Jean King ~ I have to admit that as a visual artist I am fascinated with the location of Grackle and Grackle. It occupies the former home and studio of Dorothy Hood. Talk about good vibrations! Miah (pronounced Maya) and her husband run Grackle and Grackle, offering consulting, writing workshops, including songwriting, taught by a range of writers. In addition, they have taken part in projects such as Postcards from Space in collaboration with M. D. Anderson and Aurora Picture Show, Figurative Poetics Downtown Banner Project with Core Designs Studio, and InPrint. Finally, Miah led us in a short writing exercise. If you missed this meeting you can find it on our WiVLA YouTube channel. Nothing is better than being there in the Zoom, but watching online runs a close second. You can find out all about Grackle and Grackle on line at www.grackleandgrackle.com
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Sandi Stromberg
How WiVLA Changed the Last Quarter Century of My Life
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 I first came to WiVLA in 1999 as a speaker. Invited by Karleen Koen to talk about my career as a freelance writer in Europe, I received a free membership, which I have continued to renew for 25 years. At the time, I was suffering serious writer's block, having moved 17 times in 21 years and each time, except the last, having rebuilt writing connections with magazines and newspapers. After meetings back in those days, attendees would move from The Printing Museum on Clay Street to Cafe Express on West Gray to continue sharing. Until that night, I had always been a member of the glass-half-empty clan. WiVLA members' supportive comments during the dinner brought about a cosmic shift in my view of that glass.
After seven years of being unable to write, I suddenly wrote and contributed two poems to WiVLA anthologies being prepared by Vivian Macias, the literary co-chair. One was the Black and White anthology of art and writing, and the other, a chapbook for The Houston Women's Summit in 1999.
The next positive outcome was a job as a magazine feature writer and editor in charge of external publications at MD Anderson Cancer Center. For 13 years, I was able to write the human-interest stories of cancer. For four of those (2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013) the Lone Start Awards named me "Public Relations Communicator of the Year" for the state of Texas.
However, most importantly for my creative spirit, the third outcome of WiVLA affirmation and encouragement led to a sequence of poetry workshops and poems over the years and finally to the publication of my full-length collection Frogs Don't Sing Red (Kelsay Books, 2023). I'm now halfway through writing poems for the next book!
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Video of Sandi reading from her book. Produced by Kelsay Books.
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Who will WiVLA highlight next?
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Each month, a WiVLA member is highlighted in the Newsletter. This is a fun way for us to get to know each other. Contact Margo, if you would like your time in the spotlight.
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The 30th Anniversary is symbolized by the pearl. As part of our celebration this year, let's share thoughts about our creative journey with WiVLA. In 150 words or less tell us about how membership in WiVLA has enhanced your creative and/or personal life. You can use some of these questions to help you get started. Send your Pearls of WiVLA and a photo of you in your pearls (if you have them) to Margo (Please put "WiVLA" in the subject line). Or you can fill out some of the questions on line.
Possible questions
* How long have you been a member of WiVLA?
* What inspired you to become a member of WiVLA?
* In what ways has being a member of WiVLA impacted your life?
* What is your favorite memory or experience as a WiVLA member?
* How has WiVLA supported your creative journey?
* What do you think sets WiVLA apart from other arts or literary organizations?
* Which WiVLA events were the most meaningful to you, and why?
* How has being a member of WiVLA connected you with other creatives?
* Have you attended any WiVLA workshops? If so, which ones were especially beneficial to you, and how?
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Our Pearl for March: Lee Steiner
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One Pearl: Everywoman is welcome.
Once you step into the WiVLA realm, you are a part of a network where you are valued and respected, no matter where you are in your creative journey.
Another Pearl: Everywoman can contribute.
With Visual, Literary and everything between, everyone’s combined efforts are powerful. Our pool of resources is deep, each member adding to the flow of ideas, solutions, and directions that feed our “WiVLA-bility.”
28 More Pearls: Everywoman is necessary.
I’m proud of my years with WiVLA! Serving on the board showed me that every one of us can have a role but no woman serves alone. Together, we move forward – here’s to the next 30 years!
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Denise Bossarte's poem “Haunting Myself” is in
Pure Slush's Lifespan Series, Loss Vol 9 https://bit.ly/LossPB
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Margo Stutts Toombs has a photo collage in "PULSE" ~ Voices from the heart of medicine.
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Margo Stutts Toombs has a flash nonfiction piece, "Sweat", in the upcoming edition of Equinox. Check the WiVLA Calendar for information re: readings online and in person the weekend of March 22.
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The Women of THREE
A Celebration of Women's History
From Susan Salter
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The Women of THREE, Susan Salter, Shirley Beyer, and Brenda Bowman (all WiVLA members) invite you to a reception, March 6, 5:30pm, Fort Bend History Museum. March is Women's History Month, and the artists of THREE have created works based upon women who have had an impact on our lives. The reception and parking are free. We hope to see you there!
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Houston Edible Book Festival
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This year's Houston Edible Book Festival will be held on Saturday, March 30. The Houston Book Arts Guild will host this local celebration of all things both literary and culinary, joining book lovers around the world who annually create edible visions of favorite books. WiVlA has been a co-host in the past and many members have created clever and delicious entries. Scroll through the Houston Book Arts Guild's Facebook page to see some Edible Books from our earlier events:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/houstonbookarts
For details and how to enter (yes, there will be prizes!),
Visit Houston Book Arts Guild's event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/
Not on Facebook but want to know more? Email Lee Steiner
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Margo Stutts Toombs has two videos in the REELpoetry Film Festival
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REELpoetry 2024 is a hybrid festival. There are online screenings April 1 through April 5 for U.S. and international audiences. The weekend of April 6 and 7 features in-person events, a large screen and an after-party both nights. The Festival is being advertised and promoted on social media as well as on the Public Poetry website and newsletters. Check out REELpoetry on the Public Poetry website for updates.
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Having been a Houstonian for twenty years before moving to Atlanta, Mildred J Mills is delighted to bring her story back home. In Daddy’s House: A Daughter’s Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots, Mills speaks authoritatively about her relatable life experiences, rising from the cotton fields in rural Alabama to an IT executive in corporate America and beyond by taking responsibility for her actions, extracting positive and negative lessons from her parents, and using setbacks as stepping-stones to the American dream.
Saturday, April 13, 2024, 11:00-2:00
Deluxe Theater
3303 Lyons Ave, Houston, TX 77020
For more information, call the Deluxe Theater (281) 968-0059 |
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Kay McStay invites you to a book club at Frame Dance. Click here for details.
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Creativity and Community Retreat
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April 12-14
Camp Allen
18800 FM 362
Navasota, Texas 77868
Three writing and art facilitated programs
Five community meals, designed and delivered by meal teams
Prompts and art supplies for self-paced writing and art inside and out in nature
Plenty of free time for rejuvenation and exploration.
$275 $200 private room for two nights
$200 $100 shared room (bunk beds) for two nights
Discounted prices shown for active WIVLA members
Meals not included. You will be asked to contribute food costs on the meal team you work with.
Email Brooke to register and reserve your room.
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~ Contemplative Collage ~
Meditation, movement, poetry will be used to relax the body and the mind and inspire each individual to get in touch with their inner creative spirit. Movements will be gentle stretching and breathing exercises. No experience in collage is required. By the end of this 3-hour class, students will have faced their fear of the blank canvas by creating small 5–10-minute collages. Students will be given a time period to create each collage, thus encouraging working intuitively, and making random choices without being attached to the outcome. A demonstration of Encaustic collage will be given at the end of class as a segue into Encaustic Basics class.
$110 - 3hr. class - All materials included.
Click here for class schedule.
~ Encaustic Painting Workshop Basics and Beyond ~
Three-hour comprehensive, hands-on class covering all the basics of working with Encaustic painting, an ancient wax-based paint medium with endless creative possibilities. Pulling from over 10 years of working with encaustic, Encaustic artist, Susan Salter leads you step-by-step through the process of creating complex, luminous paintings with hot wax and pigment. You’ll get the basic techniques of encaustic under your belt, develop confidence in working with new materials, and walk away with one or more ready-to-hang works.
$165 - 3hr. workshop - All materials included
Class schedule is available at susansalterarts.com
All Classes held at:
Fort Bend Art Center Annex
905 Third Street
Rosenberg, TX 77471
832-945-2882
Call 832-264-5321 or email Susan to secure your spot.
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 ~ Visual Art Submissions ~Compiled by Jean King
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Women's Caucus for Art - Texas Chapter texwca.wixsite.com/site
Women's Caucus for Art https://nationalwca.org (Re)FOCUS at City Hall January 29 – April 12, 2024
Exhibition site: City Hall, second floor
Deadline for submissions: November 15, 2023, 11:59pm Jurors: Sarah Bloom and Patti Jordan
Art In City Hall (AICH) and the Women’s Caucus for Art issue a call for artists as part of a city-wide series of events in response to the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking 1974 Philadelphia feminist exhibition “Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts.”
Entitled “(Re)FOCUS at City Hall,” this show is curated by AICH along with members of The Women’s Caucus for Art, an organization which began in 1972 and which was headquartered at the Moore College of Art and Design from 1983 to 1997.
For full prospectus: https://nationalwca.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ ReFOCUSatCityHall_ArtistCall.pdf
The Jung Center of Houston https://junghouston.org Submission guidelines
https://s3.amazonaws.com/junghouston_media/documents/Exhibition+Guidelines.pdf Annual members exhibition
Watercolor Art Society - Houston (WASH) https://www.watercolorhouston.org
Monthly Gallery shows members only: Jan, Feb, April, May, June, Aug, Sept, Nov, Dec. Juried and judged exhibit open to members and non-members: March
Juried and Judged exhibit members only: Oct Annual Member Exhibit (AME),
International Watermedia Exhibtion (IWE) https://www.watercolorhouston.org/International- Watermedia-Exhibit Deadline Jan 13, 2024
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WiVLA Needs Your Expertise
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Do you have special skills, talents or knowledge to share with other WiVLA members? Now is a good time to volunteer ~
- Serve on a committee
- Speak at a monthly meeting
- Lead a workshop.
- Be creative
Don't be shy. We have a lot to learn from each other.
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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.
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