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Creative play isn’t frivolous—it’s fuel. It’s where artists rediscover joy, writers loosen the grip of perfection, and makers of all kinds reconnect with the part of themselves that loves to explore. All we truly need is the chance to engage.
We had plenty of that at WiVLA’s Creative Play Retreat, held September 11–13 at Jordan Ranch. Over three restorative days, members immersed themselves in hands‑on activities, gentle movement, and shared creative discovery.
Attendees enjoyed a rich variety of experiences, including:
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OuiSi practice with Kat McDaniel
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Meditation with Denise Bossarte (including a first‑ever pool meditation!)
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Yoga with Kathi Crawford
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Encaustic printing with Susan Salter
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Blackout Poetry with Brooke Summers‑Perry
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Haiku Poetry with Denise Bossarte
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SoulCollage® with Denise Bossarte
Members received commemorative tote bags—thank you, Elissa Davis!—and had the chance to win tote bags filled with creative goodies, including tie‑dyed socks made just for the occasion.
One of WiVLA’s greatest strengths is the way our members uplift one another with laughter, shared discoveries, and conversations that remind us why creative community matters. This retreat offered a joyful, relaxing pause from our non‑stop lives, and a chance to reconnect with what inspires us.
Deep appreciation to all the facilitators who shared their talents, and to every attendee who made the retreat so special.
We’re already looking forward to next year!
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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 at literary@wivla.org or the Visual Art Chair at visual@wivla.org if you would like your time in the spotlight.
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Maryanne Langford Keeling is a fine art photographer and mixed-media artist whose work explores light, atmosphere, beauty, and a strong sense of place. She is a native South Carolinian who divides her time between Charleston, South Carolina and Houston, Texas. Maryanne brings more than three decades of professional photographic experience to a body of work inspired by landscapes, wildlife, architecture, florals, and the quiet details discovered through travel.
Keeling's photography encompasses both color and infrared black-and-white imagery. In color she is drawn to the richness and subtlety of natural light. Her infrared work transforms familiar landscapes into luminous, often dreamlike interpretations beyond normal human vision. Across both approaches she seeks moments when light, composition, and subject come together to reveal something deeper than simple documentation...something that inspires feeling.
Her mixed-media artwork begins with subjects she has personally photographed. These images may be digitally extracted, layered, or composited before being printed on canvas and finished by hand with acrylics or water-soluble oils. This process allows her to combine photography, digital artistry, and traditional painting while maintaining an authentic connection to the original subject.
Maryanne is especially drawn to subjects that suggest endurance, history, grace, and timeless beauty-from centuries-old live oaks and coastal marshes to birds, ancient architecture, mountain landscapes, and weathered doorways. Her goal is to create work that draws the viewer in, encourages a moment of pause, and inspires a deeper appreciation for the beauty that so often surrounds us unnoticed.
She holds Master of Photography and Master Artist degrees, along with the Imaging Excellence Award, and has received numerous honors through professional and international photographic competition. Her photographic and painted works have been juried into exhibitions and galleries across the country.
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Nancy Glass had this short piece come out in the Brevity Blog on August 12th, about creating/finding a cohort of women with whom to begin a daily writing habit.
https://brevity.wordpress.com/?s=Nancy+Glass
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Shirley Beyer’s painting, “Busy City at Sunset,” was juried into Winter Street’s “HeART of Houston” show. The show can be seen throughout the second floor of Winter Street Studios in Sawyer Yards until October 31.
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WORTH: Excavated presents a new body of large-scale abstract paintings by Houston artist Cheryl Russell, on view October 3 through 28 at West Gallery at Silver Street Studios in Sawyer Yards. The work excavates the contracts we inherit before we know we have a choice, the quiet rules around gender, family, and silence that shape who we're told to become. Layered, built, buried, and revealed again, each painting holds what isn't immediately visible, asking the viewer to slow down and look twice.
This is the most confident and colorful work of Russell's career, marking a clear shift in scale and voice. Visitors will see monumental paintings built to be lived with, not glanced at. The exhibition invites collectors and visitors alike to consider their own inherited stories and which ones are still worth keeping.
RSVP’s appreciated.
Https://cherylrussell.art/RSVP
On View Oct 3, 2026 - Wed, Oct 28, 2026
Opening reception: Oct 9, 2026 6pm - 8pm
Artist Talk:Oct 9, 2026 6:30pm
Silver Street Studios | West Gallery | Door 4
2000 Edwards Street
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Katherine McDaniel is thrilled to be part of a project at the University of Houston with the cello and piano duo martha & monica exploring the relationship between Music and Language. “Music as Language, Language as Music” is a multidisciplinary project led by cello and piano duo martha & monica – cellist/composer Monica Scott and pianist Hadley McCarroll – and the poet/singer Katherine McDaniel. This project brings composition and creative writing students together to explore communication through each other’s discipline, and the connections between creation, performance and the audience.
The first residency at UH takes place from October 27 through November 2nd. On November 2, 2026 at 7:30 at Dudley Recital Hall on the UH Campus, martha and monica and Katherine McDaniel are putting on a concert of music, poetry and hybrid work. It’s free to the public and will be exciting. Katherine is performing “Stripsody,” a musical composition by Cathy Berberian based on on-air radio and natural sounds, and several of her own poems ranging from semi-traditional to sound poetry, as well as Monica Scott’s Vienna, Autumn 1938 with martha and monica. You can find out more at the link below:
"Music as Language, Language as Music" with martha & monica & Katherine McDaniel - KGMCA – MSM | University of Houston
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Donna Carnahan was recently interview by Bold Journey magazine:
https://boldjourney.com/meet-donna/
Currently, Donna's artwork is on view in the following group exhibitions throughout Sawyer Yards:
The Silos
“Morning Walk” was selected by Patrick Palmer, dean of the Glassell School of Art, MFAH for:
An Artist’s Work
A Juried Exhibition of Works by Local Artists, Hosted by The Silos
“While on my morning walk, I was happy to see a large soccer ball installation on the lawn of the Eastern Glades of Memorial Park, in the heart of Houston. To memorialize Houston hosting the FIFA World Cup, I painted the summer scene after taking a painting class at The Glassell School of Art, MFAH. Hines Lake is depicted and surrounded by a forest of trees. Acrylic painting, size 24” x 30”, $900.”
The group exhibit shares work that reflects the spirit, complexity, culture, and character of being an artist.
- Thru November 7th | Exhibition on View daily 9:00-5:00pm
- The Silos
- 1502 Sawyer Street in Houston
Toros HTX
Donna's soccer ball, "Moon Joy" and Dynamo mixed media art “Where Passion Meets the Goal” are exhibited in Re-Play group show at Toros HTX coffee located at 2202 Summer Street in Houston through November 15th.
Sabine Street Studios, South Gallery
After taking painting classes at The Glassell School of Art, Donna had three paintings selected for the Transformative Teal group. There you will find that Donna has pushed her creative vision in new directions on view at 1907 Sabine St. through October 10th.
At Winter Street Studios, 2101 Winter Street, 1st Floor group exhibit Convergence you will find three large fine art photography pieces on view through November.
Visit her new studio at 2101 Winter Street B135, open every Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00pm.
“As an artist at Sawyer Yards artist complex, I feel supported and that allows me to exhibit my artworks outside of my studio in the gallery spaces throughout the campus. Being among a large community of creatives is very encouraging and engaging with the public.”
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Synkroniciti is Open
for Written and Visual Art Submissions
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Synkroniciti invites literary, visual, and performing artists to explore the concept of technology.
Technology is more than inventions and gadgetry; it is a growing architecture that shapes how we imagine, create, and connect. It builds new structures around our lives—some supportive, some restrictive—and invites us to navigate spaces that are constantly being redesigned.
It can illuminate hidden worlds, extend our senses, and open pathways to collaboration across distance and difference. At the same time, it can overwhelm, isolate, and erode the very qualities that make us human.
We are drawn to work that investigates the paradoxes of technological life: the exhilaration of discovery alongside the fatigue of constant innovation, the intimacy of digital community alongside the fragility of privacy, the promise of empowerment alongside the risk of exploitation.
For this issue, we invite you to consider technology as both mirror and catalyst. How does it reflect our desires and fears? How does it transform our relationships with memory, imagination, and one another? What new myths and metaphors emerge from our entanglement with machines, networks, and code?
We seek art that questions, celebrates, critiques, and reimagines technology—not as a monolith, but as shifting terrain where creativity and caution must coexist.
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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 Fall classes are opening for registration
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Check out their fall 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 the summer
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.
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Houston Independent Authors
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Houston Independent Authors holds their Writers Lunch series bimonthly. Today, October 1st, they will cover line editing, and you can find past recorded Writers Lunch workshops at https://www.youtube.com/@tomeworksedits
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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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- 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 in-person, but they are available for purchase on Amazon here!)
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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
- October Member Meeting: October 20th, 6 pm
- Haunted Holidays: Friday, November 13th,
- November Member Meeting, Literary Readings: November 17th, 6 pm
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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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