March 2021

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View this email in your browser Inspire. Promote. Collaborate.                                                                  March 2021 A Fresh Start When the year 2021 got off to a rough beginning, the internet was full of memes about canceling subscriptions to 2021. On February 12, we kicked off the year of the Ox, and I have to say that it's been more like the year of the calf. I keep hoping that there's some other new year that we can start. Like you, as the gulf region prepared for the coldest weather event since 1989, I watched the local meteorologists with weather maps of lilac and pink—colors that we don't often see on our maps. Although I love lilac and don't mind pink, I really don't want to see them on my weather maps any more than I want to see dark red in the middle of summer. During periods of drought, we long to see green on our weather maps and grow to hate green when abundant rain leads to flooding. As artists of a variety of flavors, we're all about color. We use colorful language; we paint colorful masterpieces. We create the mood with color. The written word can describe a scene or a person's mood in terms of color: He felt blue; she was green with envy; she saw red. Compositions in black, gray, and blue create a strikingly different mood from yellow, orange, and pink. I worked for many years in the computer industry, and color played an essential role in images. IBM's "big blue" denoted reliability. For many years I worked for a software company that produced industry-critical products for banks, e-commerce, and the federal government. Our logo was also blue, but sometime around 2010, we changed our dominant color to the more "social" orange. The change from blue to orange (complementary colors) was deliberate and left many of us scratching our heads. I'm currently part of a marketing team for my studio's venue, and we spent an entire meeting discussing the color to use on signage that would attract attention to our building. Considering that the room was full of artists, it's surprising that we reached a consensus. When I became serious about my B&W photography, I purchased numerous colored filters to accentuate or diminish certain aspects of the subject. I tried explaining to a friend how you would use a complementary-colored filter to bring out an element. For example, using an orange filter darkens the sky (which is blue). From the look on his face, I could see that I lost him at complementary. I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to green grass, blue skies with white puffy clouds, sunny skies, and temperatures in the mid to high 70s. Here's to a new season and hopefully a fresh start!  - Melody -  We are compiling a Membership Roster to go on our website and be accessible by other current WiVLA members only.  Please take a moment to complete your registration, https://fs8.formsite.com/wivla/form3/index.html.  If you choose NOT to participate, please show that as your choice on the form (so we don't keep trying to contact you for information!). To apply for the remaining 2021 exhibits, you may complete the application located under the Resources tab on our website or by clicking here. Each exhibit will feature two visual artists and one literary member. For further information on this new member perk, please visit our website or click here. Brazos Bookstore: Pivoting During Covid presented by Ulrika Moats General Manager of Brazos Bookstore March 16th 6:00pm - 7:30pm Join Ulrika Moats, general manager of Brazos Bookstore, for a conversation on how an independent local book shop remains viable during the time of Amazon and Covid. Ulrika will discuss the impact felt by the store's employees, customers, and day-to-day operations. She will also speak to the bookstore's history and presence in our community.  Ulrika was born and raised in Treasure Island, Florida. Her artistic background led her to pursue several degrees from Savannah College of Art & Design. Her undergraduate degree was in Metals and Jewelry with a minor in Art History. She then went on to pursue a Master's in Graphic Design. Upon completing her studies, she followed her passions for art and fashion, becoming a visual merchandiser and corporate merchandising manager, and enjoyed a career in that field for over ten years. She joined Brazos Bookstore in 2014 as their gift buyer and transitioned into her current role as general manager.   Meeting Schedule 6:00 - 6:15pm: Social Gathering. 6:15 - 6:30pm: WiVLA Updates/News from the board. 6:30 - 6:50pm: Presentation with speaker. 6:50 - 7:05pm: Questions & Comments. 7:05 - 7:30pm: Member news, Show & Share opportunity for members.                         Each person is limited to 1.5 minutes, time permitting. Zoom Meeting Information Due to security suggestions by Zoom, we will send out another email with the Zoom meeting information one day before the meeting, February 15. Be certain to look for it. If you need the meeting code please send an email to newsletter@wivla.org to get the meeting code no later than 5:00 pm on February 16th.  If you need information on how to use Zoom prior to the meeting date please use the links below: If you need to download Zoom, it's free: https://zoom.us/download  Here is the link to a video on how to join a meeting: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting  Don't Miss Out! Time to Renew! Renew by March 31, 2021 to apply for our ECO Fund Grant!  click here to renew. Gladys Mae Bullock March Member Highlight "There is no pain-free life. Find the simple joys and live as fully as we can." -Gladys Mae Bullock Gladys Mae Bullock, an award-winning educator and poet, has been writing and reading poetry from her own experiences for the past 20 years. In 1995, she developed the innovative workshop entitled STEP (Starting to Experience Progress), which utilizes her poetry skills and keen ability to engage emotionally with a wide array of students and audiences. STEP relies on the effective use of simple, colloquial language to help participants identify negative emotions through self-discovery and then move toward positive change via behavior modification. Ms. Bullock, an alternative classroom educator at a Title 1 school in Pasadena, Texas, has conducted STEP workshops at youth empowerment conferences, afterschool centers, and in partnership with organizations such as Communities In Schools, Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, and the National Literacy Institute Professional Development Conference, as well as students assigned to in-school suspension in her classroom. Ms. Bullock’s book “Ten Cents” became a local #1 bestseller and was reviewed by the Austin American Statesman. The book is a testimonial reflecting on the healing power of Ms. Bullock’s written words, which have inspired a number of audiences over the years. Aside from her dedication to writing and working with intermediate school students, Ms. Bullock keeps busy performing her poetry at various venues and helping adults and youth navigate life's obstacles and develop self-esteem and self-Konfidence©. She developed this curriculum to help individuals address self-esteem issues and identify their Natural / God-given talents and be their best selves. The mother of three also enjoys biking and backpacking and volunteering with multiple nonprofits, including serving as a troop leader for Girl Scouts of America for a number of years and riding in the MS 150 charity bike ride for/ over 23 years the past 24 years, helping to raise funds for multiple sclerosis patients across the United States. Ms. Bullock is a graduate of Huston Tillotson University and Southwest Texas State University (now State Texas University) and is a dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., a national public service organization focused on addressing education, economic, and health issues in communities throughout the country. Gladys currently serves on the WiVLA Board of Directors as a literary co-chair. Growing Season Yet? By: Gladys Mae Bullock With removed lens, I glanced with torn guilt  Who Am I? Still mourning from years of agonizing thorns. But now with piercing eyes, I stared watching and waiting for the branches to move back and forth.  I keep staring. Huh! Is it lifeless, but, perhaps… I am too? No feelings-devoid? Nothing touching? Has the EF5 winds of life damaged my roots so badly that my stems can no longer grow Or Are my roots damaged so badly that they can no longer reach out and nourish raw compassion? Has my compassion ripened to decay? In this season with my own withering stems and leaves Am I Existing in the dead…? With tear moistened soil, will the roots to my heart replanted grow like a bush, holding back empathy? Or will my roots grow like a vine climbing higher and higher with love? Am I ripe?  So ripe that a zephyr is needed to revive me too! STOP!  Starring and watching… PLANT!! March - April Online Exhibit   Members June Russell, Maria Brown, and Margo Stutts Toombs are featured in the WiVLA virtual gallery show, which will run from March to April. To view their exhibition, please click here. June Russell's Artist Statement: June Russell has been a fine art photographer for over twenty-five years and has had five solo exhibitions, and has been in numerous group shows. Russell has made presentations to art groups in Texas and Colorado, and her work is included in collections around the country. The majority of her work is inspired by nature and often focuses on making abstract images from very close-up photography. June is also creating a totally different body of work based on light patterns, and it is called Visible Frequencies. She is currently serving on the board of directors for Women in the Literary and Visual Arts (WiVLA) for the fifth time.  Pyramid, Archival Digital Photograph, 9" x 14", USD $70.00  ©2021, June Russell, Houston, TX  Maria Brown's Artist Statement: Maria Brown graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Fine Arts and design and was hired at J. Walter Thompson in Manhattan to work on PanAm Airlines and other accounts as an art director. Moving to Houston, Texas, Maria provided art to smaller local accounts. After earning a Master's degree from the University of Houston, she taught high school visual art. She is currently exploring printmaking, monotype, collage, and calligraphy.  Refugee, Collagraph, 12" x 10", USD $150.00  ©2021, Maria Brown, Houston, TX  Margo Stutts Toombs' Artist Statement: Margo Stutts Toombs is a writer, performer, and filmmaker. Her poetry is in Untameable City Mutabilis Press, the 2011 Texas Poetry Calendar, Love Over 60: An Anthology of Women’s Poems, and Archway Gallery chapbooks. Margo writes and performs monologues at Fringe Festivals, art galleries, and anywhere food and beverages are served. Angus, 20" x 20"  ©2021, Margo Stutts Toombs, Houston, TX  Ahshia Berry from Magpies & Peacocks spoke at our February 2021 meeting about the mission and accomplishments of this non-profit organization, a leader in the sustainability and recycling movement. The designers featured in the video were Rene Garza, Jerri Moore, and Clarence Lee. You can follow Magpies & Peacocks and sign up for their newsletter at the following locations: Website: https://magpiesandpeacocks.org​ Facebook: Magpies and Peacocks Instagram: magpiespeacocks If you missed our rescheduled monthly member meeting we strongly encourage you to view the recording on our YouTube channel, https://youtu.be/QjAykMzVgmg.  Karleen Koen, a founding member of our organization, has an online writing workshop at the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. The virtual workshop will be held over six Tuesdays from March 2–April 6, 2021, 6:30–8:30 p.m. To learn more or to register, please use the link provided here, https://tinyurl.com/2vwrkbsh.  Ariane Roesch has published a bilingual children’s book to teach counting from one to twenty in English and German. Originally conceived when she was eleven years old, the book features her original drawings and handwritten notes. You may purchase the book from Atmen Press, https://atmenpress.square.site/.  Kathleen Davis has a new book, Outcry Response: What Educators Need to Know About Sexual Abuse being published by Rowman & Littlefield. To learn more about Kathleen and her new title please visit her website at http://www.kathleen-davis.com/.    2021 Poetry by the "Virtual" Bay In celebration of National Poetry Month, WiVLA will be hosting, Poetry by the "Virtual" Bay in conjunction with La Porte Library. There will be openings for 10 Poets and 2 alternates. The reading time limit will be between 5 to 6 mins. All participants will record themselves for this virtual program. Below are the scheduled times for recording. Friday, March 12: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm (3 sessions) Sunday, March 14: 1:00 pm – 3:15 pm (3 sessions) Monday, March 15: 12:30 pm – 3:15 pm (4 sessions) To sign up, please visit the link provided here, Poetry by the "Virtual" Bay Sign Up. Artist Residencies: Galveston Artist Residency, Deadline: March 20. GAR awards three artist-in-residence fellowships a year. For ten months, from October through July, each artist receives 24/7 access to a 500 sq/ft studio space, an apartment a couple of blocks away, and a monthly stipend of $1,000. These ten months are viewed as a gift of time for artists to make their work. To apply, please visit https://galvestonartistresidency.org.   Open Call for Visual Artists:  Round Rock Arts at the Downtowner Gallery. Deadline: March 28 The Downtowner Gallery is looking for submissions for its upcoming exhibit, "Modern Masterpieces": A Nod to Art History, in the Style of an Artist or Art Movement. All Media excepted. For entry information, please visit www.roundrocks.org.    G. Lee Art Gallery (Galveston) Deadline: March 12. SWAN, Support Women Artists Now! Exhibit is now accepting artwork in either painting or drawing categories. The exhibit will be held online. To learn more, please visit https://gleegallery.net/.    The Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston (IHCH), a non-profit organization founded in 1965, is one of the oldest Hispanic organizations in Houston. This year the Institute invites local artists to participate in the selection of annual exhibitions at the IHCH gallery located in the Upper Kirby District. This year the selection of the exhibition proposals will be juried by the artist Pablo Bobbio.  The deadline to submit an application proposal is APRIL 4, 2021. To learn more about the application process, please visit IHCH's website or click here. Open call for writers:   Find new writing opportunities         Winter Story Contest, Narrative Magazine, Deadline: March 31. A prize of $2,500 and publication in Narrative is given annually for a short story, a short-short story, an essay, or an excerpt from a longer work of fiction or creative nonfiction. A second-place prize of $1,000 is also awarded. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to 15,000 words of prose with a $27 entry fee by March 31. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines, https://www.narrativemagazine.com. Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest, Deadline April 1. Now in its 20th year, this contest seeks today's best humor poems. No fee to enter. Submit published or unpublished work. $3,500 in prizes. Judge: Jendi Reiter, assisted by Lauren Singer Ledoux. Length limit: 250 lines maximum. To learn more and enter, please visit https://winningwriters.com. New Southern Voices Poetry Prize, Hub City Press, Deadline April 15. The New Southern Voices Poetry Book Prize is open to all Southern poets with no more than one previously published full-length collection. Submitters must currently reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, or West Virginia and must have resided there for a minimum of 24 consecutive months. The New Southern Voices Poetry Book Prize is open to all Southern poets with no more than one previously published full-length collection. The winner will receive $1000 and publication by Hub City Press. To learn more, please visit https://www.hubcity.org/. Texans Affected by Winter Weather Can Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance. Federal funds are available. If you need to apply for aid please visit, https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or call 1-800-621-3362. We'd love to celebrate your good news. If you are interested in sharing, please send your items to newsletter@wivla.org. There is no deadline for this content. Thank you. 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