According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the Dog Days of Summer don’t start until early July. I don’t know about you, but I feel like the dogs buried their calendars along with their bones. Thank goodness for air conditioning and indoor activities, such as making art and writing. Although I’m itching to get outdoors to try out my new camera, I’m going to limit my time outdoors to early mornings and evenings. I intend to spend the bulk of my indoor time working on the visual portion of my team’s collaboration.
I’ve heard many people in the arts say that they jumped their creative groove during the many months of the pandemic. If you feel that your creative juices have been depleted, I promise you, collaborating is the best way to rehydrate.
My partner for the past two Collaborations was the very talented Ann Boutte. In both cases, we agreed to partner without a clue of what we’d do. After a couple of lunches, we agreed on a theme. What’s crazy is that we each thought that the other had come up with the idea.
June is when we prepare for hurricane season. June is also the perfect time to secure your Collaboration partner so you can spend the real Dog Days of Summer working on your Collaboration project.
- Melody -
SMITHER PARK DESIGN SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED!!!
Design entries for WiVLA’s portion of the Smither Park wall will be accepted through June 15, 2022. Your Board anticipates forwarding designs to The Orange Show for approval by the end of July.
For information about the wall and design, see Smither Park Mosaic on our website.
Email the details about your design to info@wivla.org. Be sure the put Smither Park Wall in the subject line.
Hooked on Ekphrastic
A workshop with Lorette C. Luzajic of The Ekphrastic Review
via ZOOM June 4, 2022 9:00am-12:00pm
Contemplating visual art can make you a better writer. And writing about art is the best way to study art history. Ekphrastic writing is an ancient practice of literary description, expanded today as a fountain of creative inspiration to take your writing practice to unexpected, enchanted places. In this virtual workshop, we will learn a little about the history of ekphrastic literature, read and discuss some works together, find new ways of looking at art and asking questions that can turn into poems or stories. We will also do several writing exercises together. Participants will receive a PDF of the program slides after the workshop.
Register for this event by logging into the WiVLA website https://www.wivla.org/ and clicking on the Calendar.
I had been a member for just a little over a year when I first heard about WiVLA’s Collaboration. WiVLA held some “speed dating” sessions during member meetings and provided a couple of other opportunities. I couldn’t find anyone who would partner with me, and I started to have that feeling of gym-class déjà vu. If you have not yet found your partner, I encourage you to try one or more of the following approaches.
To my long-time WiVLA members, although it’s comfortable to collaborate with someone you know, I encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone and meet with someone you don’t know, or know well. It’s also a perfect opportunity to reach out to a new member.
And to our newer members, I encourage you to use our directory to search for members by genre, the process that is illustrated by the image on the left.
You can also post on our Facebook Member Group your willingness to collaborate. If you’re not yet a member of the group, ask to join.
If you would feel more comfortable, you can check with me first to see if a member in question already has a partner. Because we have more visual artists than literary, some literary members are willing to participate on two teams.
We have such a fabulous partner in Lee College. In addition to providing a wonderful gallery space, they’re hosting our two receptions and printing posters and postcards for us to share with clients and friends. It will be a great opportunity for us all to promote our work in the marketplace.
Have you ever wondered if you could write haiku poetry? Here is your chance to dip your toe (or pen) into this short and charming poetry form. Denise Bossarte will guide us on our haiku journey into the art of noticing and observing things in nature that perks our 6 senses. Then the participants will practice writing poetry based on photos of their choosing. An optional poetry sharing will conclude the workshop.
Bio
Denise Bossarte is an award-winning poet, writer, photographer, and artist. She is a certified meditation facilitator and contemplative arts teacher. Denise’s non-fiction work has been recognized by Kirkus Reviews and Publisher Weekly. WiVLA members can enjoy Denise’s daily haiku to celebrate poetry month (April) on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/wivlamembers/
Denise lives in Texas with her husband, Randy, and literary cat, Sapphira.
The Magic of Contour Drawing Workshop
by Shirl Riccetti
September 17, 2022 10:00am-1:00pm
Whether a novice doodler or seasoned visual artist, there is something for everyone in Shirl Riccetti’s workshop – The Magic of Contour Drawing. Learn how to reveal objects in your drawings by using a few strategic contour lines. Log in to the WiVLA website and check the Calendar for updates and to register.
Calling all WiVLA members! If you are interested in participating in a virtual exhibition the 2022 season you may apply on the WiVLA website. This is an excellent opportunity to add to your CV and is a great marketing tool for your artistic endeavors. This is a free benefit to all WiVLA members. If you are interested in learning more please reach out to our Visual Co-Chair, Aliza Bejarano at visual@wivla.org. If you would like to reserve a spot for the 2022 season you may do so by clicking the button below.
A conversation with Anna Walker, Director of Lawndale, as Lawndale nears 50 years in Houston
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Anna Walker, Executive Director of Lawndale Art Center, will speak to us about the organization's future, including upcoming exhibitions, programs, and ways Lawndale responds to meet artist needs in the community.
Anna Walker, Executive Director of Lawndale Art Center, has dedicated her professional life to art and artists and is widely admired locally and nationally as a curator and thought leader. She comes to Lawndale from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH). She served as Assistant Curator of Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design and the Windgate Foundation Curatorial Fellow for Contemporary Craft. Before joining the MFAH, Anna was the Curator at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC), a kunsthalle-style space where she oversaw up to 12 exhibitions a year. She holds a BA in Art from Otterbein University focusing on ceramics and printmaking and an MA in Arts Administration from Indiana University.
Watch your Inbox for an email with the Zoom meeting code.
Brooke Summers-Perry
My greatest joy is sharing the love of creativity, critical thinking, innovation, emotional intelligence, compassion, and mindfulness through visual arts, creative writing, and integrative practices, with my family, students, and seekers of all ages.
I work as:
an artist in residence, developing and facilitating an integrated art curriculum in a Houston ISD Title I elementary school.
a creative writing facilitator for Writers in the Schools, serving pediatric and young adult patients at MD Anderson.
the co-founder of a community run partnership, We Practice Life, LLP, facilitating practices with other warm-hearted rebels and cross-pollinating members’ expertise to offer branding, web launch, and community care for social activists.
May Meeting Highlight:
Dr. Cait Weiss Orcutt - Writing Your Story, Then Sharing It: How to Stop Doubting and Start Making Art
At the May meeting, Cait Weiss Orcutt gave WiVLA members and guests food for thought as we battle our inner art/writing saboteurs.
She began the presentation with the suggestion that we substitute our idea of “risk” with “play” when we begin a new project. And instead of worrying about our work being “good” vs. “bad”, why not focus on what we want our work to do – be provocative, humorous, controversial… In other words, forget the” good” vs. “bad” dichotomy and create a mental web of adjectives that describe your artistic goals for each piece.
In addition to this perspective-changing framework, Cait offered several suggestions to bolster our creative confidence:
Share work with friends on a predetermined date
Hide the future from yourself – create it true first without worrying about what will happen to the piece.
Read new works and first works
Immerse yourself in another medium
Lower the pressure on yourself
Carve out 5-minute blocks of creativity
Reward yourself during the art-making process with beautiful journals, nature activities, new materials, or a trip to the theatre.
To learn more about Cait’s classes, workshops and podcast, check out her website ~ www.caitweissorcutt.com
Picnic at Smither Park
May 14 ~ It was a cool breezy morning at Smither Park. The weather person predicted a hot steamy day but the WiVLAs brought their cool selves out to celebrate an in-person picnic and check out the wall space that WiVLA will decorate, this year.
Margo Stutts Toombs is a featured reader for the Synkroniciti June Soirée
via Zoom, Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 04:00pm
Margo will be one of the featured readers for the June Synkroniciti Soirée on June 25. Check the WiVLA Event Calendar later for details about the soirée and the ZOOM link.
Donna E Perkins' Studio Visit - Art Square Studios on Almeda - Open Studios
Enjoy visiting Donna E Perkins' studio during the Open Studios at Art Square Studios on Sunday, June 26 from 12:00-4:00. There is parking behind the building. Enter on Oakdale.
5301 Almeda Road, Houston, TX 77004
Walls for Rent
To properly display our artwork for the HOPE exhibition at Field Elementary School, WiVLA purchased three black grid walls, each measuring 6’x2’. They were the perfect backdrop for the artwork and enabled us to install the exhibition without damaging or disturbing the walls and murals at the school. The grid walls are available for use by any WiVLA member for $5/day/panel on a first-come, first-serve basis. We’ll also provide the S-curves that you can use to hang your work. So far, three of our members have used them for a day or two at a time.
If you would like to reserve some or all of the grid walls for an in-town event, contact Melody at LockeMelody@gmail.com.
Having trouble logging into your Wivla.org membership profile? Click on the Member Login link at the top right of the home page. If you don't remember your password, click the Request Password button and enter your email address. Follow the prompts in the password reset email. If need assistance with accessing your Member Profile, contact the WiVLA membership chair, Gail Plunkett, at membership@wivla.org.
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.
Design entries for WiVLA’s portion of the Smither Park wall will be accepted through June 15, 2022. Your Board anticipates forwarding designs to The Orange Show for approval by the end of July.
And to our newer members, I encourage you to use our directory to search for members by genre, the process that is illustrated by the image on the left.
