Heading into this new year, I’m truly grateful for WiVLA. This group is so rare, having stayed intact and strong for 29 years now. I’ve got both longtime and new friends here, have been given opportunities to learn new skills, show my work, engage with the community and have fun. I’ve even felt safely vulnerable enough to start exploring my literary side.
Now, I need to remember and center that gratitude. Early in the morning of Dec 20th, I received an email from Xfinity concerning our service at our studio at Winter St, in Sawyer Yards. (Marie Casamayor-Harvey, our Visual Arts Co-Chair, and I share that studio). “We’ve identified an outage affecting your Comcast Business service.” A few moments later, I received an email from Sawyer Yards management, “Fire Early This Morning.” Then the flurry of emails, texts, phone calls, and Facebook posts started. Someone who was unhappy with the owner of a photography studio in the building broke in, stole equipment, then set off a homemade bomb, barely getting away unscathed. The targeted studio was on the first floor, SE corner of the building. That bomb destroyed the studio, the studios on either side, and shook the building. A couple of nights earlier, an artist had spent the night there after a late night hanging a show in the hallways, so could have easily lost her life if she had chosen to do so again. Much art has been destroyed or heavily damaged. Walls/floors/ceilings need to be assessed and repaired/replaced. Soot and smoke went into every part of the building, some areas heavier than others. Our studio looks fine until you lift up an object and see the clean object-shaped space, outlined in soot. Everything smells fine until you take a piece of art or (gulp) fabric outside and smell it.
Pressure washing services have cleaned the floors and ceilings of the common areas. We, all of us artists, are receiving good advice on how to DIY clean art and materials. Owners of a neighboring warehouse have provided some storage space there. The Disaster Services program of the Houston Arts Alliance has activated its Emergency Relief Fund for those artists who make a living with their art (https://ready.haatx.com/) and has asked how else they can help. We’re stunned, shocked, and still trying to identify our needs and concerns. I want to emphasize, Marie and I do NOT make our living from art sales, so don’t need help with that. We do, however, need the love and emotional support of you, WiVLA members. Hugs are good. As physical, material needs of Winter Street artists are identified over the next few weeks, we will let you know how to best help, if you so choose.
Now I need to go fondle the small fabric collection and vintage sewing machines I have at home and keep repeating my mantra, walk in love.
Walk in love. Walk in love. Walk in love.
- Gretchen -
P.S. To read more about Winter Street Studios and the fire, see the related article in PaperCity Houston.
Cistern Illuminated
Friday, January 6, 2023, 1:00 PM
at the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern
Let's visit the Cistern Illuminated exhibit at the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 6th. Click the button below to buy tickets and find out about parking options. Maybe we will meet for brunch or an early lunch.
So that we know who will be attending the outing, be sure to register on our calendar event page.
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, January 17, 2023
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
via Zoom
Have your work handy to show and talk about. Get ready to meet some WiVLA members; perhaps share your creative intentions in an intimate Circle of 5. This is the perfect way to start off the new year.
Watch your Inbox for an email with the Zoom meeting code.
Sophia Lisa Salazar
Sophia Lisa Salazar is a digital marketer. Founder of an award-winning legal technology blog, her essay, “On Being Hispanic,” was published in RE: Magazine. A former journalist, she has a JD from South Texas College of Law and a BA in English Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. You may follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @Lihsa.
January - February
WiVLA is featuring artwork and excerpts from our collaboration exhibit "Reflection" in the January - February virtual exhibition. To view the exhibition, please click here. For best results, view on full screen on your computer or laptop. You will be prompted to download the app if you view it on your mobile device.
This is an opportunity available to all WiVLA members. For information or to register to exhibit your work please visit our website.
(c) 2022 Nathalie Tardif
(c) 2022 Beatrice Stewart
(c) 2022 Jean King
(c) 2022 Lorette C. Luzajic
(c) 2022 Rosario M Solis
(c) 2022 Gladys Mae Bullock
Reflecting on the Collaboration
On December 3, WiVLA members and their family and friends met at the Lee College Performing Arts Center for the REFLECTION reception. As promised, the artwork and readings were thought-provoking, poignant, stunning, and inspiring. Our gallery director, Elena Poirot, did her best to count the number of attendees but lost count at 75. She’s certain that at least 80 people were in attendance.
The artwork of Aliza Bejarano and Rona Lesser was featured on our publicity posters and catalog covers, respectively. To see more photos from our reception, see our Facebook Group.
We still have about 20 books available for purchase for $15/ea. You can purchase additional copies from Melody Locke’s studio at 2000 Silver Street, Studio 310. Call or text ahead at 713-851-0134 to ensure that she’s available. You can also order copies from Amazon.
The exhibition will be available through February 24, 2023, and our closing reception will be at 1:00 pm on February 7. The event was recorded by Houston MediaSource and will be available on our YouTube channel when it’s finished.
WiVLA Members and Friends Celebrate
On Sunday, December 11, twenty-one current and former members met at Silver Street Studios to celebrate the year and enjoy one another’s company in 3D. Because just about everyone brought food or beverage, we had enough food for a von Trapp family reunion.
As an added bonus, Sally Worthington distributed pennies for us to clean for our portion of the wall at Smither Park. All agreed that Jean King sported the best headwear and Nathalie Tardif impressed us with her vintage party dress. And keeping with WiVLA tradition, Cori Austin provided us with her homemade version of Irish Crème.
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.
WiVLA member, Lane Devereux, won the first place ribbon in the Small Projects category at the 13th Annual Knights of Columbus Charity Quilt Show in Hempstead, TX this past November. She did all the piecing and quilting herself (photo on the left).
Sell Your Book(s) in a Grocery Store
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.
Heading into this new year, I’m truly grateful for WiVLA. This group is so rare, having stayed intact and strong for 29 years now. I’ve got both longtime and new friends here, have been given opportunities to learn new skills, show my work, engage with the community and have fun. I’ve even felt safely vulnerable enough to start exploring my literary side.
Sophia Lisa Salazar is a digital marketer. Founder of an 
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 
WiVLA member, Lane Devereux, won the first place ribbon in the Small Projects category at the 13th Annual Knights of Columbus Charity Quilt Show in Hempstead, TX this past November. She did all the piecing and quilting herself (photo on the left).
