. Deadline: monthly. Small fee to enter, cash prizes and publication every month, plus annual anthology. For more information, click here .

Poets & Writers is a great source for writing contests. Check out Poets & Writers contests listings here.

New Letters Magazine seeks fiction, essays, or poetry regardless of subject, style, or genre. A rough average length for prose is 3,000 to 5,000 words. Submissions accepted after October 1. For complete guidelines, click here.

The 2012 BlueCat Feature Competition Awards is accepting entries. Every submitted screenplay is read entirely by two readers who provide written analyses to the author. Grand Prize: $10,000. Deadline: October 15th. For more information, click here. 

The Writers Block International Writing Competition is accepting submissions of short and feature length scripts and manuscripts of all genres for the 2011 competition. Deadline: October 29. For more information, click here. 

Pandora Theatre is seeking original theatrical pieces for its February 2012 show, Vox Feminina. Submissions can be monologues, duet scenes, one acts - anything and everything that celebrates the feminine spirit. Deadline: October 15. For more information, click here.    

Inclusion in this list does not indicate endorsement by WiVLA. We recommend you research each contest, and contact the sponsor(s). 

General Websites for artist exhibition Calls for Entry:

https://www.callforentry.org/

http://www.artshow.com/juriedshows/page5.html

http://artdeadlineslist.com/

http://www.spacetaker.org/field_guide/artist_opportunities

The Pearland Chamber of Commerce is looking for artists to display their work in the Chamber offices. If you're interested, call Samantha Foley at (281)485-3634.

The 2012 Materials Hard & Soft, National Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition in Denton, Texas is accepting entries. The deadline is September 9. The exhibit will be held February 3-March 30, 2012. For more information, visit www.dentonarts.com. The prospectus can be found here.

Visual Arts Alliance 29th Juried Membership Exhibition at the Continental Center 1 opening November 11. Deadline for entries is Friday, September 30. For information to join and enter, visit the Visual Arts Alliance.

18 Hands Gallery is accepting entries for "Interwoven III," a juried exhibition that will be held October 22-30 in conjunction with the International Quilt Show in Houston. All areas of fiber art are eligible. Deadline is September 15. For full details, visit their website.   

FiberPhiladelphia 2012 is accepting entries through October 31. The Outside/ Inside the Box Exhibition, held March/April 2012, will showcase fiber/textile art. The online application can be found here. For more information, click here.

Womenarts Quarterly Journal seeks essays, fiction, poetry, visual art, reviews and interviews by women. For submission guidelines and more information, visit their website.  

Inkwell seeks poetry, prose, and artwork submissions for both its Spring 2012 and Fall 2012 issues. The Fall 2012 issue's theme is "Living on the Edge." The Spring 2012 issue does not have a theme. Reading period is August 1-November 15. For more information, click here.     

Landmark Arts at Texas Tech University School of Art is accepting entries for "Beyond Printmaking III: 2012 National Juried Exhibition," which will be held February 3 - March 4, 2012. Deadline: November 4.  It is open to professional artists living in the U.S. who are 18+ years old. Click here for the prospectus.  

Dragonfly Gallery at Rosedale in Austin, Texas is accepting photography entries for "Extraordinary Exposure," which will be held February 9 - April 7, 2012. Deadline:  January 3. This is open to all photographers, both amateur and professional. Click here for the prospectus.     

2012 Hunting Art Prize is accepting entries. Deadline: November 30. For more info, click here.  

ANNOUNCEMENTS___________________________________________ 

Maryann Gremillion is facilitating a workshop in collaboration with TrueYou Creativity Studio on Saturday, September 24 from 9:30 AM - 1 PM. This workshop is an exploration for women on how writing and art stimulate the creative process. For information and registration, visit TrueYou Creativity.  

Dune Tencer invites you to her Solo Art Show and 60th birthday party on September 9 from 6-9 pm. The event will be held at JoMar Visions Gallery at the Hardy Nance Studios, located at 902 Hardy St.  

Ann Bell is offering one-day workshops, with all supplies provided, to help stretch your creative limits. Visit her website for the class schedule.   

Sally Stubbs is looking for a visual artist to share her studio at Winter Street Studios, located at 2101 Winter Street, Houston 77007.  The annual lease begins November 1. Studio is 395 sq. ft.; AC/heat; access 24 hours; monthly open house; other events. Please email Sally directly for detailed information.   

Please email Anne Rita Taylor if you have art studio space available in west Houston.

Suzanna Tennyson Paxton is offering fall group guitar classes through Spring Branch ISD. Two separate classes (beginning and intermediate) will start Monday, September 12th. Click here to access the registration page. For any questions, contact Suzanna at 713-702-4834 or via email.   

Houston Institute for Natural Growth and Development is opening a Tomball satellite office, and is offering a wall space to one WiVLA member per month to display a visual piece with contact information beginning in November. Contact Suzanna Tennyson Paxton for information at 713-702-4834 or via email.   

The Prose Writer's Look at Writing Poetry

Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Sept. 20, 27, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 (six classes)

Tuition: $175

Best Words, Best Order

Mondays, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Sept. 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10, 17 (six classes)

Tuition: $175

Are We There Yet?: Creating the Complex Memoir Essay

Thursdays, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29, Oct. 6, 13

Tuition: $175

For further information or to register, please email Sarah Cortez.

Would you like to post an announcement? Send your email by the 20th of the month to newsletter@wivla.org.  

September 12, 6 p.m.

WiVLA Board meeting  

Live Oak Meeting House

September 20, 6 p.m.   

WiVLA Member meeting 

Museum of Printing History, 1324 West Clay  (Map)   

September 22, 5-10 p.m.

Cultured Cocktails fun-draiser at Boheme Cafe and Wine Bar 

307 Fairview at Taft

For a complete list of upcoming events, visit the WiVLA calendar online.

Soirees: 

September 2, 5:30 p.m.
Soiree hosted by Piyali Dasgupta 77007 

September 7, 7:00 p.m.
Soiree hosted by Lane Devereux 77429 

September 11, 6:00 p.m. 

Soiree hosted by Diana Weeks 77006

September 18, 4:00 p.m. 

Soiree hosted by Cookie Wells 77005

September 28, 7:00 p.m. 

Soiree hosted by June Russell 77079

October 4, 7:00 p.m. 

Soiree hosted by Jean Caslin & Diane Gregory 77008

October 14, 7:00 p.m. 

Soiree hosted by Corry Austin 77077

October 21, 7:00 p.m. 

Soiree hosted by Cathy Lachin 77450

October 27, 7:00 p.m. 

Soiree hosted by Jane Mulholland 77098