Interview with Genevieve Milliken, Winner of WCAGA Student Membership Award.

1.Who are you and what do you do, and what is your background?

I am a fine arts student graduating from Georgia Perimeter College this spring and starting Georgia State this summer. I was born and grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana and moved to Georgia after Hurricane Katrina. I live in Lawrenceville with my wonderful boyfriend and two dogs, Alfie and Dante.  

2.What's integral to your art and or art career?
The idea of knowing art history and techniques then taking that knowledge to make contemporary art is integral for me. I believe in confidence and intention fuels a strong artistic voice. 

Artwork Genevieve Milliken

3.What themes do you pursue and what medium do you use. 

I seem to pursue more natural themes in graphite and pen and ink. I’m constantly inspired by native fauna and flora of Georgia and the gulf coast.  

4.What makes you angry, what makes you happy?

Littering makes me so mad! But, spending time in my garden growing heirloom vegetables and flowers makes me happy. I also enjoy hiking, kayaking, bird watching, and yoga.  

5.Who and what inspire you in your work and or in your life in general?

Honestly, anyone that stands up for what they believe in inspires me. There is something to be said for everyday bravery. What did Dante say? ‘The sullen lie gurgling beneath the water.’

6.What superpower would you want?

Time travel of course. Coffee with van Gogh anyone? 

Artwork Genevieve Milliken

7.What is your favorite artists and or other person? 

Since I was a little girl, I’ve loved J. W. Waterhouse. I was fascinated with the ethereal nature of his work and, as an adult, his theme of death. I’m fascinated by Lucian Freud and love Durer’s nature works. I also admire my professors for doing what they do.  

8.What advice would you give to other artists.
To be true and pragmatic. As artist, I feel we are constantly taking in stimuli from the world around us; we have to take that energy, sort it out and create something meaningful and clear. Also, the art business is tough, so be organized, graceful, and strong. 

9.Contact details if any?

Please feel free to email me at bienhereaux@comcast.net or visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/genevieve_devereaux/ for my flickr page. 

A CIVIC LEAGUE MOVERS, SHAKERS & POLICYMAKERS BRIEFING PRESENTED BY WELLS FARGO

CREATIVE PLACEMAKING: Investing in art, community, vibrancy & innovation

A CIVIC LEAGUE MOVERS, SHAKERS & POLICYMAKERS BRIEFING PRESENTED BY WELLS FARGO Come join the conversation as the Civic League hosts a movers, shakes & policymakers briefing related to Creative Placemaking.  Carol Coletta, President of ArtPlace, will be in Atlanta to talk about how investing in Arts and Culture can drive vibrancy and diversity to transform communities. Location: Woodruff Arts Center, Rich Auditorium  Date: Tuesday, May 7          Continental breakfast, 7:30 to 8:00 am          Program, 8:00 to 9:30 am General admission, $30 Civic League members, $20 New or renewing members, FREE Registration: http://mspbriefing.eventbrite.com/ Deadline for registration is May 1. In creative placemaking, partners from the public, private, non-profit and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region around arts and cultural activities. Creative placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire and be inspired. -Creative Placemaking by Ann Carkusen & Anne Gadwa Keynote Speaker: Carol Coletta is president of ArtPlace, a national initiative to accelerateate creative placemaking by investing in art and culture at the heart of a portfolio of integrated strategies that can drive vibrancy and diversity so pow  erful that it transforms communities. Since 2011, ArtPlace has awarded 80 grants to 76 organizations in 46 communities across the U.S. for a total of $26.9 million. Response panel (in formation): Barbara Griffin, Senior Vice President Image Management, Turner Broadcasting System; Mayor Nancy Harris, City of Duluth; Charisse Williams, Executive Director, Young Audiences of Atlanta The Civic League The Civic League for Regional Atlanta is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that is educating, engaging and empowering the people of metropolitan Atlanta to address and solve regional issues.

Atlanta Regional Commission

In May of 2012, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) voted to incorporate arts and culture as a part of its regional planning efforts on behalf of the 10-county Atlanta region. In doing so, ARC assumes the role of the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts and Culture Coalition (MAACC), to promote the Atlanta region as a premier center for the arts and culture. For more information on the Metro Atlanta Region and the Creative Industries visit: Investing in the Regional Creative Economy

$500 for Artlines Art Edition

The Artlines Art Edition Grant is intended to provide a professional development opportunity for one or two WCAs members who are interested in editing and designing a special art edition of ArtLines for WCA. We are seeking innovative work that is both eye-catching and newsworthy. Upon publication, the editor/designer will receive a payment of $500 for her work.

Specifics

• Eligibility:  2013 WCA members in good standing.
• The editor is responsible for writing an editorial and collecting essays and art images for a 12-page newsletter format zine.
• The designer is responsible for laying out images and text.  There must be room in the top back half of the newsletter to allow for mailing addresses.
• The editor and designer may be the same person, or a pair of members may apply, with one person handling editorial and the other handling design. The payment of $500 will be made to one editor/designer or split evenly between two people.   
• Artwork and essays must be created/written by women, with at least 50% of the content by or about WCA member artists, art historians, Lifetime, or President’s awardees.
• One page must be devoted to the WCA Presidential candidate(s). Text will be supplied by the President.
• The editor/designer must be proficient in InDesign and Adobe PDF –InDesign will be used to layout design & text; then the final version will be converted to a PDF.
• Deadline for Submission: Your application must be received by April 28, 2013.
• Notification of selection: Wednesday, May 1.
• The editor/designer will check in with the President during the design and layout process.
• Content must be edited, laid out and ready to go to print by August 5, 2013.
• WCA will handle printing and distribution.
• Publication will be mailed to members at the end of August.

To download Application form go to the WCA National Site Grants and Opportunity Page and click on download application form.

Call For Art-- Kudzu Art Zone's Open Juried Exhibition 2013

Kudzu Art Zone

Kudzu Art Zone is inviting all Georgia artists working in two-dimensional and three-dimensional media to participate in our 2013 Open Juried Exhibit.

Kudzu Art Zone OPEN Juried Exhibit 2013, June 4 to July 27, 2013

Open Juried Exhibit 2013...

The Kudzu Art Zone Open Juried Exhibit is open to all artists 18 years of age and older. Artists must be able to hand deliver artwork to KAZ.

KAZ will consider two-dimensional and three-dimensional media for this exhibit. All artwork must be original; no preprinted or computer generated images will be accepted. Artwork must have been completed within the last two years and not previously exhibited in any KAZ show. More than $2,000 in cash and merchandise will be awarded.

Show Juried by Larry Walker...

Larry Walker will be our juror.  Mr. Walker’s career spans 50+ years and includes an extensive exhibition record: more than 200 invitational and juried group presentations and sixty solo exhibitions in galleries, museums and art centers in various parts of the country.

Entry Information...

Click here for the complete prospectus, submission requirements, and entry form.

Call for Papers - 5th Annual Women and Girls in Georgia Conference - Women and the Arts

Call for Papers

The 5th Annual Women and Girls in Georgia Conference

“Women and the Arts”

Institute for Women’s Studies University of Georgia
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2013
Location: Athens, Georgia

The Institute for Women’s Studies at the University of Georgia welcomes proposals for its fifth
annual Women and Girls in Georgia Conference, to be held in Athens, Georgia on Saturday,
October 19, 2013.

The theme of this year’s conference is Women and the Arts. The conference, which focuses
on feminist research concerning women and girls in Georgia, seeks to connect academics,
advocates, activists, and community members from across the state. The conference embraces
traditional and non-traditional presentations of cutting-edge scholarship, reports from the field,
performances, and exhibits and provides opportunities for networking and political strategizing.
The Institute for Women’s Studies encourages submissions that engage the intersections of
gender, sexuality, race, and other dimensions of identity, and that acknowledge the diversity of
women and girls in Georgia (including immigration issues, disabilities, LGBT, etc.). We
particularly welcome presentations that incorporate community involvement, applied research,
service learning, and student participation.

We seek individual papers, group panels, workshops, and other formats. Possible topics include
but are not limited to:
• Art as feminist expression
• Women in hip hop
• Political activism through the arts
• Performing identity
• Performance Studies
• Feminist aesthetics
• Spoken Word

We welcome qualitative, quantitative, theoretical, and other varied methodological feminist
approaches. Proposals should consist of: a one-page abstract, name(s), and affiliation(s).
Please submit proposals and questions via email, to WAGGconf@gmail.com by Monday, May
20, 2013.

Papers and presentations from the conference will be posted on the Women and Girls in Georgia
website, http://wagg.uga.edu. For more information on the Institute for Women’s Studies at the University of Georgia, visit http://iws.uga.edu.

Interview with Jessica Gordon--April 2013 Featured Artist

Work of Jessica Gordon

Who are you and what do you do, and what is your background? 

My name is Jes Belkov Gordon, and I am an artist. I have made my career out of specializing in color. I graduated from the Atlanta College of Art with a degree in Painting in 1997. I’ve spent time painting murals and creative decorative finishes for people in their homes. I spent many years under the hat of “color consultant” where I help people pick paint colors for their homes and businesses based on personality profiles. I have a certification with the IACC-NA (International Association of Color Consultants/Designers of North America), where I studied color from scientific perspective of human reaction to the color environment. I now make paintings with the mergence of my color training and fine art study. I’m addicted to liquid color!

What's integral to your art and or art career?

Work of Jessica Gordon

The most important thing to me has been my studio outside my home. I require having a space that is only there so that I can make art. I have tried every room in my home. I have tried temporary spaces. I have tried everything imaginable. I LOVE having a sacred art space. I make more art that way. I’m comfortable and free when I go there. I’m not haunted by “other” things I “should” be doing. And I’m not faced with the tug and pull of family duties while I’m in my studio. It’s my own personal heaven!

What themes do you pursue and what medium do you use.

I am an acrylic painter and occasional mixed media artist, using paper as my sub-straight. Right now the most important theme in my work it authenticity. I used to paint what I thought was clever or what I thought would be well received. That gets old and painful. It’s important to me that I paint for the love and joy of painting. While my father was dying of cancer, he was actually prescribed painting. He was told to make art and that it might help him to heal. He never did do it. My mother was an artist, but never pursued it seriously, and after her death I felt like I needed to make my art my life’s focus again. Because of my experience with my parents, I paint intuitively. I paint with my soul. I paint me. Writers are told to write what they know; as an artist, I feel like I need to paint what I know. I know color. I love color. So right now, my work is about using forms of color to express the joy I find in painting. I’m also expressing the beauty in the seemingly broken, chaotic parts of life.

What makes you angry, what makes you happy?

Simplicity makes me happy. Painting makes me happy. Watching my son (whom I homeschool) learn something new makes me happy. Listening to my husband perform music makes me happy. Cake makes me happy. Drinking tea with girlfriends with good conversation makes me happy. Painting with others makes me happy. Going to art museums and galleries makes me happy. Indian food makes me happy. Vegan food makes me happy. I don’t like to talk about what makes me angry, I’d rather paint through that and talk about what makes me happy.

Who and what inspire you in your work and or in your life in general?

I’m inspired by everyday people. We are amazing creatures. I see friends and family going through so much pain and trouble, and yet I see them expressing kindness and love and laughter; that inspires me. I’m so inspired by other artists and what they create. I love going to artist panel discussion and talks. I’m inspired by music! What’s better than blaring the music and dancing around the studio with a brush in one’s hand… I mean, come on! That’s just the BEST!

What superpower would you want?

Work of Jessica Gordon

The power to heal physical ailments; that’s the superpower I’d want.

What is your favorite artists and or other person?

Judy Chicago, Miriam Schapiro, Faith Ringgold, Georgia O’Keefe, Josef Albers, Paul Klee, etc, etc, etc…

What advice would you give to other artists.

Seek out some intuitive painting or creative techniques. These tools are so important to have in our back pocket for those days when excuses and blocks make creating difficult. I find that it’s always best to work on a couple things at once, so you are taking any one painting or piece too seriously. Don’t force it; meaning that when you feel like you don’t know what to do next with something that you are working on, take a break and ask the piece what it wants. Journaling a conversation with your piece can go a long way… I highly recommend it. Believe in yourself, and don’t quit. I think it’s important that when you are in the arts, you know that other people’s opinions are just that; opinions. If you are creating something that you love and are addicted to creating, then it has a place in this world. High art

isn’t always the best fit for all of us; there is an audience for everything! Do what you love and never give up!

Contact details if any?

Jes Belkov Gordon

www.bucketsofcolor.com

bucketsofcolor@yahoo.com

410-507-7991

You can find me at Sycamore Place Gallery & Studios in Decatur

WCAGA is a part of The Georgia Women's Conference 2013

This year the WCAGA Members Art Show "Crossing into Abstractions" plays an important role in the Georgia Women's Conference 2013. The Conference theme is: The Female Perspective in Art, Scholarship, and Politics. Topics include, but are not limited to: academic papers and dissertations, political issues and themes, literature and poetry, women's health, fine arts, career advancement, international topics, financial advisement, LGBTQ, transgender issues, and more! 

At the opening of "Crossing into Abstraction"

Barb Rehg and Don Dougan curated this show. Don Dougan is an Instructor at the Georgia Perimeter College and the Gallery Director of Clarkston Fine Arts. Barb Rehg is an accomplished Local Artist and the Exhibition chair for WCAGA.  Included in this show are Loretta Paraguassu, Kathy Meliopoulos, Dory Ingram , Helen DeRamus, Jane Jaskevich, Linda Hudgins, Corlia Kock, Ann Rowles, Ann Rhodes, Sally Eppstein, Patricia Bohannon, Eileis Crean, Norma Hendrix,Edna Shipp, Angie Dachs,Teresa Libbey, Kate Lehman Landishaw, Karen Phillips, Laura Monk,Vicki Bethel, Kate Colpitts, Cecelia Kane,Ellen Fennel Blythe, Barb Rehg and Claudia Wilburn. 

This year's Members Show examines what it means to work with abstraction, reach out to abstraction and to immerse in abstraction. A wide range of themes are visible in the art work selected for this show. This show answers questions on how far you can take form, color, and shape and still be considered abstract.

A scheduled event of the Georgia Women's Conference is the Continental Breakfast with the artists of

the Women's Caucus for Arts of Georgia,Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. in the Jim Cherry Learning Resource Center Gallery. 

Looking forward to see you there.

Corlia