by Patrice Boyes, Editor
In this issue, we peel back the skin of the status quo to reveal the raw, vibrant pulse of women’s artistry today. Step inside NAWA’s NOW Magazine. Get uncomfortable. Get inspired.
This isn’t just a collection of virtual pages; it’s a manifesto. From our feature articles to book reviews, NOW Magazine is documenting a movement. I am especially captivated by our “Your Bracelet is the Bomb!” feature—a visceral exploration of art born from land mine wreckage, proving that beauty is often found in the jagged edges of the discarded.
Commanding the virtual cover is the striking “Boy Tears” by Anne Pollard James. A self-taught force of nature from Oklahoma and a proud NAWA member, James creates work that in her words is a “joyful reclamation,” using her contemporary figurative lens to embolden women to take up space. Beyond the canvas, she extends this mission through Carson House—her Tulsa-based studio and community hub unapologetically centered on women. At Carson House, James fosters intergenerational connection and creative access, proving that her impact is as much about building community as it is about building a body of work.
Anne Pollard James, cover artist in this issue
The momentum continues as we look toward next month’s historic release of NAWA’s first-ever print issue of NOW Magazine, an anthology of the best articles from past issues. This landmark publication will feature on its front cover the provocative painting “Olympia’s Maid” by Belle Manes, a venerable artist who has dedicated 55 years to the NAWA community. Her inclusion bridges our storied history with our tactile future.
I am also honored to celebrate the release of the first biography of abstract icon Alice Baber, authored by NAWA Honorary Vice President Gail Levin. Alice Baber: An Artist’s Triumph Over Tragedy resurrects the story of a visionary who bridged the gap between Abstract Expressionism and Color Field painting. Baber was a master of luminous, atmospheric abstraction, known for biomorphic shapes that radiate with inner light.
The soul of this issue of NOW Magazine, however, lies in the pensive, high-stakes dialogue between Roz Dimon and Susan Rostan. As they coalesce over the question of whether art is inherently political, they remind us that every stroke of a brush and every pixel on a screen is a deliberate act of defiance.
Step inside this issue. Get uncomfortable. Get inspired.
