We’re entering such a busy season for many of us. Holidays, with the stress (any interruption in daily routines, good or bad, is stress) of family, money, travel, can become a burden if not handled carefully. For many artists, the holiday season is when marketing and selling is ramped up, adding to stress.
So how have you dealt with this seasonal stress in the past? How has that worked for you? Do you look forward to or dread the holidays? Even if you don’t personally observe any particular holiday traditions, you are affected by them by heavy shopping traffic, seasonal commercials, conversations around you, people asking your plans for this and that, over and over (my pet peeve is the constant pressure to buy buy buy).
I urge you to take care of yourself. Be gentle with yourself. A favorite practice of mine is to go to a nearby park or library alone (very important), turn off or silence your phone (also very important) for an hour, and sit with paper and pencil. Draw, write, it doesn’t matter, except that it not be something you plan to use later. No honing of lists, no sketching of a planned art project. If you can’t think of anything to draw/write, then doodle, draw a pattern, describe what you see in front of you, look at someone walking by or sitting close, make up a story about them. Then get up, stretch (also very important) and go back to your regular life.
You can toss the paper, burn it, keep it, doesn’t matter. What matters is the doing. What matters is creating for the sake of creating, not with a goal in mind. This is truly an example of the journey being more important than the destination. We can be so focused on needing to get things done, whether it be grocery shopping or outlining a new story, we can forget to just create. Just create for the joy of creating. I dare you to find these moments in your life, you’ll be richer for it.
WiVLA is partnering with the Houston Writers Guild and the Brazos Bookstore to present this event so that our wonderful writers can share their favorite goblins, golems, and gremlins. The timing for this event is November 18th, which means you can write about Halloween, Election Day, El Dia De Los Muertos, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's Eve, or any other holiday event that entertains or spooks you. You can read short stories, essays, or poetry as long as the piece can be read within 5 minutes. The readings will begin at 6:00 p.m. at Brazos Bookstore.
We are working with Brazos Bookstore so that authors who have published books can sell them via consignment for that one night at Brazos Bookstore.
Bring a snack to share. Maybe a bottle of wine or other beverage. Let's celebrate the end of another stellar year for WiVLA members at Silver Street Studios. Stay tuned for a link to sign up for refreshments!
Enter the building through the pink door on the east end of the building.
Saturday, January 27, 2024
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Zoom
World renowned artist, Sarah Sudoff, will lead a workshop in writing grants to get the money you need for your projects. She'll also share her experiences doing residencies in visual art.
Check back for details on the workshop and how to register.
A rack card is an easily recognizable vertical marketing card that you typically find in visitor centers, hotels, and museums. With the depleting inventory of our cards and the possibility of a larger-than-normal attendance at our exhibition reception, the board decided to get a more modern design that might appeal to a more diverse audience. A ready supply of cards is available in Melody's studio at Silver Street Studios in studio 320. Your GPS can more easily find her building if you use 2101 Winter Street as the address. A large mural adorns the north side of the Silver Street building. You can find her studio by entering the pink outside door. If you would like to pick up some rack cards, contact me at 713-851-0134.
You most likely saw a large wall sticker with the same design if you attended the reception.
- Melody Locke -
November Monthly Member Meeting
Member Reading
Theme: Doors
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
via Zoom
Join WiVLA for our November Member Meeting and enjoy the readings from some of our literary members.
Every year we request that our Literary members share some of their work with the rest of the WiVLA members. You can submit a short story, poetry, essay. The only limit is that your reading can’t be longer than 5 minutes. We want to encourage as many members to sign up for this. The topic for the November readings is, Doors.
The door symbolizes transition, a metamorphosis. It is an allegory of beginning, opening, an exit that leads from one state of being to the next. The door signifies the commencement of the new while simultaneously embodying the idea of an end.
Watch your Inbox for an email with the Zoom meeting code.
October Member Meeting: In My Dollhouse There are Many Mansions
Norola Morgan shared some of her doll creations from found objects, coffee tops, bottle tops, bits of fabric and metal, at the October Member Meeting. In addition to her whimsical dolls, Norola showed us dolls where gender and/or religious characteristics were spotlighted. Her presentation was a feast for the eyes and imagination.
To connect with Norola, see some of her creations and perhaps have a conversation about art and the creative process, go to https://linktr.ee/moonyoonitsstudios
If you missed the zoom meeting, you can watch the recording on the WiVLA YouTube Channel.
Sticky Characters: Making Your Story-People Walk Off the Page
On October 7th, WiVLA members and guests learned how to sharpen our writing skills to create more interesting story people at the Writing Sticky Characters workshop by Chris Rogers, a prolific author of stories and novels. Chris used well-known fiction folk (from Gone with the Wind, Silence of the Lambs, the Golden Girls, several short fiction selections, and her book – Spare Change) to illustrate her character-writing principals:
· Introduce a character by sight, dialogue, in omniscient first person, or a character's point of view. In our first introduction to a character, someone in the story needs to feel something
· Consider – physical characteristics, their “add-ons” (e.g., crutches, eyeglasses, tattoos) and their attitude
· Include subplot(s) and supporting individuals
· Create heroes/villains within the parameters of people, place, and plot
· Decide which tools the character(s) will need to tackle a plot problem, and then determine if these tools will be provided or withheld and how the hero will adapt
· Combine good/bad and sweet/sour in your heroes and villains
· Make your character community more interesting by the pairing of opposites, sharing family secrets, and adding romantic interests.
Thanks to Chris for this excellent workshop! For more information about Chris’ writing and/or visual art, visit her website https://chrisrogers.com/.
Activities outside of WiVLA
The Power of Three...WiVLA Members
Shirley Beyer and Brenda Bowman, acrylic artists, and Susan Salter, encaustic artist, are pleased to announce their upcoming show entitled 3 x 3 by THREE. The show will feature 36" x 36" works plus smaller pieces. The show will be on view at the Houston Club downtown from October 2 through the end of the calendar year.
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.
Remember to check the WiVLA Calendar for exciting happenings - fieldtrips, studio visits, workshops, and other fun activities. 
A rack card is an easily recognizable vertical marketing card that you typically find in visitor centers, hotels, and museums. With the depleting inventory of our cards and the possibility of a larger-than-normal attendance at our exhibition reception, the board decided to get a more modern design that might appeal to a more diverse audience. A ready supply of cards is available in Melody's studio at Silver Street Studios in studio 320. Your GPS can more easily find her building if you use 2101 Winter Street as the address. A large mural adorns the north side of the Silver Street building. You can find her studio by entering the pink outside door. If you would like to pick up some rack cards, contact me at 713-851-0134.
Norola Morgan shared some of her doll creations from found objects, coffee tops, bottle tops, bits of fabric and metal, at the October Member Meeting. In addition to her whimsical dolls, Norola showed us dolls where gender and/or religious characteristics were spotlighted. Her presentation was a feast for the eyes and imagination. 
