April 2024

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View this email in your browser Inspire. Promote. Collaborate.                                   April 2024  (no foolin')                                       Crafting A Poetic Life April is poetry month and the time we celebrate Earth Day. This year, it is also a month I am submitting art for various shows, restructuring my business, and turning 55. I am in a significant transition, professionally and personally.  When navigating life transitions, I intentionally and authentically search deeply for myself. To move forward with clarity, I must look back at the patterns, the rhythms. I curate self-reflections and group them into lines and stanzas. I begin to define the through-line, the development of the story, and the thread that holds all these together, me.  I want to build a poem, a life, that is harmonious, grounded, and sweet. I long for my daily life, all my roles, responsibilities, and relationships to reflect the homeland that shaped me. Before my next moves form in my mind or on the page, I must ground myself in my being. Even more than my parents, it was the land that gave me the reflection of myself I longed to see. I am the refreshingly crisp, trickling creek. I am the deep blue-green rolling hills. I am the gray and white mottled sycamore trunks. I am the network of far-reaching roots of many species, vital and unseen. I am the buttery yellow honeysuckle weaving itself on a chalky metal fence. I am the scent of fresh mint muddled by a chestnut horse’s hooves on a dewy morning ride. I am the stacked limestone making natural waterfalls and lining man-made flower beds. Sometimes living a creative life seems like a luxury. Most times I am aware that, for me, it is a necessity. Whether you are a writer or visual artist, or both, may Poetry Month bring you curiosity, clarity, and connection with whatever you currently seek. May it help you celebrate the many gifts of your creative life. With LOVE,  - Brooke -  WiVLA is Turning 30! Be a Part of Something Special We are ready to sign up volunteers! The planning committee is in the process of confirming the venue and date for our celebration. Hopefully a Sunday afternoon mid- to late-October or the first Sunday of November. We have several ways for you to participate: Finding sponsors Creating group art-projects tied to the event.  Assisting the "day of event" with set up and clean up of the venue. Click on the button(s) below that tickle your fancy. Sponsor Committee Group Art Project Day of Event Volunteer Educations and Cultural Opportunity Grant ECO Fund Grant Each year, WiVLA awards two $1,000 grants--one to a writer and one to an artist. These grants afford our members professional and educational development opportunities. At this year's April meeting, you'll hear how Margo Stutts Toombs and Susan Salter, last year's recipients, used their grants. After their presentations, they'll draw the names of this year's lucky recipients. To be eligible for this unique opportunity: You must be a member in good standing for the past two calendar years (2022 & 2023). To verify your eligibility, contact our membership chair at membership@wivla.org.  You must be a member in good standing by April 1, 2024. Do you need to renew? If so, access your profile on our website.  You cannot have received an ECO Grant. Prior recipients are not eligible.  You must complete your application by Thursday, April 4th. You can access the application from the ECO page on our website or from this link. For further details about the ECO Fund Grant opportunity please see the WiVLA website. Application forms are available now. Since the beginning of the ECO Fund Grant awards, WiVLA has given $50,000 to our members. Perhaps this could be your year! Click here for ECO info Get Ready to Celebrate Seven Years of Poetry by the Bay   In honor of Poetry Month, our 7th annual Poetry by the Bay event will occur at the LaPorte Library on April 20, 2024, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00PM at the LaPorte Library. Now is the time to find your favorite poem(s) or prose, finish that work in progress, or get started with your latest creation so that you will be ready to celebrate Poetry Month with WiVLA.   Our relationship with the LaPorte Library started in 2018 when we held our first poetry readings there on June 9, 2018. Although we were not able to secure an April date with the library, they gladly accommodated us in June. In past years, members attending the poetry readings have stayed in the area for lunch and some of us have ventured to Sylvan Beach, which is less than a mile from the library. Maybe this year, someone might be inspired to recite some poetry by the bay. Click here to sign up 2024 Anthology Contest Journey Into Time Deadline: April 8 WiVLA is proud to participate with Inklings Publishing and the Houston Writers Guild in bringing local aspiring authors an opportunity for publication in the anthology compilation of winning and honorable mention short stories from the open contest: Journey into Time. We are asking for submissions of short stories (fiction or non-fiction) that in some way incorporate the concept of time.   Time does not have to be the main focus of the story, but some reference to time must be included. The theme is up to your interpretation, so long as the concept of time appears within your story. For example: Characters might travel through time. A character may frequently check her watch. The story might focus on the passage of time though some piece of a character's life.                           The winning and honorable mention stories will be compiled into an anthology for a general audience readership. Sexual content and violence may be presented but must serve the purpose of the story.   NOTE: The "journey" aspect of Journey into Time refers to our Journey Series. This is the title of our series of yearly anthologies in which the winning contest stories are published. A "journey" does not need to be present in a literal sense within the stories to be eligible.    Stories will be judged on:   Strong plot arcs with satisfying endings  Well-rounded characters Imagery - is it easy to visualize the story’s action, setting, and characters? Good command of spelling and grammar (professional copyediting not necessary for submission) Effective use of the theme - in what way does time play a part in your story? ALL SUBMISSIONS will receive general constructive feedback from the judges. Only the winners and honorable mentions whose work is to be included in the final published anthology will receive feedback and consultation from our developmental editor.   Send them your submissions in two Word documents with subject line: "Journey into Time Contest Submission". The deadline for submission is April 8th. Click here for info & to submit Entangled Our Biennial Collaboration Now that 2024 has arrived, it's time for WiVLA's biennial collaborative exhibition. To participate in this project, visual and literary artists pair up to create new work. The theme for this year’s collaboration is ENTANGLED. The exhibition will open on Thursday, September 12. At our reception on Friday, September 20, we'll celebrate our exhibition during our reception at Sabine Street Studios, located on the North Yard at Sawyer Yards.  Because of the time involved in planning and executing the collaborative works, now is the time to find a partner. Please take advantage of our member directory on the WiVLA website to find your co-collaborator. WiVLA will also offer opportunities to meet potential partners in person and online. You can view our current teams on our website.  Member Directory More Info & Registration ~ WiVLA Calendar ~ Remember to check the WiVLA Calendar for exciting happenings - fieldtrips, studio visits, workshops, and other fun activities.    Calendar — WiVLA Save the Date(s)   Entangled exhibition and public reading, September 20 Haunted Holidays Readings: Brazos Bookstore, November 9, 2024 @ 6:00 Literary Readings during the Member Meeting: ZOOM, November 19, 2024 @ 6:00 - Theme: Pearl The art committee for the WiVLA wall at Smither Park, needs plastic water bottles. Click here for more info ECO Presentation from the 2023 Recipients and Drawing for the 2024 Recipients Tuesday, April 16 6:00p.m. ZOOM   Join the April WiVLA meeting to see how recipients of the 2023 ECO grants spent their funds to finish projects and/or create new art. Susan Sattler, visual artist, will discuss her show in October, 3x3 by THREE and her trip to Ireland. Margo Stutts Toombs, literary artist will give us a screening of the video poems she created with her grant. We will complete the evening with a drawing of the 2024 recipients.   Watch your Inbox for an email with the Zoom meeting code.   ~ BIOs ~ Susan is a multi-disciplinary artist, embracing visual, literary, and theatre arts.  She is a playwright and has designed and created theatrical props and sets for local churches and Theater companies. She studied art and design at Glassell School of Art, and holds an MFA in directing from University of Houston.  Susan's primary visual medium is Encaustic painting, which includes collage, sculpture, and assemblage.  She has studied Encaustic with many teachers and continues learning and growing in her techniques by being a member of Painting with Fire, a weekly online encaustic class platform.  She has shown her work in numerous galleries and has won several awards for her work.  Recently, Susan received the “Judges Award” in the “Ephemera” exhibit in Mulraney, Ireland.  Her art arises from a deep inner work and is influenced by the natural and metaphysical sciences.  Much of her work stems from a daily contemplative practice which includes meditation, poetry and yoga.  Margo enjoys creating and performing flash and poetry. Her work lives in FreezeRay Poetry, Untameable City - Mutabilis Press, the Texas Poetry Calendar, Love over 60: An Anthology of Women’s Poems, The Ekphrastic Review, the Friendswood Library Ekphrastic Poetry Contest, Equinox, and Synkronicity.  She performs spoken-word poetry and monologues at fringe festivals, art galleries, and bars: anywhere food and beverages are served. Since 2009, she has performed in most of the Houston Fringe Festivals and once in the Austin Fringe Festival. Margo also crafts video poems for film and video festivals. She recently won first place in animation at the Caucasian Short Film Festival in Lake Charles, Louisiana (2023).  Susan's website Margo's website March Member Meeting Sarah Gish presented an excellent program at the March WiVLA Member (& guests) Meeting. Click on the video if you were not able to attend.   Sarah's website ~ Liz Plaster ~ I bring my curiosity, skills, and playfulness, to the exploration of mixed media art, photography, writing, drumming, professional activities, and daily living.  Creative expression soothes my soul and opens a larger space for mindfulness.  I live each day with spirit and intention.   It is my commitment to support the growth of more empathy, wisdom, and clarity in our personal and professional lives and in the world (Ikigai).   Creative, Caring, Connected, Conscious, Contributor My life experiences, training and contributions have informed my work in many areas.  From teaching at the Carl Jung Center, to working across the United States in colleges, universities, public/private schools, non-profits, and corporations; I have been employed to design custom interactions and experiences.  I continue to pursue professional resources, and training that expand my skills and consciousness.   There is more yet to do! My family is very important to me.  I love to spend time with my children, grandchildren, my special man, and my fabulous friends.  I enjoy reading, traveling, reading and being a Mermaid! As an artist, I have had the honor of exhibiting in multiple private, non-profit, and corporate galleries.  As an award-winning author, I have co-written three books that contribute to the field of education.  My current studio is #125, in the Silos on Sawyer Road along with two other incredible creatives.  I will have a one-woman show at the Silos 300 Gallery in August 2024.  I truly desire to connect and collaborate with other conscious creatives as I engage more frequently in WiVLA.  My social media is still being developed.  You can find me LIVING WITH SPIRIT AND INTENTION on Instagram @liz_plaster_artist, Facebook and Linked In.  Please reach out! Liz's Website Who will WiVLA highlight next? Each month, a WiVLA member is highlighted in the Newsletter. This is a fun way for us to get to know each other. Contact Margo, if you would like your time in the spotlight. Click for your spotlight The 30th Anniversary is symbolized by the pearl. As part of our celebration this year, let's share thoughts about our creative journey with WiVLA. In 150 words or less tell us about how membership in WiVLA has enhanced your creative and/or personal life. You can use some of these questions to help you get started. Or you can create a poem or short prose to express your feelings about WiVLA. Send your Pearls of WiVLA and a photo of you in your pearls (if you have them) to Margo (Please put "WiVLA" in the subject line). Or you can fill out some of the questions on line.  Possible questions * How long have you been a member of WiVLA?  * What inspired you to become a member of WiVLA? * In what ways has being a member of WiVLA impacted your life? * What is your favorite memory or experience as a WiVLA member? * How has WiVLA supported your creative journey? * What do you think sets WiVLA apart from other arts or literary organizations? * Which WiVLA events were the most meaningful to you, and why? * How has being a member of WiVLA connected you with other creatives? * Have you attended any WiVLA workshops? If so, which ones were especially beneficial to you, and how? A Pearl for April: Jere Pfister I wanted to be a writer and joined a group of writers and artists and Archway began to have readings at the old studio on W. Gray Street near the theater. i was also taking writing classes at the Jung Center with Sandy Stromberg. Being with and collaborating with artists and other writers has enriched both my writing and my life. Another Pearl for April: Margo Stutts Toombs Lane Devereux's reverse applique quilt won second place in Original Design at the Tricounty Quilt Guild show in March. Donna E Perkins has a painting in the Visual Arts Alliance 40th Membership Exhibition ~ April 1st- May 11st. Opening Reception April 10, 6 PM - 8 PM The Jung Center 5200 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006. Artist Talks April 20 Saturday, 2:00 pm - 4:00 Rona Lesser also has a piece in the spring juried VAA exhibit that opens April 10 at the Jung Center.    donna e perkins ~ The Family Melody Locke ~ Where We Used to Call Home Donna E Perkins and Melody Locke are included in the PIXELS+SILVER Photography show at an Fotofest Participating Space ~ Christ Church Cathedral Gallery 1117 Texas Avenue Houston, Texas 77002 March 6 – April 15, 2024. On March 26th, Melody Locke and another analog photographer from Glassell gave an artist talk at the reception held at the Performing Arts Center Gallery at Lee College in honor of Women's History Month. During the talk, they discussed their work, photographic processes, and their participation in the Glassell School of Art. The poem touching on the mysterious ways of the universe—"Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere"—written by Sandi Stromberg and performed with sister WiVLA member Jo Zider at the annual Haunted House reading in November has just appeared in the literary journal The Windhover.  Her poem, "Learning Husbandry," received Honorary Mention in the just-released Spring 2024 issue of Equinox.    Margo Stutts Toombs has a flash non-fiction piece, Sweat, on page 14 and a photo collage on page 17 of the current Equinox journal. Click below to enjoy the whole journal. It is gorgeous. Equinox ~ hotpoet.org The Women of THREE on TV On March 5, Shirley Beyer, Brenda Bowman, and Susan Salter were on live TV at KPRC to promote their show, THE WOMEN OF THREE, at the Fort Bend Museum, now through April 12. Great joy, ladies! Click here for more information Susan Salter Brenda Bowman Shirley Beyer Margo Stutts Toombs has two videos in the REELpoetry Film Festival REELpoetry 2024 is a hybrid festival.  There are online screenings April 1 through April 5 for U.S. and international audiences. "Urban Street Music" will screen Tuesday, April 2 1:00-2:00 PM and 8:00-9:00 PM. "Lazarus Cloth" will screen Thursday, April 4 1:00-2:00 PM and 8:00-9:00 PM. The weekend of April 6 and 7 features in-person events, a large screen and an after-party both nights. The Festival is being advertised and promoted on social media as well as on the Public Poetry website and newsletters. Check out REELpoetry on the Public Poetry website for updates. Click here for Festival schedule Click here for tickets Having been a Houstonian for twenty years before moving to Atlanta, Mildred J Mills is delighted to bring her story back home. In Daddy’s House: A Daughter’s Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots, Mills speaks authoritatively about her relatable life experiences, rising from the cotton fields in rural Alabama to an IT executive in corporate America and beyond by taking responsibility for her actions, extracting positive and negative lessons from her parents, and using setbacks as stepping-stones to the American dream. Saturday, April 13, 2024, 11:00-2:00 Deluxe Theater 3303 Lyons Ave, Houston, TX 77020 For more information, call the Deluxe Theater  (281) 968-0059 Kay McStay invites you to a book club at Frame Dance. Click here for details. Susan Salter Art Classes  ~ Contemplative Collage ~ Meditation, movement, poetry will be used to relax the body and the mind and inspire each individual to get in touch with their inner creative spirit.  Movements will be gentle stretching and breathing exercises.  No experience in collage is required.  By the end of this 3-hour class, students will have faced their fear of the blank canvas by creating small 5–10-minute collages.  Students will be given a time period to create each collage, thus encouraging working intuitively, and making random choices without being attached to the outcome.  A demonstration of Encaustic collage will be given at the end of class as a segue into Encaustic Basics class. $110 - 3hr. class - All materials included. Click here for class schedule.   ~ Encaustic Painting Workshop Basics and Beyond ~ Three-hour comprehensive, hands-on class covering all the basics of working with Encaustic painting, an ancient wax-based paint medium with endless creative possibilities. Pulling from over 10 years of working with encaustic, Encaustic artist, Susan Salter leads you step-by-step through the process of creating complex, luminous paintings with hot wax and pigment. You’ll get the basic techniques of encaustic under your belt, develop confidence in working with new materials, and walk away with one or more ready-to-hang works.   $165 - 3hr. workshop - All materials included Class schedule is available at susansalterarts.com   All Classes held at: Fort Bend Art Center Annex 905 Third Street Rosenberg, TX  77471 832-945-2882 Call 832-264-5321 or email Susan to secure your spot. ~ Literary Submissions ~   Synkroniciti is an online literary and visual arts journal, published quarterly. They are accepting submissions for issue 20, “Vulnerable” through April 15th. The submission fee is $3. Honorariums will be awarded for winners in visual art (cover), flash fiction, and poetry. What can you show us about what it means to be vulnerable? Click here to submit ~ Visual Art Submissions ~ Compiled by Jean King Women's Caucus for Art - Texas Chapter texwca.wixsite.com/site Women's Caucus for Art https://nationalwca.org (Re)FOCUS at City Hall January 29 – April 12, 2024 Exhibition site: City Hall, second floor Deadline for submissions: November 15, 2023, 11:59pm Jurors: Sarah Bloom and Patti Jordan Art In City Hall (AICH) and the Women’s Caucus for Art issue a call for artists as part of a city-wide series of events in response to the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking 1974 Philadelphia feminist exhibition “Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts.” Entitled “(Re)FOCUS at City Hall,” this show is curated by AICH along with members of The Women’s Caucus for Art, an organization which began in 1972 and which was headquartered at the Moore College of Art and Design from 1983 to 1997. For full prospectus: https://nationalwca.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ ReFOCUSatCityHall_ArtistCall.pdf   Art Car Museum https://www.artcarmuseum.com Watch for their open calls.   Station Museum of Contemporary Art https://www.stationmuseum.com   Art League of Houston https://www.facebook.com/artleaguehouston Start thinking now of ideas for proposals for exhibitions. The call for proposals will be coming in the fall of 2024   Redbud Art Center https://www.facebook.com/RedbudArtsCenter https://www.redbudartscenter.com https://www.redbudartscenter.com/about   True North: A Heights Boulevard Sculpture Project https://www.facebook.com/TrueNorthHeightsBlvd https://www.truenorthheightsblvd.com   Texas Commission on the Arts https://www.facebook.com/TXCommArts https://www.arts.texas.gov Opportunities https://www.arts.texas.gov/jobs-opportunities/opportunities/   Mid-America Arts Alliance https://www.facebook.com/kcmaaa https://www.maaa.org   Houston Arts Alliance https://www.houstonartsalliance.com City of Houston-funded Arts Grants https://www.houstonartsalliance.com/grant-opportunities Civic Art + Design Calling all artists passionate about civic art! Join HAA on January 11th at 1 pm for an Artist Information Session focused on the Houston Public Works Civilian Workers Memorial Civic Art Project.  Learn about this incredible opportunity, gain insights into the project's vision, and connect with fellow artists dedicated to honoring civilian workers.  Seize the chance to leave a lasting artistic legacy. Register now at bit.ly/cad-info1-hpw! Glasstire https://www.facebook.com/Glasstire https://glasstire.com Classifieds: Place Listing, Job Listings, Artist Resources, Get Involved https://glasstire.com/adverts/categories/   Lawndale Art Center https://www.facebook.com/lawndalehouston https://lawndaleartcenter.org The Big Show takes place annually in June. Watch for the call for entries. 2024-2025 Lawndale Art Center Exhibition Program https://lawndaleartcenter.org/artists/exhibition-open-call/ The Jung Center of Houston https://junghouston.org Submission guidelines https://s3.amazonaws.com/junghouston_media/documents/Exhibition+Guidelines.pdf Annual members exhibition   Watercolor Art Society - Houston (WASH) https://www.watercolorhouston.org Monthly Gallery shows members only: Jan, Feb, April, May, June, Aug, Sept, Nov, Dec. Juried and judged exhibit open to members and non-members: March Juried and Judged exhibit members only: Oct Annual Member Exhibit (AME), International Watermedia Exhibtion (IWE) https://www.watercolorhouston.org/International- Watermedia-Exhibit Deadline Jan 13, 2024   WiVLA Needs Your Expertise 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. Click here for more info 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. Or send your news items here Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*