Monday, April 23, 2012
Artist to Artist
Yesterday we met in Vickie Martin's studio, ostensibly to talk about Ann Truitt's art and writings. Conversation kept straying. As artists, we need to talk about the issues in art, the forces that drive us -- and discourage us, too. Is it worth going forward? Little recognition and little remuneration is par for the course. The question of whether it is still harder for women to get recognized than men. We threw that around for a while. It seemed that some in the group didn't want to believe that. Nevertheless, it's a fact that there are virtually no women listed among the most successful (by whatever standards the marketplace uses) currently. It makes you take a deep breath. We're a women's group of artists. What can we do to make that dent? For the most part, it seems more like a ceiling made of steel than glass.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
5th World Conference on Women
VERY IMPORTANT: This is an opportunity for all of us to participate and make a difference:
Thank you emails needed to UN Secretary General for proposing a 5th World Conference on Women.
From Jean Shinoda Bolen:
It’s now been over a month since the Secretary General and President of the UN General Assembly said that it was high time for 5WCW and proposed that there be one in 2015. Since the March 8 Joint Statement, they have heard from those opposed to 5WCW.
We need to send a FLOOD of emails and letters to the SG & PGA, from individuals who will list their affiliation and positions with organizations. The next step will be to get the organizations you belong to—to officially support 5WCW. Full text of Joint Statement: http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=5904
Your email should go to: President of General Assembly Al-Nasser <al-nassern@un.org>, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon <bkm@un.org>
with cc: Executive Director UN Women Michelle Bachelet <bachelet@un.org> and me: jeanbolen@gmail.com
Please write your own emails or letters right away, write your networks, and get them on it!
Very simple letter or email.
Send thanks and appreciation to the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary General of the United Nations for their joint statement on March 8, 2012 in which they proposed UN 5th World Conference on Women.
Praise them for taking this initiative and leadership.
Encourage them to continue to support 5WCW and assure them that there is support for what they are doing.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Statements
www.un.org
--
Thank you emails needed to UN Secretary General for proposing a 5th World Conference on Women.
From Jean Shinoda Bolen:
It’s now been over a month since the Secretary General and President of the UN General Assembly said that it was high time for 5WCW and proposed that there be one in 2015. Since the March 8 Joint Statement, they have heard from those opposed to 5WCW.
We need to send a FLOOD of emails and letters to the SG & PGA, from individuals who will list their affiliation and positions with organizations. The next step will be to get the organizations you belong to—to officially support 5WCW. Full text of Joint Statement: http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=5904
Your email should go to: President of General Assembly Al-Nasser <al-nassern@un.org>, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon <bkm@un.org>
with cc: Executive Director UN Women Michelle Bachelet <bachelet@un.org> and me: jeanbolen@gmail.com
Please write your own emails or letters right away, write your networks, and get them on it!
Very simple letter or email.
Send thanks and appreciation to the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary General of the United Nations for their joint statement on March 8, 2012 in which they proposed UN 5th World Conference on Women.
Praise them for taking this initiative and leadership.
Encourage them to continue to support 5WCW and assure them that there is support for what they are doing.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Statements
www.un.org
--
National Museum of Women in the Arts' 25th Anniversary
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| The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago |
The National Museum of Women in the Arts is the only significant Museum, worldwide, to focus solely on promoting and validating women's contributions in the Creative fields. This museum is celebrating it's 25th Birthday. It has an interesting history. Like many women-based businesses it started in a home. Specifically in the home of Wilhelmina Holladay. After existing in this form it officially changed into it's current form on April 7, 1987
As women we feel embarrassed by the need to have a "women's museum" because we feel that it degrade the value of our work, but it is a sad truth that museums and galleries like this one are essential to our continued existence as creators, since women tend to slip through the cracks of a broken history.
It is to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the National Museum of Women in the Arts that Atlanta's Culture Club have a presentation on April 25th, at 6:30pm. Spalding Nix, founder of the Culture Club leads this Presentation. He will focus on talking about women overcoming cultural customs and conditions to empower themselves. Reminiscent of Alan Avery's "Shattering the Glass Ceiling" it promises to give insight in the struggle women faced in the past.
It is so easy for younger women to forget about the effort their mothers and grandmothers put into freeing themselves and their daughters. It is so easy to give the word feminism a negative meaning but without the feminists making a path for their ancestors and their children, women will not have the opportunities they take for granted today. Feminism is not a curse word, it is a part of our history we can be proud of.
The Culture Club give us this wonderful night to come together and listen to a part of our history. Spalding Nix founded the Culture Club in 2003. The main goal of this club is to "give Atlantans the opportunity to experience presentations by world class experts on all things cultural" (Spalding Fine Art Website). Spalding Nix himself can be seen as a world class expert on things cultural. He has a BA in Art History and Studio Art. He worked for Jackson Fine Art, National Gallery of Art, and the General Counsel's Office of the Smithsonian. He passed the Georgia Bar and did consulting work for Novo Arts and Sotheby. He is also an Accredited Member of the American Society of Appraisers.
One of the goals of the Women's Caucus for Art of Georgia is to educate. It is my goal to educate by giving information on cultural symbols like the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Culture Club and Feminism.
Regards Corlia.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Ann Rowles: Artist/Leader/Best Daughter Ever
National's latest newsletter has a fantastic article about Ann Rowles:
Southeast Regional VP Ann Rowles has made her living as a distinguished artist and educator. After receiving her MFA in sculpture from the University of North Carolina, she taught at several institutions including UNC-Chapel Hill, received many grants and awards including a five-year residency at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, had her works exhibited widely in the US and abroad, and added to collections, including The William King Regional Art Center in Abingdon, Virginia. Rowles has been active with the Women's Art Movement since 1980, and a national affiliate member of SOHO20 since 1992. She also co-founded the WCA Georgia chapter and has served on the National WCA board since 2004. She currently maintains a studio at the B-Complex in Atlanta.
Rowles had an active and engaged life as an artist and a leader in the artist community both locally and nationally, when her mother had a slight fall, a few years ago. That seemingly minor injury led to complications and serious diagnoses. Her mother now suffers from a life-long disability. As an "only child and good daughter," Rowles made the decision to be her mother's caregiver. She could no longer count on spending hours at her studio, creating works from a laminated fabric technique she developed, nor devote the kind of energy she previously gave to her organizations.
Meet Ann Rowles: Southeast Regional VP Love & Strength Thru Fiber Art
Southeast Regional VP Ann Rowles has made her living as a distinguished artist and educator. After receiving her MFA in sculpture from the University of North Carolina, she taught at several institutions including UNC-Chapel Hill, received many grants and awards including a five-year residency at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, had her works exhibited widely in the US and abroad, and added to collections, including The William King Regional Art Center in Abingdon, Virginia. Rowles has been active with the Women's Art Movement since 1980, and a national affiliate member of SOHO20 since 1992. She also co-founded the WCA Georgia chapter and has served on the National WCA board since 2004. She currently maintains a studio at the B-Complex in Atlanta.
Rowles had an active and engaged life as an artist and a leader in the artist community both locally and nationally, when her mother had a slight fall, a few years ago. That seemingly minor injury led to complications and serious diagnoses. Her mother now suffers from a life-long disability. As an "only child and good daughter," Rowles made the decision to be her mother's caregiver. She could no longer count on spending hours at her studio, creating works from a laminated fabric technique she developed, nor devote the kind of energy she previously gave to her organizations.
This unexpected turn in her life shifted Rowles' priorities, but not her desire to create art. Looking for a new way of working, she turned to the past. The craft of crochet, which she learned as a child from her great-grandmother was a perfect medium. It was something portable which she could carry to doctors’ appointments and hospital bedsides. Crocheting involved a single stitch, repeated over and over in multiple variations. For Rowles, this repetitive and meditative process tied together her unraveling life and created a tangible relic of her attempts to control the uncontrollable as well as record the passage of time spent with her mother.
At first these sculptures dealt with the physical and psychological manifestations of her mother’s illness. Her health conditions ― advanced osteoporosis, digestive complaints and obsessions ― was Rowles' topic. Eventually, she became curious about the abstract, formal and spatial possibilities of the technique. Rowles tried various yarns, twines, wires, and other fiber-like materials, and added sewn elements to create multiple layers. Although references to the body and disease remain, their representation diminished in importance. The installation process became a crucial part of the work, transforming the original object into multiple variations and interpretations. Rowles' current goal is to develop large scale site-adaptive installations, combining hanging crocheted forms with free-standing pieces and floor work using a variety of materials and techniques.
Ann Rowles recently discussed her role as Southeast Regional VP and Georgia chapter member:
Q. How did you become involved with WCA?
A. I have been involved with the women's art movement since the 1980's and it changed my work and my life for the better. I joined WCA as a member-at-large and began attending National Conferences in 1990. I moved to Atlanta in 1995 after 20 years in Durham, North Carolina. I was very lonely, and found it difficult to connect with other artists. In 1999 Beatrice Schall, an old friend and the WCA Southeast VP at the time, connected me with Cherie Redlinger who was living nearby in Marietta. Cherie had been a member of the DC chapter and missed it! Together we called a meeting in February 2000 to see if enough people we knew were interested in starting a chapter in Georgia. Eleven women showed up and decided to give it a try. In 2005 the Georgia Chapter hosted the National Conference, and as a result I connected with members from all over the country and became a member of the WCA Board.
A. I have been involved with the women's art movement since the 1980's and it changed my work and my life for the better. I joined WCA as a member-at-large and began attending National Conferences in 1990. I moved to Atlanta in 1995 after 20 years in Durham, North Carolina. I was very lonely, and found it difficult to connect with other artists. In 1999 Beatrice Schall, an old friend and the WCA Southeast VP at the time, connected me with Cherie Redlinger who was living nearby in Marietta. Cherie had been a member of the DC chapter and missed it! Together we called a meeting in February 2000 to see if enough people we knew were interested in starting a chapter in Georgia. Eleven women showed up and decided to give it a try. In 2005 the Georgia Chapter hosted the National Conference, and as a result I connected with members from all over the country and became a member of the WCA Board.
Q. Tell me about your region.
A.The Southeast region encompasses the eastern states south of Maryland and east of Texas. There are four active chapters currently: DC, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana.The Charleston, SC chapter is currently inactive.
A.The Southeast region encompasses the eastern states south of Maryland and east of Texas. There are four active chapters currently: DC, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana.The Charleston, SC chapter is currently inactive.
Q. How would you "sell" WCA to potential members?
A. I believe in WCA as a positive force for personal and aesthetic growth. I personally find it easier to work when I have a supportive community of artists for exchanging ideas, critiquing work, and sharing ups and downs. I believe we can accomplish more by working together to bring about the things we want to see happen.
A. I believe in WCA as a positive force for personal and aesthetic growth. I personally find it easier to work when I have a supportive community of artists for exchanging ideas, critiquing work, and sharing ups and downs. I believe we can accomplish more by working together to bring about the things we want to see happen.
The Artist Bookworm--Anne Truitt
 |
Michael C. Carlos Museum
at Emory University,
Atlanta, GA 2004
|
 |
Anne TruittTruitt 91
1991
Acrylic on Paper 23 1/4 x 30 1/2" |
 |
Anne Truitt
7 Sept '87 No 3
1987
Acrylic on Paper 23 x 30 1/4" |
Ann Truitt died in December 2004. In 2004 the Michael C. Carlos Museum at the Emory University showed some of her sculptures. Is it a coincidence that the work they showed resemble tombstones? Her work does not look like much online, just colored geometric forms that resemble fences, even picket fences, or alone standing walls and pillars. The real art comes in when walking amongst these forms, the experiences of feeling an inanimate object looking back at you. In the case of her paintings, the viewer experience a strong feeling when confronted by red, yellow or black shapes and lines. She hand painted her work with layers of paint, creating nuances of transparency and variations in tone. Anne Truitt had many layers herself, she was not just a painter and sculpture, she graduated with a B.A. in psychology in 1943 at the Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. She was a mother of three, and she was also a writer with three published books under her belt.
For any questions, suggestions, comments, etc. contact:
Vickie Martin and Vicki Bethel (Maggie), Book Club coordinators
vickiemartinartsatcomcast.net bethel.thayeratmindspring.com
Corlia
Sunday, April 15, 2012
UN Statement about 2015 Global Conference on Women
The United Nations Statement about 5WCW:
LATEST STATEMENTS
New York, 8 March 2012 - Joint announcement by the President of the General Assembly and the United Nations Secretary-General on the occasion of the International Women's Day
The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations would like to jointly propose the convening of a Global Conference on Women by the United Nations in 2015, 20 years after the last women’s summit in Beijing.
Given that women make up half of humanity and given the importance and relevance of women’s issues for global progress, it is high time that such a world conference is convened. It is all the more important because of the enormous changes the world is going through, with both positive and other implications for women.
The President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General feel confident the international community will welcome this joint initiative. They also hope that the Member States, who have the final authority to convene the proposed conference, could take the necessary steps during this 66th session of the General Assembly.
They believe that the high point that the United Nations reached with the establishment of UN Womenin 2011 can be meaningfully substantiated with a global programme focusing on women that can be articulated at the Fifth Conference.
The Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, in 1995, adopted the current Forward-Looking Platform of Action. The Beijing summit was preceded by three world conferences, beginning in 1975 in Mexico City, and followed by Copenhagen in 1980 and Nairobi in 1985.
The enthusiasm of civil society, particularly women’s organizations, for such a conference has added extra strength to the general support expected for today’s proposal.
The President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General believe that a world conference on women could review the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. They also believe it could tackle emerging issues, in particular those relating to women and political participation, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 that deals with women and peace and security, equal access to decent work and to decision-making and the involvement of rural women and girls. It could also cover aid effectiveness, food security, trafficking, drugs, migration, environment, climate change and information technology, all of which make an impact on women, and on nations and societies as a whole.
In all these matters, the role and involvement of young people, particularly women, would add an important dimension that was not properly reflected at earlier conferences.
Given that women make up half of humanity and given the importance and relevance of women’s issues for global progress, it is high time that such a world conference is convened. It is all the more important because of the enormous changes the world is going through, with both positive and other implications for women.
The President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General feel confident the international community will welcome this joint initiative. They also hope that the Member States, who have the final authority to convene the proposed conference, could take the necessary steps during this 66th session of the General Assembly.
They believe that the high point that the United Nations reached with the establishment of UN Womenin 2011 can be meaningfully substantiated with a global programme focusing on women that can be articulated at the Fifth Conference.
The Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, in 1995, adopted the current Forward-Looking Platform of Action. The Beijing summit was preceded by three world conferences, beginning in 1975 in Mexico City, and followed by Copenhagen in 1980 and Nairobi in 1985.
The enthusiasm of civil society, particularly women’s organizations, for such a conference has added extra strength to the general support expected for today’s proposal.
The President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General believe that a world conference on women could review the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. They also believe it could tackle emerging issues, in particular those relating to women and political participation, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 that deals with women and peace and security, equal access to decent work and to decision-making and the involvement of rural women and girls. It could also cover aid effectiveness, food security, trafficking, drugs, migration, environment, climate change and information technology, all of which make an impact on women, and on nations and societies as a whole.
In all these matters, the role and involvement of young people, particularly women, would add an important dimension that was not properly reflected at earlier conferences.
Statements on 8 March 2012
5th World Conference on Women
VERY IMPORTANT: This is an opportunity for all of us to participate and make a difference:
Thank you emails needed to UN Secretary General for proposing a 5th World Conference on Women.
From Jean Shinoda Bolen:
It’s now been over a month since the Secretary General and President of the UN General Assembly said that it was high time for 5WCW and proposed that there be one in 2015. Since the March 8 Joint Statement, they have heard from those opposed to 5WCW.
We need to send a FLOOD of emails and letters to the SG & PGA, from individuals who will list their affiliation and positions with organizations. The next step will be to get the organizations you belong to—to officially support 5WCW. Full text of Joint Statement: http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=5904
Your email should go to: President of General Assembly Al-Nasser <al-nassern@un.org>, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon <bkm@un.org>
with cc: Executive Director UN Women Michelle Bachelet <bachelet@un.org> and me: jeanbolen@gmail.com
Please write your own emails or letters right away, write your networks, and get them on it!
Very simple letter or email.
Send thanks and appreciation to the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary General of the United Nations for their joint statement on March 8, 2012 in which they proposed UN 5th World Conference on Women.
Praise them for taking this initiative and leadership.
Encourage them to continue to support 5WCW and assure them that there is support for what they are doing.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Statements
www.un.org
--
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Reaching the Press
Ahh, the press spoke: A meeting in Norcross yesterday that included Kathy Cox and several other representatives of news outlets for Gwinnett County. These included the Gwinnett Post, Patch and AJC. Upshot: Send them lots of pictures. The better the photo, the better your chance of getting some news out about you. They are all short-handed with small staffs. Give them the bare bones information first, the date being the most important piece of information. Give them a quote -- as if they had interviewed a key person in the story -- and make sure it is sent far enough in advance. Two days won't cut it. Late breaking news might as well not happen if it is in the arts. If you want to ever get noticed, try to think of an angle, a good story, a twist and write the best press release you have ever written in your life. It was suggested that artists hire a publicist to help out -- I sighed. Artists, right. Artists who might not be millionaires.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Let's get to know our Members--Judy Parady
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work in process from the Wall Jewelry series
|
Judy Parady started making jewelry at sixteen. Her fascination with making and creating turned into a necessity and a passion. This Passion is as much a part of her as breathing. She studied Jewelry Design and Silversmithing/Sculpture at the Georgia State University. She uses her knowledge from these studies to create jewelry, drawings, paintings and sculpture. One of these unique artworks are the “work in process.” The Dalton Gallery in Decatur, GA exhibited this work. One finds overtures of evolution in these creatures, creatures that form a spiral of life. Emotions of seeing without eyes, of touching with fragile translucent skin.
I am interested in finding the code, the answers, that are contained in the elemental. I want to know what is the least amount of information needed to express a concept, or experience; what is the fundamental essence of this physical world. I use sculpture and painting to express this exploration. Current work attempts to visualize the world of subatomic particle physics.--Judy Parady
Judy Parady is the WCAGA’s current President. She served as the secretary from 2005 to 2007. She is also a member of the Georgia Goldsmiths’ Group and the Society of North American Goldsmiths. She has been a part of the Art scene in Georgia and Atlanta since the eighties. She is currently teaching Jewelry Making at the Spruill Center For The Arts.
For more information please visit her website.
Regards
Monday, April 2, 2012
April 2012 Newsletter is here
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Book Club will discuss the Artist Ann Truitt.
- Anita Stewart, Rosemary Williams, Mona Waterhouse and Kate Landhishaw have special news to share.
- Calls for Art.
- St. Louis WCA
- Textiles in a Tube 2
- The Fire Every Time: Reframing Black Power across tje 20th Century and Beyond
- 2012 Suwanee Arts in the Park
- The Florissant Valley Contemporary Art Galleries
- Ebb & Flow: Dialogues between Art and Water 6 week Residency.
Regards Corlia
Sunday, April 1, 2012
MINUTES WCA GA March 25, 2012
MINUTES WCA GA March 25, 2012
Online Access to National Web Site
Ann Rowles demonstrated how a chapter member logs on and navigates National’s web site; you can get chapter-specific information including contact info for all our members.
National’s Annual Conference in Los Angeles
Loretta Paraguassu attended the conference as our chapter rep and reported on our activities. She was so impressed by the Philadelphia chapter’s initiatives, particularly their Rag Doll Project, that she joined that chapter. One benefit of joining an additional chapter: If you want to have your work shown in a specific geographic area, membership allows you the opportunity of participating in their member shows. Loretta was also impressed by the International Caucus led by Sherry Cornett.
Young Women’s Caucus
Motion: Initiate a regional branch of the Young Women’s Caucus for our chapter. Motion passed unanimously. Loretta Paraguassu and Ann Rowles will spearhead this effort.
Fiscal Sponsorship Workshop at Foundation Center
(attended by Judy Parady and Kate Colpitts)
Because of the administrative responsibilities of handling funds as a fiscal sponsor, it is more appropriate for an organization with a staff and office space. Therefore, Judy and Kate recommend that we not accept Fiscal Sponsorships at this time.
WCAGA National Exhibit
There is consensus around the idea of a panel of judges rather than a single juror. We are still exploring venue options. We expect to also produce a catalog.
Recent National WCA show catalogs available on Lulu.com:
Man as Object: Reversing the Gaze (2011)
Momentum (2012)
Barb Rehg has prepared a report and it’s posted on the blog.
Barb Rehg has prepared a report and it’s posted on the blog.
Marjorie Jordan has prepared a report and it’s posted on the blog.
We have 22 people signed up as of today. Our time for the project will be in September.
Executive Board Members Duties: Judy suggests that with such a small number of people who are doing the regular work of the chapter, each Executive Board Member needs to have defined jobs to contribute to the running of the group. There was general agreement that beginning with the next election cycle, the Vice President will take on the Communications work of the chapter, i.e. sending out Mail Chimp announcements, communicating between the board and the group, keeping the calendar, announcements, etc. The Secretary will be responsible for Documentation and Archiving, i.e. keeping records of all the printed stuff we produce such as exhibit postcards, notices that are posted and distributed about our group; articles published about the group.
WCAGA Web Site Design
As it is time to update the look of our web site, Judy suggested we use a new web site provider, ning.com, which is particularly good for groups. It incorporates the features of a blog, a calendar, and allows easy links to Facebook and Twitter. It also would let each member set up their own page on the site. Two examples of ning-created sites are georgiagoldsmiths.org and crafthaus.ning.com
New Business
We’ve agreed to host the 2013 July National Board Meeting. It’s usually a weekend meeting. We could be sure we have one of our exhibitions up at the time.
Ann Rowles: Wonder Root is going to do a social justice film series starting in May. Ann is going to try to get them to include the film “WAR! Women Art Revolution”, a history of the feminist art movement of the 1970s.
Next Board meeting Sunday, May 6 at Spruill from 4:00 to 6:00. All members welcome. Future meeting dates: August 5, October 28.
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