Greetings!
We are all excited about this Fall Issue of NAWA Now. Everyone looks forward to the different features and columns, so enjoy the scroll and read.
Exhibitions
I want to thank Samar Hussaini Hatcher for her valiant and extensive efforts in the ongoing exhibitions calendar for NAWA. There are many exciting opportunities coming up for the rest of 2024 and moving into the next two years. Please see how Signature Members can initiate exhibitions in their geographical areas.
NAWA Culture
NAWA depends on both volunteers and staff. This construct requires a combination of transactional or extrinsic reward versus relational or intrinsic reward (translation: paid work vs. the spirit of contributing for the sake of the organization through voluntary involvement). This requires bridging of interactions between staff and volunteers. It is my wish that this be a conscious trek on our journey together, walking that bridge carefully and cautiously with mutual cooperation along the way. The office works very hard at the most complicated tasks that are the engine of NAWA’s nuts and bolts of operations. The volunteers also work extremely hard, devoting sometimes large blocks of time to various important tasks. As we move forward, we are always looking for more volunteers to do smaller jobs to make it easier for all. Everyone deserves the utmost respect for their part in the machine that keeps NAWA helping women artists build and enhance their visibility and careers in fine art. NAWA has a beautiful mission, and we all work together to continue the traditions, as well as change with the times.
Fundraising
I have written a few grant proposals, and we are about to embark on the NAWA Fall Appeal fundraiser starting in October. To keep NAWA running smoothly and keep our member dues and entry fees as affordable as possible, the Board and Office notify our constituency when we are having a donation appeal. I ask your help, whoever takes the time to read this (thank you), to boost the fundraiser notification by all helping to solicit donors, sponsors, and supporters. Support in donations can come from members who have the means and motivation, but the public – all those in your interactions – are potential supporters, so feel free to engage in a natural way, by promoting our cause when the subject of NAWA comes up. Thank you for your membership, or affiliation, and for any additional “asks” you might feel comfortable making.
New Co-Chair Initiative
In the June 2024 Executive Board quarterly meeting, the Board decided that all Committees should have co-chairs. This is for a better division of labor – to help share tasks and provide more coverage for sustainability and succession. After onboarding this idea, President Jackie Lorieo has appointed the following committee co-chairs:
- Awards: Kay Clarke (with Jill Baratta) – awards@thenawa.org
- Exhibitions: Co-chair position is currently open. Contact Samar Hussaini Hatcher at exhibitions@thenawa.org
- Public Relations: Jen Haefeli (with Mary Ahern) chair_publicrelations@thenawa.org
- Membership: Lola Stanton and Adele Grodstein stantonlola@gmail.com
Thanks to Jackie Lorieo and Christie Devereaux, as well as all these major NAWA players, for their consistent dedication and contributions of time and significant energy. In addition, please reach out to these committee chairs if you want to participate as a committee member. The best way is to use the emails above if you have interest & put “I’d like to volunteer for ___” in the subject line. That might get attention!
Migration of the Education Projects
The Professional Practices for Artists Round Tables and Community Outreach projects are moving to the Public Relations Committee (PR). We thank Elena Zelenina with great appreciation for founding and facilitating these wonderful and successful programs, and for her term as Membership Chair.
As a result of this change, NAWA will be rebuilding and redefining the Membership Committee. We thank Lola Sandino Stanton and Adele Grodstein for stepping up to co-chair this important committee and we will be reaching out for volunteers to help with various tasks. Computer savviness helps, and we will be recruiting as we reboot this committee.
Bottle Auction
American Woman Spirit Company (AWS), is a sponsor of NAWA. Early in the partnership, AWS showed us some adapted creations made from recycled bottles shaped like a statue of a woman. It came up that they could send us empty bottles that we artists might want to play with. Thus, the Bottle Project was born with the idea of having an auction of donated artworks made from the recycled bottles to fund a graduate student in art.
The result was 16 bottle artworks sold to 10 bidders, grossing $2,258.00, allowing us to create a scholarship for an MFA candidate from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. The awardee is Natalie Marx, of Totowa, NJ, who will receive the net of $1,678.00.
In a time when it is increasingly difficult to succeed in the arts, every bit of support we can offer will help the entire arts community, and woman artists in particular.
Thank you again for your readership of NAWA Now online Magazine and keep creating!!
