Massachusetts
With the challenges and successes we’ve tackled and celebrated at NAWA MA we are full steam ahead and wouldn’t have it any other way. This year (including last) has brought changes, improvements, trials, experiments, and joys all packed into one, and I ‘the NAWA MA board’ couldn’t be prouder of our whole NAWA family. Thank you for being our cheerleaders, our creative colleagues, and our helpers in this shared responsibility of making our social connection the one it has to be!
We begin with some beautiful language to send us off into the warmer months in this “never say never” kind of year.
maggie and milly and molly and may
maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)
and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles, and
Milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;
and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles, and
may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.
For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it’s always ourselves we find in the sea
-ee cummings
Some of the highlights of our chapter have been continuing our members’ visibility through Hello World, An Art Affair Around the Globe (a virtual travelogue of artworks created by nearly 250 artists working in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia: transculturalexchange.org) and our online ‘Shops’ and the power of collaboration e.g. SEBA (South End Business Alliance) to support, strengthen and unify with South End Stroll May 14, 15 & 16. We continue to have sales, virtual presence, and bricks n’ mortar presence to maximize our members’ artistic talents. We celebrate another successful in-person and virtual WOMXN show that ended on May 2nd with a wonderful write-up.
Second, we are pleased to announce the ‘Some Like It Hot II’ Call for Entries. ‘Some Like It Hot II’ is an open-themed, curated exhibit representing Women Artists. Hot Thoughts, Cold Emotions, Hot Theories, and Cold Notions. Art emulating time, place, momentary observation, or feeling. A sassy, bold exhibit to kick off the summer, and shake off the pandemic blues combining SC, FL, and MA Chapters in this virtual experience museum of art.
Botanica exhibition at the Cahoon Museum in Cotuit, MA.
Left to right: Carolyn D. Latanision, Jennifer Okumura, Christine Frisbee, Lorrie Berry, Lisa Goren, Kim Alemian and Susan G. Hammond
Our Chapter continues to grow with a healthy roster of 2021 and beyond exhibitions: www.nawama.org/calendar, Sheltering in Place III Social was a success which included our Art Salon. We graciously enjoyed a glimpse into the creative world of the accomplished printmaker as well as sculptor Maidy Morhous, Mobile Photographer and Artist ‘Seeing Through The Eyes via iPhoneography’ of Catherine Caddigan and Mary Veronica Judge, a Multi-Media Artist, and Photographer and in her beautiful words ‘It is liberating and life-affirming to have a voice in the centuries-old conversation of image-making. In addition, our Scholarship 2021 recipients were chosen. These bright and talented young women will each receive $1500 along with the third underwritten by Signature Consulting. We continue with scheduled demo/talks such as ‘A Few Basics of Marketing and an Introduction to Instagram’ as part of ‘Your Social Media Arsenal IV’ along with PR coverage via sponsor Artscope Magazine, Artscope e-blast, IG, and Facebook. Marketing—like Art—has the power to mold and shape itself into whatever you want it to be.
Our collective energy, experience, passion for the Arts will be filled with sun, fresh air, and that crazy/wonderful realization the new normalcy is here.
Jennifer Jean Costello, President
MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER
Florida
Look at just some of what this Chapter has been up to:
SOME LIKE IT HOT II – A sassy, bold exhibit to kick off the summer, and shake off of the pandemic blues, combining SC, FL, and MA Chapters in this virtual experience museum of art.
Topic: PERMISSION TO SCREAM – An Art Presentation by NAWAFL Member, Joanna Coke
AND MORE TO COME:
July 7th– An Online Art Salon where we’ll meet new members, and everyone present can share current pieces they’re working on.
Aug 11th– Online presentation by Susan Hammond: Susan G. Hammond is a past President and Executive Director of NAWA and is a professional contemporary photographer. She will be giving a slide presentation of a variety of her photographs, and offer tips and suggestions about photographing your artwork. She will answer questions about NAWA and her photography career.
Sep 15th– Online presentation, by (myself) Roberta Millman-Ide, on creating Narrative Art as a second language.
In addition, this August NAWAFL has an Exhibit at the 621 Gallery in Tallahassee.
There’s a lot more planned… but this will take us through the end of September…which is the end of our NAWAFL fiscal year.
Roberta Millman-Ide
President
FLORIDA CHAPTER
South Carolina
Greetings from South Carolina where the beautiful spring weather is giving us great inspiration for art making. And that is great timing for one of our big projects — Spring Fusion: Renew and Reinvent, which will take place March 31-May 6, 2022 at the Aiken Center for the Arts. This theme invites NAWA SC members to capture the energy of Spring – not only the revival and rebirth in nature, but in a rejuvenation of ourselves.
The Aiken Center for the Arts is a dynamic engaging Gallery in the heart of downtown Aiken, SC. This exhibit coincides with the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta and is a prime tourist time for Aiken. We are working to obtain special rates on overnight accommodations for members who wish to attend the reception on March 31, 2022, from 6-8pm. A Welcome Lunch is being planned for members who arrive early on the 31st.
RECENT EXHIBITIONS
A couple of our recent exhibitions include Anything Goes and Treasures of Our Coastal State. Anything Goes featured the work of the NAWA SC Board members. We shared our individual styles, mediums, creativity and strived to inspire other women artists. Virtual April 7th – May 15th, 2021.
Treasures of Our Coastal State explored the beauty and diversity of South Carolina, from the mountains to the ocean to the Low Country with works in paint, photography, sculpture, and multi-media. Virtual and in-person exhibit January 20th-February 28th, 2021 at Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head, SC.
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Currently we are thanking our volunteers with an exhibition opportunity titled Chapter Angels, which celebrates the intersection of art and volunteerism. Any SC Chapter member who contributed 6 hours or more and wished to exhibit is featured in this show that honors those among us who freely give of their time to be involved in the greater cause of NAWA – “to foster public awareness of, and interest in, visual art created by women in the United States.” Virtual exhibit May 5, 2021-June 15, 2021.
Looking forward: In addition to Spring Fusion, mentioned above, we are reprising Some Like It Hot II Juried Exhibit. This show will represent over 200 women artists from SC, MA, and FL Chapters. This is a sassy, bold exhibit to kick off the summer and shake off the pandemic blues. Members submit up to 2 images on Smarter Entry https://client.smarterentry.com/NAWAMA with one image guaranteed to be in the show. Virtual Exhibit June 15th – August 10th, 2021.
Visit https://nawasc.org to see current exhibitions and find lots of information about our members.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
On the professional development side, we learned about available apps to show and share our work. On March 18 and 23 SC Chapter President Kate Kennedy awed us with information on marketing tools, ie. Ripl, Exhibbit.com, and Art Rooms, among others.
With very hopeful hearts the NAWA SC Chapter is looking forward to a fall gathering. While Zoom has been a valuable tool in helping us continue with our work and art, we are ready to see each other in 3 dimensions. If pandemic precautions allow, plans include a luncheon or picnic, a membership meeting and a critique session led by board member Fran Gardner, Distinguished Professor of Art and Art History at the University of South Carolina. We long for a day of friends, art, and good cheer after a long separation.
NAWA SC CHAPTER MEMBER FEATURE
Mary Jean Jaishiama JacobsMiss Universe mixed media 16″ X 20″.
Get to know: Artist Mary Jean Jaishiama Jacobs (interviewed by Susan Irish, NAWA SC Board Member)
Describe your work: I paint portraits of memorable women with acrylic and collage elements in a way so that they can be commemorated like a postage stamp. I have painted women I know and representatives of each state and many countries. Each has a special personality and story. I try to go beyond the surface beauty and convey the emotions and turmoil.
Art Crush: I have been in love with Picasso since I was 4 years old. As a child, I would copy his work. As an adult, I was going to Cannes to meet him in June 1973, he died in April, 1973.
Most influential time: I had training and technical skills but was told I need to live! I went to New York City. I would haunt the museums: Guggenheim, Frick. My friend Patty took me to galleries. I supported myself by typing. I would get calligraphy commissions. Once I had only 30 minutes to do 250 dinner menus for a visiting Prime Minister.
What is your superpower: I keep trying.
Greatest moment in your art world: Being accepted to The National Association of Women Artists was my happiest moment. The thrill of my life.
NAWA SC is proud to be a part of the National Association of Women Artists and further the national mission – to promote awareness of, and interest in, visual art created by women in the United States – in our state of South Carolina. Please contact fran.gardner24@gmail.com if you have questions about this news update, have news to share or wish to join the NAWA SC Chapter.
Fran Gardner
President
SOUTH CAROLINA CHAPTER
