What happened to January? I’ve spent most of the month going through my studio, cleaning soot off what I could, tossing what wasn’t worth saving and boxing up what I wanted to keep (see my message from January’s newsletter for that story). I’ve now vacated Winter St Studios and am setting up a home studio. I’ve also been in a tizzy working with my son and his fiancé for their upcoming February wedding. And my husband has decided to downsize his repair shop in anticipation of his upcoming (in a year or two) retirement. Well. It dawned on me this week that I’m extremely busy, but I’m not enjoying it.
I’m telling you this to make a point. We all can get caught up in the minutiae of our lives and lose sight of the big moments, the purposes behind the details. That’s what I’ve been doing, and I need to stop that right now. I’ve lost, for the moment, my space at Winter St, with the built-in opportunity to show and sell my art to the public coming through, with the sense of being part of that rather special art community. However, I now can go into my home studio at a moment’s whim to work and design as I want and enter shows as I please. There’s a lot of moving parts to the upcoming wedding, but oh-my-goodness, they WANT me involved. And my son is marrying the woman of his dreams (and ours). There are and will be hiccups involved in downsizing the shop (and adjusting our budget), but this is movement towards a beautiful retirement together.
WiVLA is the same. We can get caught up in the surface details of this organization. When COVID-19 reared its ugly head, we had to shut down any in-person meetings, then adjust to meeting by zoom. We’ve all had to give up that sense of closeness that we had, seeing and hugging each other at least once a month, having those conversations over food and wine. We’ve even lost a few members over our decision to keep our meetings on zoom.
Unfortunately, zoom has a certain impersonal feel to it, and there’s no way to get around that. But we have some members who are immunocompromised and some who live further than is comfortable to drive in the evenings. We even have a few members who now live outside of the Greater Houston area. And covid’s not gone, just mutated and continuing to mutate. For these reasons, we will be keeping our monthly meetings on zoom.
However, all last year, we’ve made an effort to start identifying and offering in-person opportunities for our members to get together, in studio visits, workshops and outings. This year, we hope to offer even more. I’ll be sending out a Mailchimp very soon, asking for your input on these in-person opportunities. Our board has discussed some ideas, but we want and need your input, also. When you receive that email, respond quickly with what you’d like to see us offer.
One more thing. I’d like to get to know you better. When I’ve had the chance to talk to you, one-on-one, I’ve been intrigued, and wanted to reach out later to get together to meet, over coffee, at a park, at a gallery, just to find out who you are and hopefully form real friendships. I will be doing that throughout the year, so don’t wonder what my agenda is. I’ll not be reaching out as “WiVLA President”, but as me, a socially awkward woman, looking for real connections. I encourage each of you to do the same. Reach out to one or more of each other. This group of women we are so fortunate to be part of is a very special thing.
Treasuring our connectedness through a love of art and expanding on it.
- Gretchen -
Closing Reception: Reflection Collaboration
Poetry by the Bay
Saturday, April 22, 2023
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the LaPorte Library
Get Ready to Celebrate Six Years of Poetry by the Bay
In honor of Poetry Month, our 6th annual Poetry by the Bay event will occur at the LaPorte Library on April 22, 2023, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Now is the time to find your best poem or poems, 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.
See our calendar for the library location and a link to sign up to read.
WiVLA is proud to announce the upcoming collaboration with the Houston Writers Guild. The two organizations will be teaming up to launch a short story writing contest for authors. The contest will include feedback from judges, prize money and publication. There will also be a launch party for this anthology October 6th, 7:00 p.m. at the 2023 Author Palooza Extravaganza hosted by the Houston Writers Guild.
The theme for these short stories will be Journey into Art and the window of submission will run through February 7th – April 7th. The entry fee for members of either WiVLA or Houston Writers Guild is $20.00 and the entry fee for non-members will be $35.00.
With the theme of Journey into Art, the main theme of your story does not have to be art, but some element of art must be included in each story. We are looking for works that run from 3000 to 7000 words.
For all of the details of this contest, please click on the button below to see the full prospectus.
Earlier this past summer, the WiVLA board selected Sally Worthington’s design for our portion of the Memory Wall at Smither Park. Following some minor modifications by the Orange Show reviewers, we’re pleased to unveil our design.
According to Sally, "The design is a celebration of women in the arts - literary and visual. The central figure is a personification of the Muse in art and literature, an amalgamation of the Ancient Greek concept and the Pre-Raphaelite ideal.”
Sally envisions that tile will comprise the majority of the material. Because we’re a group of novices when it comes to tilework, you’re encouraged to bring a friend who knows the craft. We’ll also look to the talented group of artists who are also working on the Wall.
The time is right to begin working on our portion of the wall. If working and laughing with a group of talented women is your cup of tea (or a chipped piece of tile), contact Sally Worthington at worthington75@gmail.com. She’s compiling a list of enthused volunteers.
Calling all WiVLA members! If you are interested in participating in a virtual exhibition during the 2023 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 2023 season you may do so by clicking the button below.
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
via Zoom
What do you do when you love Japan and cats and you have great photos of both? You write an adventure travelogue ~ Whiskers Abroad. At our member meeting on February 21, Carrie Carter will share the steps that got her from whimsical concept to a literary and visually engaging book.
Bio: Carrie Carter always wanted to be a writer. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Radio-Television-Film. She has several screenplays waiting for the right producer to come along. Her debut novel, Whiskers Abroad: Ashi and Audrey’s Adventures in Japan, is a combined guidebook with a travelogue and tales of cat adventures. A cat on an adventure in a country that features sushi and rock (& sand) gardens. What could possibly go wrong?
Watch your Inbox for an email with the Zoom meeting code.
Gretchen McDaniel
Gretchen McDaniel grew up in a family of artists, but didn’t embrace that identity for herself until much later in life. She was introduced to quilting when she married into a family that holds many quilters. Her new mother-in-law wanted to teach her how to quilt, so...of course she agreed, and before she realized it, she fell in love with the art. She’s strongly attracted to the tactile feel, the textures and colors of fabrics and threads. She now quilts AND works with fabrics and fibers in other artworks.
Born in Houston, and raised along the Texas Gulf Coast (Houston to Port Lavaca to Rosenberg to Corpus Christi and back to Houston), she grew up in a Christian-like cult. Breaking free of that when she was 18, she’s explored the concept of “truth” ever since. Moving to Detroit when she was 23 (and staying there for 8 years) also shaped her worldview. When she came back to Texas, she left part of her heart there.
Gretchen strives for truth, mercy, justice, and most of all, love in her life. She has found a strong voice to reflect that in her art. Her hope is that you see the same.
(c) 2023 Gretchen McDaniel, Sinking Into Pleasure, 28inx22in
January Meeting Recap: Circle of Five
The January WiVLA Member Meeting was filled with meeting new artists and connecting with old friends. After a couple of breakout rooms to share our writings and visual art, the membership met in the large ZOOM to discuss the following questions:
1. What brought you to WiVLA?
2. What has WiVLA done for you and your artistic journey?
3. What can WiVLA do in 2023 to help you on your artistic path?
There were many excellent suggestions, but the Board is always open to more. Keep those ideas coming. Please contact Margo if you have ideas for workshops or studio visits with contact information.
Activities outside of WiVLA
Margo Stutts Toombs is a Busy Gal
Margo Stutts Toombs has a video in the REELpoetry Film Festival (Feb 25th & 26th) ~ "It Started with a Breeze". Not sure of the screening date, but get a ticket for the whole festival, because it is always amazing. Don't buy a ticket to live events, just the online screenings.
Have you been boomeranged? The STEP (Starting To Experience Progress) workshop will lead you to discover YOUR best self. Fear, rejection, anger, and loneliness can lead you to places you may not want to go. This workshop uses thought-provoking empowerment posters to inspire critical thinking and self-reflection. These resources lead participants to self-discovery with the ultimate goal to identify negative emotions and then progress to positive behavioral change.
Gladys Mae Bullock is a poet, educator, and motivational speaker. She has been writing and reading poetry derived from her own experiences for over 20 years. In 1995, she developed the innovative workshop STEP (Starting To Experience Progress), which utilizes her poetry skills and keen ability to engage emotionally with a wide array of audiences.
Book Club Invitation through Frame Dance Productions
WiVLA members have been given a great opportunity to join a book group, facilitated by Frame Dance Productions. They have invited our membership to join the group without requiring a Frame Dance membership, in the interest of adding to the richness of discussions on creativity.
The group meets once a month at their location at 2426 Bartlett St, south of SW Fwy, between Kirby and Greenbriar. They meet on the 3rd Sunday of each month, dedicating 1-2 meetings per book (always a creativity-focused book).
Does this sound like something you are interested in? Check out their website (Creativity Book Group | Frame Dance | Houston, TX) then send Gretchen McDaniel an email to add your name to the group. We’ll confirm your membership, then forward your contact information on to Maribel Plasencia, coordinator of the book group.
Houston Media Source offers the use of video and filming equipment as well as green screened studios and editing suites for free. All that is required is some orientation and training. WiVLA would like to have a team of 3 members to produce videos for WiVLA. If this sounds exciting to you, contact Margo Stutts Toombs.
Authors in Grocery Stores is a program that pairs authors wanting to have book signings with grocery stores that will allow them to set up a table with their book. Kroger is the business that participates in the program in Houston. For more information or to sign-up, go to http://www.authorsingrocerystores.com The referral person for the form is Dru Richman.
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.
What happened to January? I’ve spent most of the month going through my studio, cleaning soot off what I could, tossing what wasn’t worth saving and boxing up what I wanted to keep (see my message from January’s newsletter for that story). I’ve now vacated Winter St Studios and am setting up a home studio. I’ve also been in a tizzy working with my son and his fiancé for their upcoming February wedding. And my husband has decided to downsize his repair shop in anticipation of his upcoming (in a year or two) retirement. Well. It dawned on me this week that I’m extremely busy, but I’m not enjoying it.
The Del Shores Foundation, based on the work and career of Sordid Lives creator Del Shores, has launched a second Writers Search. 
Houston Media Source offers the use of video and filming equipment as well as green screened studios and editing suites for free. All that is required is some orientation and training. WiVLA would like to have a team of 3 members to produce videos for WiVLA. If this sounds exciting to you, contact 
