by Jennifer Jean Okumura
President, NAWA-Massachusetts

Spring is approaching, new things are upcoming, and there will be more in 2024!

Spring is around the corner. As this season is most appreciated for its renewal and beauty, Spring is the ideal backdrop for our upcoming two shows, ‘Boston Muse: Womxn’s Art’ at The Scollay Square Gallery, The Galleries at Boston City Hall, March 4 – April 12, 2024, following in April is the Art Complex Museum’s ‘WHERE DO WE CO-ME FROM? WHAT ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE GOING?’. These two shows elevate and invite us to discover its presence in grand and humble moments found in every-day life. A mosaic of insights, personal stories, and ideas awaits to make every mo-ment feel more enriched and meaningful, starting with Women’s Artistry Reception Celebrating Herstory, March 7, 2024, 6-7:30 pm. A special evening with Mayor of Bos-ton Michelle Wu’s ‘City of Boston’ special event with poets, DJ, and more as we contin-ue to make waves in 2024 with nine shows and new creative adventures for all; here are a few energizing updates to read, share, and enjoy.

EXHIBITS

Artscope Magazine Ads left to right: ”Boston Muse: Womxn’s Art’ The Scollay Square Gallery, The Galleries at Boston City Hall, March 4 – April 12, 2024, featuring works by Yildiz Grodowski ‘Where Now?’, Carol Baum ‘Dear Carol Love Ola Mae’ and Susan Siefer ‘Museum Portrait (homage to my ancestry)’; Women’s Artistry Reception: Celebrating Herstory, March 7, 6-7:30 pm a special evening with Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu’s ‘City of Boston special event with po-ets, DJ, and more and ‘WHERE DO WE COME FROM? WHAT ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE GOING?’ Art Complex Museum April 28 – Sunday, September 1, featuring works by Linda Post ‘The Procession of Hope and Feathers,’ Linda Hoffman ‘One Heart,’ Louise Laplante ‘Graph Gal,’ Cindy Journey, ‘Coterie’ with Poetry Celebration, and Reception Sunday, May 12, 1-4 pm.

GENERAL CHAPTER NEWS

First, the 2024 application is open call through https://nawama.org/scholarships until April 1st, and we are excited to congratulate NAWAMA 2024 scholarship recipients shortly after the 1st, joining our last year’s recipients, Avery Stephenson, for $1500. Catherine Bonilla $1500., Abigail Spillane $1000. Aetna Corp underwrites the special recognition award. All NAWA Members are welcome to the MA Chapter to take ad-vantage of our artist members’ numerous and significant ways to engage in the arts and culture.

We support our members by providing in-person and virtual exhibition opportunities, PR visibility, and a sense of community, i.e., gathering at Madolin’s strikingly creative and beautiful home before The Gallery Night Providence Reception, meeting up befo-re and afterward with colleagues in Cotuit, Newport, Providence, Boston, South Dart-mouth, and the Berkshires. We did eight in-person 2023 exhibitions in 2024, with nine to look forward to. We begin with two ”WHERE DO WE COME FROM? WHAT ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE GOING?’ Art Complex Museum and ‘Boston Muse: Womxn’s Art’ Scollay Square Gallery, The Galleries at Boston City Hall will be installed soon. An ongoing rotating gallery on Newbury Street, Junior League of Boston, long-standing partnership to showcase works at their HQ building, ‘Marketing and Social Media as Part of your Creative Arsenal IX’ workshops, Proud of our 2023 Scholarship Recipients above, and a special recognition scholarship named after the Anita Helen Cohen highlighted in profiles.

We continue our members’ visibility through our PR coverage, whatsupnewp.com, via sponsor Artscope Magazine Jan/Feb, March/April ‘Special 18th Anniversary Issue for Artscope’, July/August, Sept/Oct, and Nov/Dec ‘Art Basel issue’ to be displayed during Art Basel Magazine sector, name, full-page Ads, Artscope bi-weekly eblast. Thank you, Kim Alemian, for creating the ads and our upcoming catalog at The Art Complex Mu-seum. PR article: vimeo.com/user72395426 explaining Ambition, our current exhibi-tion at Lasell University, vimeo.com/885992511 Art Exhibition + Slava Tolstoy Band for a cause, whatsupnewp.com, to enjoying ‘We are not women; we are gods ‘ The Multi-cultural Arts Center https://youtu.be/n-vvNkTzYZs, upcoming 2024 NAWAMA Art Salon, Social & Art Chat, social media platforms, and TransCultural Exchange TCE TV and Conference to be announced soon for 2025, ongoing Hello World, An Art Affair Around the Globe (a virtual travelogue of artworks created by nearly 250 artists working in Eu-rope, Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia) and our online ‘Shops.’ Local communi-ty collaboration, such as SEBA and South End Business Alliance, is influential in sup-porting, strengthening, and unifying us as artists. Our Chapter continues to grow with a healthy roster of events: nawama.org/calendar.

PROFILES

Holding you in our thoughts, Anita Helen Cohen
Holding you in our thoughts! Sanibel shells refuse to leave even in the strongest of ti-des. That was my first thought when I think of you, Anita. Your warmth, sense of humor, and love of everything that brought you beauty, such as peaceful Sanibel – even after Hurricane Ian – sand and shell-filled beaches to blooming plants surrounding the places you called home. We met in Newton, we met in Sanibel, we met at art-related events, we met virtually, but mostly, we met with the tides, the happy times here, and memories.

Like tides come in three forms, I and anyone she met admire Anita’s growth as an artist and a beautiful human. She continued her ability to diversify and find new modes of expression. Second, her knowledge, competence, confidence, and grace helped sup-port and advance the artistic careers of many friends and colleagues in the artistic re-alm and beyond — a rare gem, a colleague, an art world professional, and mostly ‘third,’ ‘the strongest of tides.’ I’m happy to call her a colleague and friend, and you may have known her also as the Hospitality Chair of the National Association of Women Artists, Inc. (NAWA, MA Chapter). Her home and welcoming heart is what you deserve! Times like this, I am reminded, Ah! Sun-flower by William Blake. The Sunflower is a symbol of a human, above all of persistent love, a poetic imagination, and a yearning to understand. You and your family are the beauty of the strongest and slightly haunting tides forever etched in our hearts and minds.

Anne Plaisance, Artist, Curator of impactful shows such as ‘Wonder Women Now’ and Realtor. As a long-standing colleague, her growth as an artist and her continuing abil-ity to diversify and find new modes of expression using her brush as her sword has al-ways inspired me. The best way to describe her is a haiku, adding contrast and wel-coming one surprise after another — you are left breathless and inspired! Plus, the min-imal nature of a haiku is similar to her outlook on life. Every stroke she makes on a canvas or moves in life is essential as a haiku, and each word or syllable counts to the utmost. I am enlightened today each day to revisit suggested comments she may have said to see what conspires and stirs motivation.

In 2024, an LCC grant by the Lowell Arts Council funded by the Massachusetts Cultur-al Council and the City of Lowell for the Wonder Women Now Tour is one of many ac-complishments that have most impressed me. Anne, having known her from the French Library of Boston and numerous curated shows together, apprecia-tion, productivity empowerment, and amelioration. She is an award-winning painter; Anne participated in more than 100 exhibitions worldwide. She received many awards and grants from the Cambridge Arts Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. She was featured on television and radio in the Boston Globe, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle Decoration, and Artscope. Her artwork can be found in private collections (London, Mi-lan, Paris, Warsaw, Dubai, Kyoto, Boston, etc..). She took part in residencies (Vermont Studio Center, Fujiyoshida in Japan), among others. She gives power to humans of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances by engaging them in a unique, interactive ex-perience that leverages the power of art.

UPCOMING EXHIBITS/EVENTS

Keep this good vibe from the beautiful collaborations with colleagues, creative friends, and our families with untempered optimism for a fantastic year. Art will always shine and inspire us in our lives as it is the glue that connects laughter and tears. I cannot wait to connect with all our members and hear of their successes. 2024 is a big one; let’s get it as we continue to make waves as a chapter and individually; congratulations to all as we roll into spring. You are appreciated for everything you do, from the phe-nomenal Board to our unparalleled members.
Last, be well, be safe, and be in touch with anything. We look forward to seeing all of you and to future endeavors. Mark Your Calendars! Good things are heading your way in 2024.

1. Junior League HQ, Newbury Street, Boston – ongoing two-month rotation
2. ‘Marketing and Social Media as part of your Creative Arsenal XI’ – Spring 2024, 1-3 pm
3. TransCultural Exchange’s International Conference Create the Future – residencies to explore
4. Boston Muse: Womxn’s Art – March 4 – April 12, 2024, Scollay Square Gallery, The Galleries at Boston City Hall. Women’s Artistry Reception: Celebrating Herstory, March 7, 2024, 6 – 7:30 pm. A special evening with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s ‘City of Bos-ton’ special event with poets, DJs, and more.
5. The Art Complex ‘Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?’- April 28-September 3, 2024 The Art Complex ‘Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?’- April 28-September 1, 2024
6. Gallery Sitka South, Newport, RI ‘ART WITH INTENTION I & II’ Mid-May to Mid-June and August. Reception #1: May 18, 2-4 PM, #2 August 3, 2-4 PM
7. The White Room Social – Summer 2024 *More socials to come!
8. Galatea Fine Art, SoWa Art & Design District ‘Together as one’ – July 5-28, 2024
9. John Joseph Moakley US Courthouse, Seaport ‘Time’ July-September 2024, in the front, atrium & harbor park galleries, non-juried show.
10. Dartmouth Cultural Center ‘Permanent Impermanence’ – August 16-September 14
11. Annette Howell-Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta, GA ‘By Heart’ Sept. 23 -Nov. 6, 2024, reception Sept 23, 2024, including SC & MA Chapters, coordinators are Pat Zalisko & Annette Crosby with a future solo show prize may be awarded at the discre-tion of the curator.

We are now 87 members strong with 10 new members as of this fiscal year. We have six scheduled exhibitions for 2024 with three currently underway. We had a wonderful artist talk panel at the Art Ovation Hotel with a moderator asking each artist questions.

MEMBER NEWS

Bobbi Mastrangelo is well known for her realistic, light-weight, sculpture relief works based on manhole covers, grates, and drains, called: “Grate Works of Art”. Bobbi’s work is on exhibit through May 26, 2024, at Orlando City Hall “In the Round,” with the Florida Chapter of The National Association of Women Artists. Mastrangelo sculptural reliefs are influenced by colorful Japanese manhole covers. See more on Bobbi’s website www.bobbimastragelo.com.

Deborah W. Perlman’s work is currently in two solo exhibitions: “Somewhere Between” at the Pompano Beach Cultural Ctr. Until March 22, 2024, and, the debut of her series “Screen Shot” at the Frank Gallery, in Pembroke Pines, FL until May 18, 2024. See more of Deborah’s work at www.artbydperlman.com.

Judy Kirtley’s piece “Obsession” was accepted by the Artists of Palm Beach County for their “Fired Up!” exhibit at the RISE Community Resource Center in West Palm Beach, and can be seen through March 30, 2024. See more of Judy’s work at www.judykirtleyart.com.

Heidi Lewis Coleman’s piece, “Currents” has been juried into the Alliance for the Arts’ upcoming “38th Annual All Florida Exhibition” held in Fort Myers, Florida from March 1st – 30th. See more of Heidi’s work at www.heidilewiscoleman.com.

Anika Savage organized a juried group show called “Artistry in Paradise” for the Naples Art District at FineMark Bank in Naples, FL. Thirty-three artists were accepted into the show. The exhibit will be on display until April. Anika will also be having a solo show at FineMark Bank from November to January 2025. See more of Anika’s work at www.Anikasavage.com.

Pat Zalisko’s work headed to Boston for a museum show sponsored by NAWAMA. Her piece “Selva” earned third place at the annual members show at the Center for the Arts-Bonita Springs. Her work was also juried into the all-Florida show at the Ft Myers Alliance for the Arts. This year, they accepted 56 pieces of art from more than 700 submissions received. See more of Pat’s work at www.pkzart.com.

Jen Haefeli will be exhibiting work in the following exhibitions:  NAWA’s Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories Exhibition at Vanda Gallery, New Rochelle, NY; Creative York’s Art With Heart 2024 at the Kerlin Gallery in York, Pennsylvania, February 22 – March 23; and the Women in Art Biennial, a Juried Exhibition at You Are Here, in Jeannette, Pennsylvania from March 2 – April 13, 2024. See more of Jen’s work at http://wildrootcreations.com.

Patricia Anderson-Turner’s art addressing the proposal to ban All Muslims from our country, entitled “Day at The Beach”, will be exhibited at The Nehru Art Centre Gallery’s “World Art Conclave” in Mumbai, India, in March. Her 3D wall hanging silk organza artwork “Primary Suffragists, Secondary Recognition” was juried into the NAWAFL exhibit “HERstory” at the Cornell Art Museum in Delray Beach, in March as well. See more of Patricia’s work at  www.patriciaturnerart.com.

Erica Hart won 3rd place in NAWA’s Winter Small Works Online Exhibition until Feb. 29th. She is also in an online exhibit entitled “The Color of Skin” which you can enjoy here: www.insidesmall.com until April 26. See more of Erica’s work at www.ericahartart.com.

Randy Globus is currently in the two following exhibitions:  The Gold Coast Watercolor Society Exhibit and the Mid-Southern Watercolorists exhibit; She’s also been busy writing a curriculum on a class in book-making & art journaling designed for adults. See more of Randy’s work at https://randyglobus.wixsite.com/home.

Nadine Saitlin is busy in several exhibitions: Spotlight Women in the Visual Arts, at the Boca Raton Imaging Center until March 2025; HERstory, at the Cornell Art Museum, in Delray Beach, FL until March 31; Through the Eyes of Women, at the Jewish Community Center in North Miami Beach until March 17; Boca Raton Museum of Art as an on-going exhibit; 14th Biennial Exhibit, Visual Arts Center, in Punta Gorda FL, until April 12; and the Florida Craft Arts where she has several vessels as an on-going display. See more of Nadine’s art at www.saitlinportfolio.net.

Janet Gold will be teaching an innovative and introspective reflective art called “No Wrong Answers” at Art Gallery 21. Janet will also have her art,” A Collection of Collage”, displayed at the location until May 11, 2024. To Register: Email Janetgoldtheartist@gmail.com. The cost of Janet’s workshop is $65.Workshop date: Saturday, May 11 from 10 am-12:30 pm. Art Gallery 21, 600 NE 21 Ct. Wilton Manors 33305. See more of Janet’s art at https://www.janetgold.com/.

Sara Zigdon had an art booth at the Bay Harbor Art Festival for the month of February. See more of Sara’s work at www.sarazigdon.com.

by Sandy Dimke
The South Carolina Board has been very busy these last few months in preparing for our 2024 “Sisterhood” exhibition. Our board consists of only 5 members (Secretary, Treasurer, Exhibit Chair, Membership Chair, and Webmaster) to coordinate all our activities. It has been challenging to work without a president or vice president but our Board has worked together well to meet the needs of our chapter members.

EXHIBITS

Our 2024 exhibit, “Sisterhood”, celebrates and honors our NAWA contemporaries and predecessors like Mary Cassatt, Judy Chicago, and Anna Hyatt Huntington. We took this opportunity to recognize the invaluable and abundant support that NAWA has continued to provide for women in the arts for the past 135 years. The exhibit opened on January 2 at the Burroughs-Chapin Art Museum of Myrtle Beach. We had 30 chapter members (17 from SC and 13 from out-of-state) exhibit sixty pieces of art. Fran Gardner, past NAWA SC president, was the featured gallery speaker for the opening reception.

1st Place was awarded to Meyriel Edge for “Uncaged – An Homage”, a mixed media piece. 2nd Place was awarded to Mary Ann Browning Ford’s oil painting “Serenity in the Afternoon”. 3rd Place was awarded to Kimberlee Maselli’s “Beyond Here and Now” and one Honorable Mention was given to Linda McCune for “Study for Stress Series 14”. The exhibit runs through April 14th. It was supported by the SC Humanities Organization.

In conjunction with the “Sisterhood” exhibit, Fran Gardner will lead a discussion on March 2 on women artists taking action. She will emphasize practical and easy ways to give women artists the recognition and encouragement they deserve, highlighting the results of women offering their space, time, and finances to help other artists gain recognition and success.

GENERAL CHAPTER NEWS

We now have 52 members from across South Carolina as well as Georgia, North Carolina, and seven other states. We continue our search for more active Board members to fill vacancies.

We are branching out to have a small satellite exhibit in the Department of Commerce Offices in Columbia. Susan Irish was responsible for this addition and exhibited there in the Fall. Currently, Meyriel Edge is exhibiting her art at this new location.

PROFILES

Our chapter was represented in NAWA’s Frozen Dreams and Abstract Realities exhibit as well as the Winter Small Works exhibit. Joan Eckhardt’s photograph “A Cold Calla” was juried into the former and Mary Ann Ford’s “Pure Glee” was juried into the Small Works exhibit.

UPCOMING EXHIBITS/EVENTS

As our “Sisterhood” exhibit closes in Myrtle Beach on April 14, our chapter members will unite for our annual meeting that afternoon, after lunch at a nearby restaurant. The Board will begin to promote the next exhibition (Jan-Mar 2025) at the highly sought-after Brookgreen Gardens, founded by NAWA member Anna Hyatt Huntington.