|
Another month has sped by- what have you been doing?
WiVLA members who joined us for our last three monthly meetings on Zoom have shared pandemic projects that have helped them cope with staying at home. One topic we have yet to explore is our reading habits.
What are you reading these days? A mystery set in another place and time to escape your quarantine blues? Or an inspirational, how-to book to boost your creative skill set? Or do you just want to learn something new about our past and present world?
Here’s a peek at my latest reads:
|
|
|
|
Bibliophile mystery series featuring a bookbinder with a slightly more glamorous lifestyle than me! Word Myths, because I love reading about language and needed to know the word “bacronym.” This Old House, my favorite magazine, for fix-up ideas while I shelter in place. And what’s old is new to me as I read my first Nero Wolfe mystery, first published in 1934, and highly recommended by my daughter Emma.
|
|
Share your pandemic reads with WiVLA! Post directly to our Facebook Members Group Page (join if you haven’t already) or email me your book photos and comments at info@wivla.org and I’ll share them for you on WiVLA’s Instagram and Facebook.
Right now, we seem to be standing in one place. So let me offer a quote:
“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” – Anna Quindlen in How Reading Changed My Life
Stay home! Read books!
-Lee, WiVLA Board President |
|
|
|
Tuesday August, 18th, 2020
|
|
|
Join us in August for a virtual presentation by Meggan Shepard of Movement Garden Studios. Based in Brainerd, Minnesota, Ms. Sheppard is an ardent dancer of ATS® (American Tribal Style) and Tribal Fusion, as well as a martial artist. This mixture of traditional and explorative techniques have allowed Meggan to develop her unique personal style of movement and storytelling through the art of dance. In her performances, there is an emphasis on the hard and soft edges of materials and form, from the use of her scimitar to the delicate nuance of her feather fan and skirts.
Ms. Sheppard has trained alongside some of the most renowned names in the belly dance community and received an invitation to perform at the annual Tribal Revolution Belly Dance Festival in Chicago in 2019.
As WiVLA seeks to encourage those practicing in the performing arts, this is an exciting opportunity for our members to learn from Ms. Sheppard's inquisitive and innovative nature. May we all come away ignited to continue our explorations of self and invention.
|
|
Should you want to learn more about Meggan Shepard and her business before her talk, you may check out:
Movement Garden Studio website: https://www.movementgardenstudio.com/
Movement Garden Studio Facebook, click here.
Belly Dance by Megg, click here.
To see her dance videos you may want to watch her YouTube channel, click here.
|
|
Meeting Schedule
6:00 - 6:15pm: Social Gathering.
6:15 - 6:30pm: WiVLA Updates/News from the board.
6:30 - 6:50pm: Presentation with speaker & split screen PowerPoint.
6:50 - 7:05pm: Questions & Comments.
7:05 - 7:30pm: Member news, Show & Share opportunity for members.
Each person is limited to 1.5 minutes, time permitting. |
|
Zoom Meeting Information
Due to security suggestions by Zoom, we will send out another email with the Zoom meeting information one day before the meeting, August 19th. Be certain to look for it. If you need the meeting code please send an email to newsletter@wivla.org to get the meeting code no later than 5:00 pm on August 20th.
If you need information on how to use Zoom prior to the meeting date please use the links below:
If you need to download Zoom, it's free: https://zoom.us/download
Here is the link to a video on how to join a meeting:
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting |
|
|
|
Virtual is its Own Reward!
by Melody Locke
Part of WiVLA’s mission is to promote the work of its creative women in the marketplace. Since the advent of COVID-19, in-person exhibitions at brick-and-motor galleries have become a thing of the past.
Along with schools and religious services, galleries have also gone virtual. The WiVLA board is pleased to announce that we will soon launch a virtual gallery for our members. Each exhibition period will last for two months and acceptance will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visual-artist members can apply to exhibit up to nine images of their art, and literary-artist members can provide links to readings. The WiVLA gallery will be accessible from the WiVLA website and will be promoted through our social medial channels. In addition, you will be able to promote individual images as email or to your personal social media channels.
The exhibition fee for a two-month period is based on your tenure as a member.
- Visual Option A enables you to exhibit up to nine images, and will cost $19.00 -- $28.00.
- Visual Option B enables you to exhibit up to seven images, and will cost $14.00--$20.00.
- Literary/Performance Option enables the writer or performance artist to provide one or two images that link to video files, and will cost $5.00-$10.00.
When the Literary and Visual chairs notify you of your acceptance, you must provide the artifacts no later than two weeks before the start of your exhibition period:
- Image files (2500 px on the long side)
- Actual length in inches of the long side
- Frame width and color (black, white, or tan) (if needed)
- Mat width (white mats only)
- Any links to websites, YouTube, etc. All artwork can include links to your website or Facebook page.
- Short (maximum of 200-words) bio
Authors and performers can provide book covers, poster artwork, or any artwork that they would like to represent their work.
The first exhibition period will begin on September 1 and will end on October 31. Watch your Inbox for an opportunity to sign up.
To view a couple of examples of virtual galleries, see the following links:
Casamayor Art Gallery (17 images), please click here.
Melody Locke Art Gallery (18 images), please click here.
|
|
|
|
What you missed...
|
|
|
July Member Meeting Review
Our July presenter, a WiVLA member since 1998, June Russell recently shared with us her tips and tricks for how she takes such stunning landscape photographs on her travels. With twenty-five years of photographic expertise to impart on us June began by covering the foundations of what makes an exceptional image: color, line, texture, contrast, selective focus, and shadow. She discussed how considering these elements allows one to draw your viewer into your shot.
Another key element to see like a photographer is to examine your point of view. June recommends looking up, down, and all around. Sometimes the best photograph will be behind you. In June’s own work she goes from looking at rows of colorful tulips at eye-level, to laying on her stomach looking up through them into the distant blue sky. She pointed out that if we are able to locate a naturally occurring frame in a landscape to utilize it as well. Changing your perspective of a subject can result in a stronger image.
|
|
|
Beyond the formal artistic elements needed to take high-quality photographic images June also covered technical aspects of using DSLRs (Digital single-lens reflex cameras) and cell phone cameras. She explained shutter speeds, aperture settings (F-Stop), and ISO sensitivities and how each element works in conjunction to achieve perfect exposure.
[Resource for further knowledge: https://www.photographytalk.com/beginner-photography-tips/the-exposure-triangle-explained].
|
|
|
Below are June’s tips for preparing to go on a photographic field trip:
|
|
|
|
Moment at Dawn by June Russell
|
|
|
June Russell is a landscape photographer. Her work is based on the natural world at both a micro and macro level. She splits her time between Houston, Texas and Colorado. June’s work is held in many private collections across the United States. She has exhibited her work in five solo exhibitions and several group shows.
To learn more about June's photographic work, please visit her website at, http://www.junerussellphotography.com/.
To armchair travel with June, you can visit her travel blog at,
https://junesjunkets.wordpress.com/.
|
|
|
|
Visible Frequencies Series, by June Russell
|
|
Melody Locke, Maggie Baldwin, & Rona Lesser had pieces accepted in the Visual Arts Alliance 13th Juried Invitational Exhibition, which will be on display in the VAA virtual gallery from August 3rd through August 30, 2020. The link to the exhibit can be located at VAA Houston's website.
Marsha Glickman, Judith Shamp, & Jo Zider were juried into Archway Galleries 12th annual juried exhibition. They were selected from a field of 236 entries.
Amanda Wegner has been selected for a residency at the Hambidge Center. She has also received a spring residency at In-Chaoots.
Deborah Blumberg has shared three recent articles that she has had published: 1) Here's How Contact Tracing Works for The Paper Gown,
2) Business Unusual: How a Dress Company Launched a New Brand During a Pandemic for Workest,
3) Pandemic May Contribute to More 'Deaths of Despair' for Sharecare.
|
|
|
|
Member, Denise Bossarte shows us her medallion from winning the bronze medal in the 2019 Wishing Well Book Award for her book, Glamorous: A Grace Bishop novel.
|
|
We'd love to celebrate your good news. If you are interested in sharing, please send your items to newsletter@wivla.org. There is no deadline for this content.
|
|
August 3rd, Visual Arts Alliance 13th Juried Invitational Exhibition Virtual Reception will be on Zoom from 6 - 8pm. The Zoom ID for the opening reception is 497 695 7419. Please confirm information via their website at Visual Arts Alliance, click here.
August 4th, Beyond the 4th Wall "is an interview series hosted by 4th Wall Theatre's Co-Artistic Directors Kim Tobin-Lehl and Philip Lehl. These candid, intimate, one-on-one conversations with professional theatre creatives give audiences a chance to hear the stories behind these storytellers' distinguished careers. Tune in to 4th Wall’s Facebook page Tuesdays at 8pm to hear from a new guest artist each week, or view recordings of the interviews on our Beyond the 4th Wall YouTube playlist. click here.
August 6th, Studio Sessions, Are you missing popping in to visit the artists in residence at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, now is your chance to virtually visit their studios. Dates are August 6th, August 20th, and September 3rd. To learn more, click here.
August 7th -8th, Fresh Arts 2nd Annual Summit this two-day virtual event will focus on assisting artists as they navigate the unchartered waters of the pandemic. To learn more, click here.
August 8th, 15th, & 22nd, WiVLA member, Rona Lesser of the Blaffer Art Museum's, Family-friendly Best of Summer Arts workshop series will be virtually demonstrating three 30-minute projects inspired by past museum exhibitions at 2pm. For more information, click here.
August 8th, Getting Your Work Published this four-week online workshop hosted by Inprint Writers Workshops will focus on: Securing an agent, negotiating contracts, marketing your work, and more. To learn more, click here.
August 27th, at 2 pm, Arts Town Hall, Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) in conjunction with Houston arts organizations. A virtual opportunity to build community and hear from our local arts leaders, artists, and community. Meetings occur on the third Thursday of the month. Registration is required. To learn more, click here.
|
|
|
If you have an event you would like to promote or know of an event our members would love to know about, please send the information to newsletter@wivla.org.
|
|
August 3, Deadline for City of Houston Civic Art Program, Houston Airports and MOCA are seeking existing artwork from practicing, professional Texas artists (Artists born in Texas and/or residing in Texas), for direct purchase. Artwork that is selected and purchased will be added to the City of Houston Art Collection and will be on permanent display within Houston Airports. Qualifying artworks include small to medium size 3-D works, and medium to large 2-D works are eligible to submit. For details, click here.
August 10, Texas Photographic Society, TPS 29 The International Competition. This open-themed competition deadline is fast approaching. To learn more, click here.
August 22, Open Call for 2022 Artist-In-Residence, Artpace San Antonio There are 4 weeks left to apply to the one spot available for a Texas artist. To learn more, click here.
August 31, Public Poetry has an open call for Virus Poems. They will be due no later than August 31, 2020. For submission guidelines please visit their website, click here.
September, 23, Old Myths, New Stories is an exhibition sponsored by the Colorado Chapter of WAC. It is open nationwide to members of the Women's Caucus for Art. To learn more you must search on Call for Entries and input the title of the exhibition, Old Myths, New Stories. You may contact WiVLA member, Rona Lesser, ronalesser@gmail.com as well. The prospectus is below.
Gulf Coast Journal of Literature and Fine Arts is accepting entries for their 2020 awards: Barthelme Prize for Short Prose, Gulf Coast Prize in Translation, and Toni Beauchamp Prize in Critical Art Writing. The journal is also accepting poetry, nonfiction and lyric essay, critical art writing, and fiction. For further details please visit their website, click here.
|
|
|
If you have an opportunity for our members please feel free to send them to, newsletter@wivla.org.
|
|
This section updates members on items we have been working on behind the scenes.
1. Social Media Workshop update: The board has begun to collaborate again with Clay Houston on the Social Media workshop that had been canceled back in March. Every member of WiVLA will be able to attend for free! More information will be provided once the dates are set.
2. The Holocaust Museum Houston has confirmed that our 2020 collaboration exhibition, Compassion, will be held as a virtual exhibit. The staff is currently working on virtual production. While there is not a confirmed date we are excited to make this announcement to our members. Stay tuned for further details and a date for the launch!
3. ECO Fund Grants are currently being accepted for the 2020 year. The deadline will be September 1st, 2020 and we will draw the winners at our September meeting. Due to the nature of COVID-19, there is more flexibility in the proposals for how you will spend your award. If you were eligible you should have received an email informing you of your status. If you need to check your membership status or have further questions regarding the grant please send an email to info@wivla.org.
4. Our November 2020 Literary Reading topic will be Resilience. We will announce further information as it becomes available. In the meantime, we hope this gives you inspiration from which to start.
|
|
|
HAA is part of a collective of local Houston-area arts organizations providing support to the arts community during the COVID-19 pandemic. On every last Thursday of the month from 2-3pm, the collective will host a virtual Arts Town Hall event.
The primary purpose of the town hall is to create a human connection between members of our community in a moment of isolation and anxiety. Secondarily, the group hosting hopes to learn more about how we can improve our work to help the arts community respond, survive, and thrive during and after the pandemic. Each event will have small breakout rooms to encourage discussion managed by a facilitator.
To register, click here.
|
|
|
|
|
