I was born and raised in Chicago. My family would often take my siblings and me to museums, including the Art Institute in Chicago, but my path to being an artist was anything but linear.
I first became interested in glass art while I was in college during a family trip to Italy. We visited Murano and I fell in love with the beautiful colorful glass. I wanted to learn to create something like that. However, in the Midwest, in the early 1970’s, there was little opportunity to do blown glass. I found a one-day class in stained glass and began doing that as I finished college and entered medical school.
I practiced for almost 50 years as an OB/GYN physician, delivering babies, caring for women’s health and raising 4 children. I still did stained glass whenever I could. It was my escape and place of peace in a chaotic life. Later I discovered fused glass and fell in love with it. I love the flexibility of not being constrained by lead line and solder.
When I retired from medicine, it felt like the time had come to explore my artistic side and see what I could do with more time and attention to spare for it.
I never lost the thrill of creating beauty with glass. Glass seems to me to be a metaphor of my life, fragile yet strong, hard yet malleable under the right circumstances. The whole field of fused glass is both ancient (the Egyptians did it) and new (it was reinvented in the late 1970’s).
That means that there are new ideas and approaches constantly being invented. I find that to be exciting and challenging. I love exploring what I can do with this very adaptable material. I am constantly asking myself, “what else can I make it do?”
My work is deeply personal. Both medicine and working with glass require resilience and adaptability. Both require patience, care, and attention to detail. I see beauty in its fragility and imperfections - another fine metaphor of life and the human experience.
Now, as I embrace this new chapter in my life, I am excited to share my work with others. From the delivery room to the glass studio, I have learned that life is about growth, reinvention, and the courage to follow your passions. I am eager to see where the path leads and to share my experience and joy with others.
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Who will WiVLA highlight next?
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Each month, a WiVLA member is highlighted in the Newsletter. This is a fun way for us to get to know each other.
Contact the Literary Art Chair or the Visual Art Chair, if you would like your time in the spotlight.
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Congrats to our WiVLA ladies for making the "Patterns" edition of Synkroniciti: Melody Locke, Gwen Womack and Marie Casamayor-Harvey in Visual Art and Laura Peña and Sandi Stromberg in Literary Art (poetry)!
Patterns will be available for purchase Dec 15th!
( https://synkroniciti.com/the.../purchase-individual-issues/) |
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Jamie Frontiera had 3 pieces accepted in the Artist's Voice Show at Webster Presbyterian Church and their Sanctuary for the Arts.
The show dates are 1/11/2026 to 3/22/26. Opening Reception and artist talk will be 2/6 at 6pm at 201 West NASA Parkway, Webster, TX 77598
The pieces accepted are :
Joyful Dance
Dandelion Expansion
Just Bent, not Broken?
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Kathi Crawford is thrilled to share that her poem, Put a Match to It, was accepted by The Bookends Review (https://thebookendsreview.com/) for publication 2/10/26.
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Synkroniciti is Open
for Written and Visual Art Submissions
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Synkroniciti is a quarterly online arts journal. They accept work in a variety of media across the visual, literary and performing arts spectrum.
Audacity may be interpreted as insolence, imprudence or unconventionality, even rudeness. While it implies a degree of cheekiness, it also connotes fearlessness and intrepid daring. The act of expressing oneself with authenticity is audacious, especially when it reveals uniqueness and nonconformity.
For good or ill, audacity requires courage and willingness to take chances. We are seeking work that illustrates challenges to conventional thinking and resistance to hostile circumstances, exploring the connections between risk-taking and autonomy.
What does it mean to be fearless, to subvert expectations, or simply take up space?
Submissions for their Audacity issue are now open. Contests will be held in poetry ($75), flash fiction ($75) and for the cover ($100).
Theme: Audacity
Deadline: 1/15/2026
Fee: $3 per submission
Submissions should be emailed to magazine@synkroniciti.com
Want to know now what they look for in a submission? Check out this interview with editor Katherine McDaniel by Jim Harrington over at Six Questions For Katherine McDaniel, Founder/Editor, Synkroniciti Magazine
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Call for Art
Presented by the Texas Chapter of the Women’s Caucus for Art
Entry Deadline January 23, 2026
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Lone Star Literary Life is your digital hub for all things Texas books. We celebrate local authors, indie bookstores, and literary events—connecting the community with compassion and a commitment to uncensored reading.
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Writing Contests, Grants & Awards
The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.
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Literary Magazines
Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff and listed in the Literary Magazines database. Here you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, and contact information—everything you need to determine which publications match your vision for your writing and your writing life.
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According to their website, "Duotrope is an established, award-winning resource for writers and artists. We help you save time finding publishers or literary agents, so you can focus on creating. Our publication and agent listings are up to date and full of information you won't find elsewhere. We also offer submission trackers, custom searches, deadline calendars, statistical reports, and extensive interviews."
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According to their website, "For writers, getting your work published and recognized is a step toward realizing your goals as an author. However, finding the right contests or publications can be a challenging and time consuming. Authors now have the opportunity to find and submit their writing to magazines, publishers, and contests through a website called Submittable."
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According to their website, "CaFÉ strives to make art opportunities available to all by offering arts organizations an affordable submission platform and artists an easy way to apply. CaFÉ has an open call for everyone, from competitions to public art calls, to art contests and more. Artists can create an artist portfolio for free and apply to various call listings. CaFÉ also hosts its own call for entry."
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According to their website, "Since established in 2003, Smarter Entry has evolved to become one of the most comprehensive competition and call for entry management systems. Used by art groups and organizations of all sizes, this intuitive, affordable web-based software makes it easy for organizations to run regional to worldwide events. Smarter Entry is a perfect choice for sculpture and other 3D media, as well as photography and painting competitions."
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According to their website, "For the Artist, Maker and (Forever) Inspired. Artists Network is with you every step of your art journey. Artists Network produces anywhere from three to five major events for visual art enthusiasts each year. We plan and produce different art-making getaways and retreats, art competitions, pop-up learn-ins, Paint Alongs, art talks and tours, and more in locations worldwide."
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ALH Winter classes begin January 20; registration closes January 11
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WAS-H Live - Demo by Robert Ruhmann
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Check out their January events at WAS-H!
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Location: WAS-H at 1601 West Alabama at Mandell, Houston, TX 77006.
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WAL offers classes, workshops and interest groups
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CAL offers classes, workshops, group excursions and a variety of benefits for members.
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WHEN: Classes start throughout January
WHERE: Houston Center for Photography 1441 West Alabama, Houston, Texas 77006.
COST: Varies per class
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Monthly Open Mic Poetry Reading
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Inprint First Fridays Reading Series & Open Mic
First Fridays will present a monthly featured presenter, a poet of distinction and accomplishment, followed by one of Houston's premier and most attentive open mic forums.
First Fridays take place every first Friday of the month, 12 times a year, at Inprint House, 1520 West Main Street, 77006. We throw the doors open at 7:30 PM; the featured readers share wisdom and words with us at 8:00 PM, and then the open mic gets rolling at 8:30 PM, whether you're ready or not.
(Sign up to read when you arrive.)
Brazos Bookstore Friday Night Poetry Open Mic Night
Sign-ups for readers will be taken at the door starting at 6 PM and drawn from a hat starting at 6:15 PM. The rules are simple: 5 minutes or three pieces, whichever comes first! If there is spare time, we happily invite poets with more material to try out to come back and share it with us!
The reading is free and open to all: young, old, first timers, veterans, and you!
Public Poetry Second Saturday Reading Series with the Houston Public Library. Poetry comes alive the first Saturday of each month at 2 PM with readings performed by a creative mix of artists. Participants are invited to read a piece for Open Mic during featured poets intermission. Poetry readings alternate between Zoom and in-person events at various Houston libraries.
FRIENDSWOOD POETS First Saturday Readings at the Friendswood Library 11 AM. Community Room Friendswood Library 416 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood TX.
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Houston Independent Authors
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The Houston Writers Guild is a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization working to create a community of writers of all skill levels. Together we strive to improve our writing craft and help each other build successful careers through education, collaborative marketing efforts, and camaraderie.
The Guild offers a myriad of programs for both published and unpublished writers. It creates opportunities to build careers through networking, as well as, opportunities for author book sales throughout the Greater Houston area and neighboring communities. The Guild is also a place for hobbyist authors to enjoy writing in a relaxed and fun environment.
Critique Group
Writer's Room - several offerings
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Inprint envisions Houston, Texas as a city where the literary arts are a defining resource. Thousands of Houstonians, recognizing the value and impact of the written word, join in Inprint programs to write, read, and support the literary arts. The community is enriched by some of the nation’s top emerging writers, who study at the University of Houston Creative Writing Program and teach at Inprint and various local community centers, schools, and universities.
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The Ekphrastic Review is an online journal devoted entirely to writing inspired by visual art. Our objective is to promote ekphrastic writing, promote art appreciation, and experience how the two strengthen each other and bring enrichment to every facet of life. We want to inspire more ekphrastic writing and promote the best in ekphrasis far and wide.
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The WRITER'S LEAGUE of TEXAS (WLT) is the largest literary arts organization in Texas, a statewide nonprofit offering programs and services to writers at all stages of their writing careers, from just getting started to publication and beyond.
Founded in 1981, the organization’s mission is to provide a forum for information, support, and sharing among writers; to help writers improve their craft and understand the business of publishing; to promote the interests of writers from diverse cultural, economic, sexual identity and orientation, ethnic, and religious backgrounds; and to elevate the art and enterprise of writing, including supporting and growing the Texas literary community at large.
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WOW! is a global magazine designed to support women's creativity, energy, blood, sweat, and tears throughout all stages of the writing process. We envision Wow! being a favorite watering hole for professionals, the up-and-coming, and the recipients of our labors--the avid readers.
Our concept is unique, as it fills in the missing gap between writing websites and women's magazines. We are dedicated to raising the overall standards within the writing community, and devote an active profile within writing industry associations, organizations and websites.
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Women on Writing's quarterly flash fiction contest is open until February 28. This season it is open prompt, giving you the space to be as creative as you like. Word count is 250 minimum, 750 maximum. Check it out here.
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- Gemini Ink's writing classes are open to everyone. We provide a warm, supportive writing community for writers of all levels. Gemini Ink offers excellent, fair-cost workshops by published writers year-round.
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The International Women’s Writing Guild (IWWG) is dedicated to building a worldwide community where storytelling connects, inspires, and uplifts voices across cultures. We celebrate the richness of diverse traditions, histories, and perspectives, recognizing that every writer contributes to the shared human experience.
All IWWG workshops are listed in ET (Eastern Time).
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TWO SYLVIAS PRESS is an independent press located in the Seattle area. We publish poetry, memoir, essays, books on the craft of writing, and creativity tools, such as The Poet Tarot, The Daily Poet, Everything is Writable, PR for Poets, Demystifying the Manuscript, and the bestselling resource for poets, The Weekly Muse.
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* Collaboration Catalogs Available! *
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You can purchase copies of the REFLECTION catalog from the 2022 Collaboration for $5.
Stop by Studio 320 at Silver Street Studios to purchase additional copies of either catalog. Silver Street Studios is located in the Main Yard of Sawyer Yards. Call ahead at 713-851-0134 to ensure that she’ll be in the studio when you arrive.
(We are sold out of ENTANGLED catalogs!)
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Remember to check the WiVLA Calendar for exciting events, such as field trips, studio visits, workshops, and other fun activities.
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Save the Date(s)
- WiVLA Book Club: Last Saturdays of the month
- Blackout Poetry Group (Online): First Fridays of the month
- Circle of Five Jan Members Meeting
- The World Inside You®: Professional Development for Artists and Writers multi-session workshop Saturdays in January
- Demo and workshop with Houston House of Glass Jan 24th
- Tour of Ann Leis' amazing Dewees Cochran doll collection, followed by a Tea party Jan 31st.
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WiVLA Needs Your Expertise
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Do you have special skills, talents or knowledge to share with other WiVLA members? Now is a good time to volunteer ~
- Serve on a committee
- Speak at a monthly meeting
- Lead a workshop.
- Be creative
Don't be shy. We have a lot to learn from each other.
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We'd love to celebrate your good news. If you are interested in sharing, please send your items to newsletter@wivla.org. The deadline for inclusion in the next month's newsletter is the 20th. Thank you.
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