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January 2020: Circle of Five
We return to our beloved Circle of Five for the first meeting in 2020. Bring a small sample of your work, written or visual, musical or movement, and share it within a small group of five members. It’s a wonderful way to meet new friends, learn more about each other, and be inspired by creativity. Sitting in Archway’s art-filled space will only add to the inspiration.
Each circle will be hosted by a past president or current board member. We'll also discuss how WiVLA can impact your creative life and what can WiVLA do to help you on your artistic path. We'll share why we came to WiVLA and what experiences have been WiVLA's best accomplishments.
We cordially invite you to join us to discuss your creative path and WiVLA, past and future.
Tuesday, January 21, ARCHWAY GALLERY.
2305 Dunlavy, Houston TX 77006
5:45 - 6:15: Mix/Mingle with light refreshments
6:15 - 6:30: Short business meeting
6:30 - 7:30: Program with Circle of Five
7:30 - Restore Archway Gallery’s to rightful order and then, optionally, meet for dinner at Paulie’s (dutch treat at 1834 Westheimer.)
 President's Message --
Here are a few highlights, starting with the obvious:
- 25 years is a milestone, no doubt about it!
- Writers got to read! From April’s two Poetry Month Saturday readings to our recent November Archway readings, our literary talent moved us with their wisdom, insight, and humor.
- Artists showed their stuff! The Midsummer Light exhibition highlighted the diversity of materials and meanings our visual members call upon to create their work.
- From poetry to p.r. to parties, from crafters to cakes to collage, our members found inspiration, humor, and connection at our monthly meetings.
- Add to all the above an Edible Book Festival, a WiVLA article in arthouston, a City of Houston proclamation about our 25th anniversary, a Pop-Up Market, and the granting of double ECO Fund grants and, wow, you get my point.
2019 was a great, full year for WiVLA! Now… just wait until you see what 2020 brings. Rest up, dear members, enjoy the holidays, and I’ll see you in the New Year!
Lee Steiner, president
WiVLA's Pop-Up Market: A Silver Success!
Tables festooned with blue balloons, WiVLA’s Pop-Up Market hummed with activity and excitement. Guests and members were busy choosing which raffle prizes to put their tickets toward, perusing tables of members’ creations for sale, and enjoying the refreshments. There was much celebration as the raffle names were called…a glider ride, the Art Supply on Main gift certificate, the tickets to 4th Wall Theatre Company, Kathy Wood’s gorgeous jacket, and so many more.
Thanks goes to Topo Chico, Austin East Ciders, Phoenicia Bakery, and French Gourmet Bakery and many members for contributing to our wonderful refreshment spread. This enabled all those attending to keep up their strength during all the buying, selling, and submitting of tickets to the raffle containers. Also, appreciation goes to Lee Steiner’s daughter Hannah, and her friend for all of their support and energetic setting up, including the photo booth.
WiVLA netted about $800 and artists sold $2,200 worth of their merchandise! What better way to celebrate 25 years of WiVLA than with a new kind of event. Looking forward to the next pop-up market!
A partial list of raffle prizes and winners is here.
Literary Reading and Holiday Gathering
Theme to honor WiVLA's 25th anniversary: Silver
The combined annual Literary Reading and the Holiday Gathering made a stimulating and festive evening on Thursday, November 21.
Archway Gallery held a capacity crowd of WiVLA members and guests to hear the traditional November Literary Reading. The theme was “Silver,” in honor of our 25th Anniversary, and the audience heard many different takes on the meaning of silver in personal and artistic lives.
The evening also included a holiday table of sweet and savory treats, an art project table, two Typewriters on the Fly (write your own verse, thought, essay, list, flash fiction...) and lots of time to visit with new and known WiVLA friends. The beverage options included sparkling wine, sparkling waters, and red, white, and rose wines.
Door prizes, too! Numbers were pulled from a bingo game and matched with the event's sign-in sheet. Winning members and guests chose prizes that ranged from a handcrafted jacket, to tea cups, to bottles of creamy holiday cheer, books, art supplies, and jewelry.
The front desk at the gallery held a challenging game of identifying authors by their portraits. Sandi Stromberg won first prize and Kay McStay and Ann Boutte were winners too.
Thank you to party planner Sally Worthington for the lovely gift prizes and for arranging the gallery to include the holiday activities and several refreshment tables. Sally was aided by many members who helped with set-up, food display, and clean up, activities, serving and clean-up. Hearty thanks to all!
MEMBERSHIP DUES:
UPDATE AND INCREASE IN 2020
At the October 2019 Board Meeting, WiVLA's Board of Directors voted to increase the annual membership dues from $40 to $50 per year starting January 1, 2020 and to add two new membership categories and levels of dues.
Membership Benefits include:
- Monthly meetings with presentations on relevant artistic and professional topics
- Opportunities to meet with creative friends and to make new friends and connections
- Literary events
- Workshops
- Exhibitions and performances
- Annual artistic and visual grants, namely the ECO Fund grants
- YOUR WORK in art shows
- YOUR WORK in collaborations
- YOUR WORK in public readings and performances
Membership Categories:
- Membership per year: $50. Student membership per year (current student ID required): $15.
- Sponsor membership per year: $200. In addition to the regular membership benefits, Sponsors will be listed on a special page on the website and will be entitled to have an additional link to their websites on the page. WiVLA members will be encouraged to support their sponsors.
- Lifetime membership level, one-time payment: $500. This level has all the regular member benefits plus a waiver of annual membership fees.
With all these benefits and more, the WiVLA membership is a great value. The Board of Directors is confident that the decision to raise the membership fee from $40 to $50 will only increase that value in the coming year filled with many opportunities for artistic and literary connection and growth.
WiVLA Collaboration: "Compassion"
Houston Holocaust Museum, June 2020
What does "compassion" really mean? Is it possible to change someone's level of compassion? Can someone who views others in negative ways come to a new understanding and compassionate point of view toward them? Will there always be othering of people? Is that who we are as humans?
Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, the Holocaust Museum teaches the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy. Visits to the Museum often produce life-changing shifts in thoughts, attitudes, and actions. WiVLA is fortunate to be able to announce that the next WiVLA Collaboration Show will be held at the Houston Holocaust Museum. Partnerships are being formed to work together to produce visual art and written words that enlarge the theme of "Compassion."
There are still spots available for this collaboration. See below for partnerships already formed. To sign up for this show (both partners must sign up on the same form), use this link: https://fs8.formsite.com/wivla/1qazfqtr2z/index.html
NEWS
Member Roberta Sajda is looking for a partner for the collaboration. She writes: "I am an artist but love to write as well." Roberta can be reached at rodon@flash.net.
Partners for Compassion Collaboration in June 2020
This is the list of collaborators through November 30, 2019
| Carol Watson |
and |
Zita Giraldo |
| Gladys Jones |
and |
Gladys Mae Bullock |
| Rona Lesser |
and |
Jane Mulholland |
| Jo Zider |
and |
Jere Pfister |
| Pat Morgan |
and |
Marguarite Baldwin |
| Margo Toombs |
and |
Donna E. Perkins |
| Sandi Stromberg |
and |
Marie-Pierre Stien (PM Neist) |
| Judith Shamp |
and |
Kay McStay |
| Sharon Bippus |
and |
Regina Vitolo |
| Susan Salter |
and |
Celeste Budwit-Hunter |
| Ellen Seaton |
and |
Josena Arquieta |
| Sally Worthington |
and |
Maria Brown |
| Gretchen McDaniel |
and |
Marie Casamayor-Harvey |
| Debbie Blumberg |
and |
Lane devereux |
| Cori Austin |
and |
Janet Ruffin |
| Melody Locke |
and |
Ann Boutte |
| Cookie Wells |
and |
Loueva Smith |
MEMBER NEWS:
- Member Debbie Blumberg writes: "I'm teaching a freelance writing intensive workshop at Inprint in May. Please spread the word!"https://inprinthouston.org/event/freelance-writing-2020-121/?fbclid=IwAR1w7A0O9bSSNQ2tjRLkI9VJdNZZqoNDR7MHb9ucMntctDX6238mT0rAIAs
- Have you ever done any Art Journaling? It’s a creative way to combine visual art with words/writing in a journal that is able to handle paints, collage, and other media. It’s often different than a sketchbook, although there is crossover, and different from a writing journal because of the visual art. But it can be any form you wish. Cori Austin manages a group that meets every 3rd Saturday at Mendenhall Community Center. Let her know if you’re interested in attending, and she’ll put you on the mailing list. Artjournal50@gmail.com
Please send in your news - art exhibits, works published by the 25th of each month to be included in the following month's newsletter. Please share your good news with your fellow WiVLA members by sending to newsletter@wivla.org.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
~ ClayHouston has meetings, special events, and more upcoming. Go to www.clayhouston.org to see all the details and calendar.
~ The Gulf Coast Reading Series will continue See this link for all events, competitions, and magazine issues on line. The first page of the website has a link to the journal's submission system.
~ Through January 11, 2020 please join the resident artists at Spring Street Studios, along with select guest artists for one of our most extensive exhibitions at the studio, the 2019 International Art Biennial. The exhibit was curated by well-known local and international curator and gallerist, Yvonamor Palix. Find the exhibit information at www.sawyeryards.com
Houston Art and Literary Announcements:
- Public Poetry Reading has monthly readings and many cultural events. Find them at www.publicpoetry.net.
- Harvey Memories Project -- Where were you? What's your story? "Our mission is to collect, preserve and share digital artifacts associated with Hurricane Harvey, as well as the many stories that Harvey left in its wake -- stories of rescue, resilience and recovery, as well as stories of painful loss and lingering questions." Here is a link to this project sponsored by Rice University, Houston Public Library, Harris County Public Library, and the University of Houston Libraries.
Calls for Entry: Visual Art
Inclusion in this list does not indicate endorsement by WiVLA. We recommend you research each contest, and contact the sponsor(s).
~ CAFE' for Artists! www.CallForEntry.org is a website that lists calls for entries nation-wide. Descriptions of type of art and theme are listed, as is a link for more information. Deadlines are included.
Calls for Entry: Literary Art
Inclusion in this list does not indicate endorsement by WiVLA. We recommend you research each contest, and contact the sponsor(s).
~ A Yahoo group has an ongoing and frequently updated list of creative writing opportunities. Writers can join and the notifications come directly to your email.https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/CRWROPPS-B/info
Please forward WiVLA Voices to all your friends who might be interested in WiVLA. BRING A FRIEND TO OUR NEXT MEETING!
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