By Jennifer Jean Okumura
President, Massachusetts

A new Fall, new upcoming, and more!

I hope this email finds you enjoying the summer with your families and friends. There’s a saying that summer break is a little bit like a weekend: June is Friday, with the “wrapping up” and delightful release that comes with the end of a project or many innovative projects; July is a relaxed Saturday, and August is a “Sunday” – resting and relaxing, maybe a lovely brunch, and then ‘back to creative Fall projects while continuing to work on our talent and voice that needs to be heard.’ Still, it is pancakes and eggs time in August – no stressing yet, only excitement! And there’s terrific work going on behind the scenes planning for the upcoming year.

Here are a few updates to read/share/enjoy!

First, our summertime always means bringing a few new faces onto the team, so please join me in welcoming Heather Stivison as our new Membership Chair on board. Heather’s accomplishments, art world knowledge, confidence, and graceful competence make her a true asset in any organization, and I am proud to call her a colleague and friend. This leads to a massive Thank You for Sallie Strand, as her growth as an artist and her continuing ability to diversify and find new modes of expression have always inspired me. Her confident and warm rapport to succeed in all her future endeavors is boundless. Thanks again, Sallie!

In addition, we continue our members’ visibility through our PR coverage via sponsor Artscope Magazine, Artscope e-blast, social media platforms, and 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 and our online ‘Shops’. Local community collaboration, such as SEBA and South End Business Alliance is powerful to support, strengthen and unify us as artists.

With that said, our Chapter continues to grow with a healthy roster of events:

I’ve included some pragmatics to begin putting on your calendars below.

1. ‘New Call for Art’, John Joseph Moakley US Courthouse, Seaport; Trust the Process, October 2022-January 2023 in the front, atrium, and harbor park galleries, best of two submitted works for the non-juried show.
2. Junior League HQ, Newbury Street, Boston – ongoing two-month rotation.
3. ‘MARKETING and SOCIAL MEDIA AS PART OF YOUR CREATIVE ARSENAL VIII’ Fall workshop.
4. NAWA Museum of Art (A Virtual Experience Museum);, ‘What Line’ SC/FL/MA, more details to come.
5. ‘Sheltering in place SOCIAL VI’- Late Fall 2022
6. TransCultural Exchange’s 2022 International Conference ‘Create the Future’ – November 4-6, 2022
7. The Art Complex and ‘Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?’ – April 28-September 3, 2023
8. Galatea Fine Art, SoWa Art & Design District ‘Contrast’- May 5-28, 2023
9. Cotuit Center for the Arts ‘We’ve been around forever’ – May 7-June 11, 2023
10. Multicultural Arts Center ‘We are not women; we are gods’ – June-July 11, 2023
11. The Berkshire Art Museum ‘FEMALE’ – mid-June to mid-October, 2023
12. The Wedeman Gallery at the Yamawaki Art and Cultural Center, Lassell College ‘Ambition’ – November 2023
13. Member Soiree at District Hall, Boston – 2023

We look forward to reuniting with colleagues, creative friends, and our families with optimism for a fantastic year ahead. As much as I am a fan of hot sunny days to steal whatever time I can to be outdoors, I am excited to be on this creative voyage with all of you and start a new leg of our journey together. Until then, I wish you all many more pool days, golf swings (my little guy is obsessed), ice-cream treats, and all the other unique joys of summer, but I also cannot wait to connect our past with our future, our incredible volunteers with our community and the fantastic opportunities with our members that await. Most importantly, I cannot wait to connect with you and your many successes; we are making waves as a chapter, congratulations to all!

By
Roberta Millman-Ide
President

Randy Globus, Roberta Millman-Ide, Ann Schwartz, and Muffy Clark Gill

NAWAFL’s summer has been one of learning, creating and sharing. On June 27th
Anabel Rub Peicher gave her online presentation on “Peruvian Contemporary Artists”. She covered the wonderful works of sculptor Cristina Gálvez, painter Fernando Szyszlo, photographer Mario Testino, and, of course, herself! Anabel (who was born in Peru) is an international artist who creates sculptures of all scales and sizes in an array of mediums.

Then, on August 10^th, our members came together to share: “What we are working on over our summer vacation”.  It was a wonderful Summer Art Salon in which we realized that many of us shared the concept of utilizing discarded materials and found objects. And yet, the process in which each artist worked culminated in their own unique art and sculpture that was very different from one another’s.   And on September 14^th, Kathy Coakley will do a cold wax and oil paint workshop demonstration.  Kathy describes her demonstration as “Whether you paint traditional landscapes or abstract designs you will be captivated by the buttery feel and endless possibilities of layering and scraping out with oil and cold wax.  It’s easy and fun to experiment with this exciting method of painting.”

Finally, this will be my last contribution to Chapter Chat, as I am stepping down as NAWAFL President at the end of September.  But I am not going away.  I will continue to work with Anabel on our Online Presentations.  And I will be coordinating the Palm Beach County Exhibitions.

It has been my pleasure to serve as NAWAFL’s President for the past five years, working with a wonderful all volunteer Board, as well as getting to know so many of our members much better.  During my time as President, I changed NAWAFL’s course from local leadership to a more inclusive statewide one by actively utilizing online communications.  This online link is also what brought our members together for presentations, workshops and salons.  It made our membership, which is scattered throughout the large State of Florida and beyond, feel a lot closer.

Roberta

By
Fran Gardner
President

(The following is edited from the Chapter’s quarterly newsletter, art.nawasc@gmail.com)

Board Development and a Special Thank You

Two SC Chapter Board positions are currently open. These positions will not take more than a few hours per month. Help is always available from our current board and me, your Chapter president as you learn your responsibilities. I am personally calling on you to help your Chapter, so that it remains professionally active within the arts community of South Carolina and is sustainable for years to come. If you are interested, please email art.nawasc@gmail.com and we can set up a time to discuss your interest in working with a dynamic team of women artists who are dedicated to their art, and to helping women advance their careers through exhibitions and professional development. We need you.

With deepest gratitude, we thank Joanna Biondilillo for her service to the SC Chapter Board, and NAWA. Joanna offered the most valuable thing an arts organization can ask of a volunteer — her time. The Chapter appreciates all she gave to women artists in the United States and South Carolina in particular. The Board wishes her well in her art and life as she moves to her next works and projects.

NAWASC: Big News

We have great news regarding our exhibitions. Coming to your inbox this fall: the prospectus for Poetry & Art, an online exhibit that explores connections.

Working with South Carolina poet Lisa Hammond, this exhibit asks SC Chapter artists to explore the connections between their own work and Hammond’s visually stimulating poetry.

We are excited to announce The NAWA Sisterhood: Connection and Inspiration Through Our Membership. This exhibit, hosted at the Myrtle Beach Art Museum, is designed to have participants look to the work of fellow NAWA members, past or present, to create a new work of their own. We may look to the works of any historical NAWA member such as Mary Cassatt, Suzanne Valadon, or Anna Hyatt Huntington from our past, or look to those in our current membership, whether well-known or deserving of recognition. You may choose an artist whose work has impacted your own style, or a colleague that has influenced your work, or you might pay homage to a NAWA artist from our organization’s history. The objective is for you to choose an artist with whom you find a connection or inspiration. Then, create a work and write a brief description or “story” of why you chose to feature this artist. This exhibit will take place in January-March 2024 and the prospectus will come to you in 2023 so you have plenty of time to develop your ideas for this fantastic museum show celebrating the NAWA story and enduring legacy.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Do you have artist friends who are candidates to join NAWA? We are always seeking new members, both on the National and the SC Chapter levels. The deadline to apply for membership is September 15. Current and prospective members can RSVP at art.nawasc@gmail.com . To see the National membership application visit https://thenawa.org/membership-application-sept-2022 .

Our Members Out in the World

We want to give you, our members, the opportunity to promote your exhibits, workshops, publications – anything related to your art practice that you wish to advertise. Please send your announcements to art.nawasc@gmail.com .

Currently On Exhibit: Saundra Renee Smith

Gullah artist Saundra Renee Smith’s exhibit How We Git Gullah is currently at the Art League of HIlton Head Island and runs from July 6 through August 13.

Retreats and Workshops: Fran Gardner

Fran Gardner leads creativity retreats that make space for thoughtful discussion, bold experimentation, and transformative insights that will strengthen your craft and clarify your creative intent. Through supportive critique sessions and private one-on-ones with Fran you’ll identify new, exciting paths for your work in community with other artists. Contact her at fran@frangardnerart.com for upcoming dates and locations.

Communications: Let Us Promote You

We need you to help us promote you and our organization. Send images of you and your work, social media contacts, website address, biographies, and artist statements.
https://www.cognitoforms.com/SCChapterNAWA/NAWASouthCarolinaChapterMemberInformation

Member Feature: Patti Robbins

A large scale painter with a passion for color and pattern. Patti lives on 5 acres on the central coast of California with donkeys and chickens, flowers, and weeds. The sunny days and vistas inspire her. “In 1995, we went to China to adopt our daughter. Some of my most favorite paintings were of that time period and the beautiful Chinese children. We also went to Italy and I have many paintings from there and hope to go back. Why NAWA: “I was part of Women Painters West which has been around since 1920 and read about an artist who was a NAWA member, so I joined. I am now a member of all 3 Chapters. Brush with Fame: “2007 in a show Personal Totems at Adelphi University Gallery juried by Faith Ringgold. What’s next: May of 2023, I will have a solo show at Gallery Los Olivos in Santa Barbara County.”
Find out more about Patti and her art at pattirobbinsartist.com.

Member Success: Susan Irish

Susan Irish with her winning work at Spring Fusion, at the Aiken Center of the Arts.

So Susan, what is it like to win first place in back-to-back exhibits – first place award at Spring Fusion (SC Chapter) and first place award at On the Edge (National)? ’”Having work in On the Edge at the Vendue’s Gallery 26 during Piccolo Spoleto was, in itself, a big deal! Then to see the show, to see my work alongside my National NAWA sisters was very validating. My mission is to advocate for Mother Nature through my art so creating paintings for this type of theme is what I do all day long. There are other artists contemplating deep matters, too. Judith Carlin’s piece with a figure straddling a shifting iceberg. Donna Haig Friedman’s angst filled portraits. I could barely look at Patty Turner’s piece on gun violence. It makes me cry to think about it still. Powerful!

Membership: Important Date Change

This fall you will receive information about renewing your membership with the SC Chapter. We are moving our membership renewal period beginning November 1 and ending November 30 (firm).

Questions? Note that our email address has changed.
art.nawasc@gmail.com