Every morning, a neighbor and I walk roughly four miles on a set path through the neighborhood. We observe changes to our neighborhood and greet many of the same people every day—especially the dog walkers. When school is not in session, we trade the neighborhood for the track at Heights High. Although the rubber track is easy on the knees, it’s about as exciting and mind-numbing as a hamster’s treadmill.
Last week, my co-walker left town for a trip to Germany, which afforded me the opportunity to try different routes through the hood. The opportunity to observe new sights made the miserable morning heat and humidity almost bearable. On the first day of my alternate path, what I saw prompted me to start a new series of work.
During the past couple of months, WiVLA members have experienced some great examples of creative prompts. Dr. Cait Weiss Orcutt provided us with prompts and tools for writing our own story—or a story similar to ours. Although I’m not much of a creative writer, I can’t stop thinking about how I could change my family’s story.
Last month, Lorette C. Luzajic of “The Ekphrastic Review,” led the Hooked on Ekphrastic workshop. She provided prompts to the attendees by sharing some art from famous artists, as well as art from WiVLA members. Lorette and I were amazed at what some of the attendees wrote in the period of eight minutes.
Although I enter many themed art competitions, I have to admit that I usually submit something that’s already part of my current inventory—with one major exception—our biennial Collaboration. In addition to the fun of collaborating with another member, this particular event prompts me to stretch and try something new. I can’t wait to see how other teams respond.
What prompts you to stretch your creative wings?
- Melody -
Morning Tea at McHugh
July 23, 2022 10:15 AM - 12:30 PM
Let’s get out of the heat and enjoy some morning tea at the McHugh Tea Room in their elegant private room. If you are feeling festive, wear a hat or fascinator. WiVLA is subsidizing 55% of the cost for members, so take this opportunity to treat yourself to some fun conversation and delicious tea and tea-type food.
Have you ever wondered if you could write haiku poetry? Here is your chance to dip your toe (or pen) into this short and charming poetry form. Denise Bossarte will guide us on our haiku journey into the art of noticing and observing things in nature that perks our 6 senses. Then the participants will practice writing poetry based on photos of their choosing. An optional poetry sharing will conclude the workshop.
Denise Bossarte is an award-winning poet, writer, photographer, and artist. She is a certified meditation facilitator and contemplative arts teacher. Denise’s non-fiction work has been recognized by Kirkus Reviews and Publisher Weekly. WiVLA members can enjoy Denise’s daily haiku to celebrate poetry month (April) on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/wivlamembers/
Denise lives in Texas with her husband, Randy, and literary cat, Sapphira.
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.
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 please reach out to 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.
Elizabeth Keel, Community Engagement Administrator at Stages on Playful Playwriting
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Elizabeth A. M. Keel is a Houstonian actress, director, teacher, novelist, and playwright. She is a proud member of the Rec Room Writers Group, the Resident Playwright and Literary Manager for Mildred's Umbrella Theatre Company, the Artistic & Community Engagement Administrator at Stages, a teaching artist at Grackle & Grackle, and a two-time alumna of the University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance. Upcoming projects may be found at www.elizabethamkeel.com
Keel's career has focused on collaborative theatrical world-building, particularly in the realms of fantasy, sci-fi, and comedic writing. In Playful Playwriting, we will explore some valuable lessons learned in fifteen years of playwriting, using real-life production examples, before culminating in a brief - and playful! - writing exercise. There will also be time for Q&A.
Watch your Inbox for an email with the Zoom meeting code.
July - August
WiVLA Members Carol Watson and Sabina Gartler are featured in the July - August virtual exhibition. To view their 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.
“Cloth, ribbon, thread and canvas are just like people; they are majestic and powerful when they come together. The golden fabric of life is where the soul’s currency lives out its destiny. This gives rise to the elements and principles of Alchemical art. The art expression combines fiber and construction. This in turn integrates many mediums that give the artist the ability to lean into the pursuit of prolificacy & significance.”
This award winning artist plays a symphony mastering the tools of Interior Design, Wearable and Fiber Art, Collage Construction, Poetry, Watercolor and Experiential Experimentalism. The Art of Wear, the tactile presences, represents logarithmic proportions. These proportions are found in the Pythagorean “Golden Mean” or theory of perfection and beauty. There is a Canon of Music, Number and Religion; now the artist proclaims that there is now a Canon of Cloth. The marrying of fibers, textures and fabric into soft sculpture is a Noetic Harmony. The artist’s works have appeared in the New York Times, The Houston Chronicle, The Smithsonian Magazine, Fiber Arts Magazine, and Network M, museums, galleries, art exhibitions, fashion shows and personal collections.
Sabina Gartler enjoys writing short-form fiction and non-fiction such as flash fiction, zines, and case studies. She's partial to incorporating supernatural or science fiction elements into her stories. Sabina publishes a monthly online zine, That Plant Fucker, to indulge her love of herbs and herbal medicine.
Sabina has the requisite collections of journals and books as required for any sort of writer. She is an adequate slave to her cat and has lived most of her life in Houston, TX.
June Meeting Highlight:
A conversation with Anna Walker, Director of Lawndale Art Center
If you missed the meeting or would like to see it again, you can find the meeting recording on our YouTube channel.
Anna Walker, Director of Lawndale Art Center, laid out the programs at Lawndale for the WiVLA Member Meeting on June 21. She began with the mission statement of Lawndale as well as the history of this art center from its roots in the east end of Houston to its current location across the street from the Contemporary Craft Museum. Lawndale is a multidisciplinary contemporary art center that engages Houston communities with exhibitions and programs that explore the aesthetic, critical, and social issues of our time.
One of the focus areas of Lawndale is supporting artists during “critical moments” in their artist lives. The artist studio program provides three artists with scholarship, studio space and an exhibit at the end of their residency. This is accomplished with an incubator model that fosters art exhibition-making. Other programs include collaborations with other art galleries/museums, as well as writers, and spoken-word artists.
Outdoors, Lawndale is expanding their beautiful outdoor spaces (e.g., the Mary E. Bawden Sculpture Garden) to include the lot on the north side of the center. This area will become a pocket prairie and a possible place to screen films and videos.
Check Lawndale’s website for information about their programs, art happenings, and to sign up for their newsletter.
According to our presenter, Lorette C. Luzajic (Editor of The Ekphrastic Review), “This morning was an absolutely epic ekphrastic session with Women in the Visual and Literary Arts organization in Texas. Hooked on Ekphrasis was a workshop designed to introduce artists and writers to the ekphrastic world. We looked at a brief history of ekphrasis, read poetry by Rimbaud and Anne Sexton, did some Nancy Drew work to uncover interesting information about famous art, and brainstormed and wrote new poems and stories with art from the association's artists.”
Besides writing to prompts and artwork from WiVLA members – Melody Locke, Donna Perkins, and Gail Plunkett, attendees participated in ekphrastic speed dating by writing to 10 pieces of art for 1 minute each. Several writers stated that this was a great way to get their creative pens moving. Some vowed to take a journal with them when they go to art museums or a walk in the park.
Here are just a few things Lorette suggested a writer can dig up about a painting ala Nancy Drew:
the time/date/era
the setting of the artwork
the context in which the work was created
the intention of the artist
the purpose of the creation
the historical event or personality depicted
the background story
how the artwork was perceived by critics through time
love stories behind the scenes
conflicts and controversies
For more information about Lorette’s workshops or the Ekphrastic Review, check out her website – https://www.ekphrastic.net/ She has a new ekphrastic challenge every two weeks.
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!)
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.
Every morning, a neighbor and I walk roughly four miles on a set path through the neighborhood. We observe changes to our neighborhood and greet many of the same people every day—especially the dog walkers. When school is not in session, we trade the neighborhood for the track at Heights High. Although the rubber track is easy on the knees, it’s about as exciting and mind-numbing as a hamster’s treadmill.
