On July 23rd, 14 WiVLA members met at McHugh Tea Room. Two of us wore fascinators, one wore a hat, and one chided herself for leaving her hat at home. We would have had a couple more members in attendance had it not been for our nemesis—COVID.
We had no purpose in mind, other than to visit, get reacquainted and catch up, or in some cases, get acquainted. Some of our members joined WiVLA during COVID and this was their first opportunity to meet WiVLA members in 3D.
Fortunately for the other patrons of the tea room, we had in a separate room, and our room was filled with the happy sounds of lively conversation. Only one thing was able to quiet the din, and that was when Margo Stutts Toombs said that she was recording video of us. It’s surprising how quiet a room can become when someone turns on the video recorder.
Our server, Nancy, patiently poured endless quantities of four teas and took our group photo. All of the edibles (except the tea) were adorned with edible glitter. Those at my table agreed that you can’t have too much glitter. Our tea time ended at 12:30 pm, and Nancy was well into preparing for the afternoon guests before we finally left. I can’t imagine the grand time we might have had with their Tipsy Tea service.
Although I still believe that virtual monthly meetings enable our members, guests, and speakers to attend without the stress of traversing the Houston traffic, I love our in-person events. Since the start of the year, we’ve had five in-person events (eight, if you count the Collaboration meetups). For the remainder of the year, we have at least three in-person events (and a couple of outings) on the calendar. I hope to see you (in 3D) at least a couple of these events.
- Melody -
Through the Mirror of My Mind…
When I think of our Collaboration theme, I’m reminded of so many songs and their artists—most notably the Supremes and the Classics IV. What comes to mind when you consider our theme, Reflection, and how can you best express it?
In previous Collaborations, visual partners have used just about every medium imaginable, including painting, photography, fiber art, sculpture, and collage, among others. Literary partners have contributed prose, poetry, haiku, and screen plays. We’ve even had some fabulous performance art. The following example illustrates how June Russell and Roberta Sajda, two Compassion partners, combined poetry and painting for their collaborative work.
Compassion, by Roberta Sajda
like breath
passing warmth
layers emerging
easing between
color spaces
encircled
expanded caring
moving through space
silently…… invisible
feeling soft colors glow
releasing the offering
felt by the universe
compassion
If you have yet to find a partner, you still have a bit more time. The deadline for registering your partnership has been extended to August 15. If you’d like to know who still needs a partner, you can contact either Melody Locke or Gretchen McDaniel.
- Melody -
The Magic of Contour Drawing Workshop
with Shirl Riccetti
September 17, 2022 10:00 AM - 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.
Great news! We have rescheduled the studio visit with Gail Siptak to Saturday, September 24th. This event is limited to 10 art lovers, so please register through the WiVLA Calendar. Margo will be posted at the front door with mosquito spray. Drop by for a spritz if you are a person who has delicious blood. Let's have lunch, afterwards.
WiVLA fieldtrip to the Quilt Festival
November 4, 2022 and November 6, 2022
Join WiVLA for a fieldtrip to the Quilt Festival at the George R Brown Convention Center. We will meet at the Silver Street Art Studios and carpool to the festival. The two dates available for this event are Friday morning, November 4th and Sunday afternoon, November 6th. For more information including tickets, click here: https://www.quilts.com/quilt-festival/quilt-festival-houston/
Calling all WiVLA members! If you are interested in participating in a virtual exhibition during 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, contact 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.
Kelly Ann Ellis & Tina Cardona: From Solstice Celebrations to a Website Dedicated to Writers and Artists
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
hotpoet, Inc. & Equinox– From Solstice Celebrations to a Literary Nonprofit and Small Press
Kelly Ann Ellis and Tina Cardona, cofounders of hotpoet, Inc., will share the story of how solstice celebrations evolved from reading new work, feeding the communal fire, and creating party anthologies to a website dedicated to celebrating writers and visual artists. Click on the link to enjoy the maiden edition of Equinox - https://www.hotpoet.org/equinox
Kelly Ann Ellis is an award-winning writer who lives, works, and writes in Houston, Texas, She obtained an MA in English Literature from the University of Houston. She also performs and creates video poems that have screened at REELpoetry in 2018 and 2021. Kelly’s awards are too numerous to list here. Check out the WiVLA Calendar for most of her accolades.
Tina Cardona believes in the generative power of poetry to heal. As a clinical social worker, a registered yoga teacher, and an occasional (but passionate!) poet, she spends her days obsessing on how to combine creativity, health, movement, and expansive states of mind in order to help people achieve satisfaction and joy in living. Besides publishing her work and performing locally, Tina has also co-hosted multiple events including hotpoet's’ now-infamous solstice gatherings, which have been called Dionysian.
Watch your Inbox for an email with the Zoom meeting code.
Sketching was fun when all I had was a pencil. Then I discovered ink, and that gave art a “permanent” feel. Once done, it was hard to erase.
But when I learned what I could do with three tubes of watercolor, a whole new world opened up. Red – blue – yellow, and I could make almost anything – even a deep, interesting black. So I began experimenting, using my India Ink first to make designs, sort of what is now called Zentangles. Then I added a simple vase and/or a flower. Now came the tough part – color.
This was around the turn of the century, after I had published three novels, lost my day job and moved to the country. I had time to study, and I bought the beautiful “how to” books but had no teacher until I discovered instructional DVDs. Wow! Once again, a whole new world opened.
My early canvases were 5”x7” or 6”x6”. Then I advanced to double those sizes and eventually to 36”x48”. Anything bigger won’t fit into my 2003 Toyota Avalon. Yes, I could buy a larger model, but her odometer only shows 383,000 miles and together we’re shooting for 500,000 – but that’s another story.
Having been an avid traveler and amateur photographer in earlier years, I enjoy a hoard of color slides to draw on for material, and sometimes I do enjoy turning a beautiful photo into a beautiful painting. But heck, today’s software can do that. So I began to appreciate advanced abstract techniques. Yep – another new world to explore.
Recently, I have been including pieces of text in my paintings. I might paste in an entire page from one of my books, or a few sentences, or I might write directly on the canvas. So now I have given myself a new title: “The Story Painter.”
There it is again, a whole new world – and it’s just starting.
July Meeting Highlight
Elizabeth Keel, Community Engagement Administrator at Stages: Playful Playwriting
Elizabeth A. M. Keel, a Houstonian actress, director, teacher, novelist, and playwright, presented the program for the July WiVLA Members Meeting. Elizabeth started with her artistic statement – “My work explores and celebrates science fiction, fantasy, mythology, and magical realism on stage. Whether the script incorporates demons, spaceships, or invisible sailors, my plays hope to guide all the participants to a place of community, discussion and wonder.”
She outlined her journey from original plays to adaptations to commissioned work ranging from Stages to the Contemporary Dance Company. “Tooth & Tail” will premiere May 2023 at the new Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre (The DeLuxe Theater - 3303 Lyons Avenue, Houston, TX 77020).
After Elizabeth’s presentation, the WiVLA members were given time to write or sketch a short piece to the prompt – “Write about a character encountering something magical that enters their world. What changes with the new element(s)."
If you missed the meeting or would like to see it again, you can find the meeting recording on our YouTube channel.
Activities outside of WiVLA
WiVLA member, Denise Bossarte, is a volunteer for Hope Pyx Global.
As part of their International Book awards and Conference on Abuse in The Woodlands in October they are hosting an auction to raise money for their nonprofit. Their long-term goal is to have a woman's shelter here in Houston.
Denise is reaching out to see if any of the members would have artwork they would like to donate for the auction. HPG can provide a donation receipt for the value of the artwork.
Denise will be donating a few of her photography pieces for the auction.
(And hoping to win a medal for the book awards with her book Thriving, which is currently a finalist in self-help!)
Jo Zider: Earth at the Edge
Opening August 13, 2022, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Jung Center of Houston, 5200 Montrose
Show dates: August 13-Sept. 30, 2022
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.
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.
On July 23rd, 14 WiVLA members met at 
Our server, Nancy, patiently poured endless quantities of four teas and took our group photo. All of the edibles (except the tea) were adorned with edible glitter. Those at my table agreed that you can’t have too much glitter. Our tea time ended at 12:30 pm, and Nancy was well into preparing for the afternoon guests before we finally left. I can’t imagine the grand time we might have had with their Tipsy Tea service.
Calling all WiVLA members! If you are interested in participating in a virtual exhibition during 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, contact our Visual Co-Chair, Aliza Bejarano at 
