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Raven Kushner has always possessed a deep thirst for beauty and a fascination with the human experience. Portraiture came naturally to her.
As a teenager and young adult, her bedroom walls were covered in magazine clippings of fashion models—images she saw as living works of art. Today, that early impulse continues to guide her aesthetic: a reverence for the beautiful rendered in a quasi-surreal, elevated style. Her portraits often feel slightly unreal—not distorted, but distilled—capturing subjects in a light that feels timeless and idealized.
Kushner came to fine art later in life, not out of hesitation but from lack of early exposure. As a child, she channeled her creativity into journals filled with poetry, drawings, and commentary on the human condition.
Her muses were often fashion figures and cartoon characters—the imagery that brought her joy and sparked her imagination. After years of trying to adapt to corporate life and chasing a sense of purpose through various paths, including a foray into fashion design, she finally found her true direction during a summer painting course. That class became a turning point: from then on, there was no looking back.
Her current body of work centers on portraiture of the Black upper class, a subject that emerged organically from her lived experience and artistic influences. Deeply inspired by both the Renaissance and Impressionism, Kushner is drawn to refinement, elegance, and legacy.
While developing her series The Aristocrats, inspired by the book Aristocrats of Color, she discovered that she is a direct descendant of Junius George Groves—the "Potato King" and one of the first Black multimillionaire entrepreneurs in America. This revelation connected the dots between her entrepreneurial spirit and artistic vision.
To Kushner, Black wealth is not merely financial—it’s an act of defiance, a reflection of dignity, and a manifestation of generational excellence. Her work celebrates this resilience, portraying Black elites not just as symbols of affluence, but as vessels of cultural power and historic endurance.
After studying studio art at El Camino College, New Masters Academy, and under the private mentorship of Francis Vallejo, she has exhibited at The African American Museum of Dallas and several Houston galleries.
As she enters a new chapter of her artistic journey, relocating her practice to Brooklyn, Kushner is excited to deepen her craft and expand her impact—honoring legacy while shaping the future.
See more of Raven's Art on her website.
Although we in Houston wish her well in New York, we will miss seeing her and her striking artwork in person at local art shows.
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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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3rd Place Documentary Short
Calcasieu Parish Short Film Festival
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And check out Margo telling stories at the Moth.
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Abby's book of poems, Finish Line was recently launched on zoom on June 7, 2025 by the Writer's of African Origin in the Diaspora in conjunction with the University Of Tuskegee, Alabama. Check out more of her book launch on YouTube.
Her poem Walking Your Path was published in Parcham Online Magazine in the March 2025 issue, titled Roads.
A piece from her nature themed vignette, Sunrise Visitor, a will also be published in the summer 2025 issue of the Humana Obscura, an Independent nature-focused literary magazine.
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Multiple WiVLA members have art works
in Synkroniciti's Recovery edition!
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- Margo Stutts Toombs: flash nonfiction (with a little magical realism) piece, The Kidney Monster at Party City
- Celeste Budwit-Hunter: poetry, So Many Jewels
- Denise Bossarte: photography, Too Many Eyes on Me, What Lies Beneath, Haunting Myself with Memories of You, Transmutation 1
- Brooke Summers-Perry: blackout poetry, Turn to Healing, Aligned With Life, Bound Together
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Melody was awarded two prizes in the Professional Photography category at the LSAG 2025 Art Show, which was judged by Andre Bally. Her digital print, Stone's Throw was awarded first prize and her lumen print, Three Orchids, was awarded Honorary Mention.
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Three of her lumen prints were also selected for Wholeness is a Myth, an exhibition of Sawyer Yards tenants and alumni, which was juried by Kaima Marie Akarue. This exhibition runs from June 30 through September 21. The reception will be held at Silver Street Studios on Friday, July 11, 5 - 7 p.m.
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Tranquility Park Fountain, Melody's gelatin silver black & white print was selected for the Grayscale: A Picture Show exhibition in the Black Box Gallery's online gallery annex, which will be on view from July 1 through July 25.
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See more of Melody's art on her website.
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Catherine is one of the new authors at Inklings Publishing! She's currently in the revision phase with her novel, you can read more of her writing on her website and there's also a place to subscribe to her newsletter. She's on Facebook and Instagram @thecatherinegentry.
Hope you enjoy reading and are finding new creative adventures this summer!
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Here is What Donna's been up to:
- A new art collaboration with Winter Street artist, Crystal Wrenden, is now exhibited at Winter Street Studios in the Creative Fusion exhibition.
- Blog by Kathi Crawford featuring Mocha Memories at Backstreet painting.
- New custom made designer dress with Donna's photo art is now available, Featuring the port of Hydra Island in Greece.
- Out of New York City, the Clio Art Fair interviewed Donna for their Art Dealer Street blog. Read with the link.
- Donna will be curating a new group exhibit for the first time. Essence of Elements invites you on a journey through nature’s most captivating forms. Including over 25 artists, this group exhibition explores the raw power, delicate beauty, and intricate balance of Earth’s elements: earth, water, fire, and air.
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Denise's photography was selected for inclusion in multiple literary magazines:
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Denise's photograph, Lunch Break, was an honorable mention in the Professional Photography category at the LSAG 2025 Art Show.
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Deborah judged The Art Of Fine Dining at the San Antonio Art League and Museum on June 8th.The exhibition is on view until August 8th.
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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. Issue twenty-five, Dreams, will debut this fall.
We are interested not only in the mind's nocturnal theater, but daydreams, hopes, aspirations, and fantasies. We love the surreal--whether it's everyday life presented in a divergent or quirky way, dreams invading reality, or dreams that help us imagine better worlds. Let your imagination run wild with this one.
Submissions for their Dreams issue are now open. Contests will be held in poetry ($75), flash fiction ($75) and for the cover ($100).
Theme: "Dreams"
Deadline: 7/15/2025
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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The theme for Equinox Volume 9 (fall 2025) is “Wide Open.” As always, this theme is open-ended—wide open.
You might think of wide-open spaces like prairies, plains, deserts, ocean, sky. Or wide-open possibilities like love, adventure, success, disaster, loss. Maybe your poems or images will be wide open to interpretation. Or maybe they will be wide open with white space as you play with form and arrangements that let the light in.
Perhaps you will give the theme a darker twist, as in “Open Wide,” whether referring to dentists with their cold instruments or politicians with their cold agendas and ideologies that are hard to swallow.
We, the editors of Equinox, are wide open to your responses and can’t wait to see what you send us this time.
Theme: "Wide Open"
Reading Period: Submit by August 5th, 2025
Reading Fee: $5/submission
Length: 3 pieces in any one genre (poetry and image)
Publication Date: September 22nd, 2025
A $100 “best in show” prize is given for each category of work (poetry and image).
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Eligibility: open to non-members & students
Show Dates: July 10-Aug. 16 & will be open to non-members & students.
Entry fee: $20 for 1 , $30 for 2 pieces.
Your art can be for sale with a 20%! commission to the Art League of Baytown.
Delivery dates: July 2-July 6th 12- 4pm., 110 W. Texas Ave., Baytown.,
Juror: Lisette McClung.
Art Pickup: at the end of the closing reception on Aug. 16, 8pm, or the following week of Aug. 18 by appointment.
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The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas is home to the Irene Rosenzweig Biennial Juried Exhibition.
The prestigious show — funded by an endowment by the notable Pine Bluff resident — is an opportunity for established and up-and-coming artists to gain recognition and earn prizes, and for ASC to grow its Permanent Collection.
The exhibition is open to artists 18 and older in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Artwork in the following forms are accepted: Paintings, drawings, original prints, fiber art, ceramics, sculpture, photography, video and digital works.
Theme: Open
Deadline: 7/18/2025
Fee: $25 fee per entry (up to 5 entries)
Location: Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas - 701 South Main Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71801
Show Dates: 9/18/25 - 1/24/26
2025 JUROR: Eepi Chaad
Prizes:
- Best in Show: $1,000
- First Place: $500
- Second Place: $200
- Three $100 Merit Awards
- $2,000 available in Purchase Awards
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Intersections aims to exhibit works that explore connections between different aspects of art, art practices that blend different forms, or the intersection of art with other fields like science, technology, or activism.
Example prompts could include, but are not limited to:
- Intersections between art & science
- Intersections between various cultures & time periods
- Blending different art forms and/or mediums
- Art as a form of activism
- Intersections between art & design
- Intersection: a cross road between possibilities & potential
All works must have been completed between 2020-2025 and not previously exhibited at Ardest Gallery. Eligible media includes, but is not limited to, drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, oil, chalk, pastels, ink, ceramics, sculptures, metal work, wood work, and textiles. Max size for works is 48x60.
Theme: Intersections
Deadline: 7/4/2025
Fee: $30 (USD) non-refundable/non-transferable fee for up to six (6) images.
Location: Ardest Gallery - 25200 Grogan's Park Drive, The Woodlands TX 77380.
Show Dates: 7/30/25 - 8/30/26
JUROR: Tanja Peterson
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This show is inspired by The Texas Art Asylum's Tiny Show- which they discontinued and we asked permission to pick up. Thanks, Ramona Brady!
SPECIFICATIONS & RESTRICTIONS:
SIZE RESTRICTION: All artwork MUST be 4 inches or smaller on any side. If you choose to frame your art, frames should not exceed more than an inch or so of the maximum size limit. Art can be any shape and does not have to be square as long as it meets the size restrictions.
Artwork does not have to be framed, mounted, and/or wired for this show.
Theme: Pretty Darn Small
Deadline: 7/4/2025
Fee: $25.00 (flat fee) for up to eight pieces of tiny art. CASH ONLY entry fee is due during drop off.
Location: The Hardy & Nance Studios
Show Date: Saturday, July 19th, 2025, from 5-10pm
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The Bob Hicok Poetry Fellowship is a year-long invitation to write with funding, education, mentorship and a community that cares.
We welcome poets at any stage of their practice who are writing in English. One poet will be selected for the 2025 Fellowship. Five finalists will also be recognized.
In it’s inaugural year, this fellowship offers a $1000 cash prize, $1000 in workshop credits, a 1:1 conversation with Bob Hicok (our most favorite poet!) and a full year to develop a new portfolio of poems. You’ll also receive a lifetime membership to ONLY POEMS, along with space to share your work and process through a quarterly column, an in-depth post-fellowship interview, and a featured portfolio on our website and socials.
In addition to the fellow, five finalists will receive $200 in workshop credits, and lifetime membership to ONLY POEMS.
Theme: Open
Reading Period: Submit by August 30th, 2025
Your submission comes with a 1-year ONLY POEMS membership.
Entry Fee: $18/submission (with opportunity to subsidize other poet's entries)
Length: 5-10 pages of poetry. Each poem starts on a new page. At least one poem must be recent and unpublished.
Response Time: We will respond to everyone in November. The first ever Bob Hicok Fellow will work with us throughout 2026!
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We invite writers to explore the human spirit's enduring strength through works illuminating how we face challenges, transform suffering, and find meaning in our struggles. We seek poems that capture moments of personal or collective resilience, unexpected joy amid hardship, and the quiet victories that define our shared humanity.
Eligibility:
- Open to poets of all backgrounds, experience levels, and geographic locations
- Previously published work accepted if rights have reverted to the author\
- Simultaneous submissions accepted (please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere)
Theme: Unbroken
Due Date: 7/11/2025
Entry Fee: $0
Length: Submit 1-3 poems per person. If you have 3 poems, please submit the form for each entry.
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WOW! SUMMER 2025 FLASH FICTION CONTEST
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WOW! Women On Writing hosts a (quarterly) writing contest every three months, and has done so since 2006. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants.
THEME: OPEN PROMPT! We’re open to any style and genre.
DEADLINE: 8/31/2025
ENTRY FEE: $10.00. This is not a reading fee. Entry fees are used to award our 20 winners as well as administrative costs.
WORD COUNT: Maximum: 750 Minimum: 250
We are limiting the number of entries to a maximum of 300 stories.
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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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Check out these classes and more at Art League Houston!
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Location: WAS-H at 1601 West Alabama at Mandell, Houston, TX 77006
Register here.
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Check out these classes and more at WAS-H! |
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WHEN: Classes start throughout July
WHERE: Houston Center for Photography 1441 West Alabama, Houston, Texas 77006.
COST: Varies per class
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WHEN: Classes start throughout July
WHERE: Ardest Gallery, 25200 Grogan's Park Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380.
COST: Varies per class
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WRITESPACE is Houston's writing center. Founded in April of 2014, we are a grassroots literary arts organization founded by writers, for writers. At WRITESPACE, we support writers of all genres, including writers of literary fiction, poetry, science-fiction, fantasy, mystery, young adult, and other genres.
We offer weekly writing workshops, manuscript consultations, write-ins, open mics, socials, and more. In the spring of each year, we host a national literary festival, Writefest.
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- The Happy Hour: Making Yourself and Your Creative Practice a Priority (Online Zoom)
- The Amherst Way with Jessica Cole (Online Zoom)
- Creative Writing for Carceral Justice
- Writing from the Power of the Senses: Vision in Bold Color
- Summer of Love - Tiny Love Stories (Online Zoom)
- From Journal to Memoir (Online Zoom)
- Surrealism and Confessional Poetry (Online Zoom)
- Art in the AM: (the water is rising) at Blaffer Gallery
- Wordplay in Poetry (Online Zoom)
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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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- Poetry/Online
- Hybrid Forms/Online
- Memoir/Online
- Fiction/In-Person
- Teachers-as-Writers/In-Person
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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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- Summer Writing Retreat 2025: The Write Away
- Summer Writing Retreat 2025 “A Deep Dive Into Memoir: The Stories We Retell & The Stories We Overlook” with Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton
- Summer Writing Retreat 2025 “The Joy and Discovery of Revision: A Step-by-Step Approach” with Charlotte Gullick
- Summer Writing Retreat 2025 “Attention and Transformation: How Poetry Helps Us Live” with Sasha West
- Summer Writing Retreat 2025 “Roadmap from Start to Finish: Fiction Techniques to Begin & Complete Your Draft (& Beyond)” with Natalia Sylvester
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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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- LIFE’S A BITCH AND THEN YOU WRITE: A THREE-STEP TECHNIQUE TO STRENGTHEN YOUR WORK-IN-PROGRESS by Kelly L. Stone
- FROM JOURNAL TO MAGAZINE: Turning Journal Writing into Creative Writing with Chelsey Clammer
- WRITING DISABLED CHARACTERS IN FICTION with Dr. Lara Ameen
- WRITING HORROR AND GOTHIC FICTION with Madeline Dyer
- HOW TO WRITE A DYSTOPIAN NOVEL with Madeline Dyer
- NARRATIVE STRUCTURES with Madeline Dyer
- LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY MAMMOGRAM: Writing Situational Humor in Essays Live Zoom Class with Ashley Harris
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Gemini Ink’s mission is to teach the craft of writing to people of all skill levels so they can bring their stories to life. We envision a world where all people experience the power of the writing arts.
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- Sex is Not a Four-Letter Word with Laura Castoro
- The Real Writing is in Revision with Jasminne Mendez
- On the Edge of Your Seat: Writing Mystery & Suspense with Richard Santos
- The Veteran’s Writing Collective
- Reconnect with Wonder & Illuminate Your Writing Process with Laura Munson
- Reawakening the Past: How to Use Historical Research in Fiction with Katie
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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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We have another excellent collaboration on the books!
Each member who participated in the ENTANGLED Collaboration received a copy of the catalog containing all the artwork and literary pieces. Melody still has a limited supply of copies in her studio that you can purchase for $15.
In addition, you can also purchase additional 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.
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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)
August 2nd: Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop with Rise Artwork - Katherine McDaniel
August 10th: Haiku & Haiga Poetry Writing Workshop with Denise Bossarte
August 30th: The Wonderous Readers book club facilitated by Gwen Womack
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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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