by Jennifer Jean Okumura
President, NAWA-Massachusetts

Change, growth, and renewal as we move into Winter! The creative community brings the world to life, offers new perspectives, and celebrates the power of transformation in the Fall. More will come as we continue to make waves, celebrating 2024 with nine shows and new creative adventures for all; here are a few energizing updates to read, share, and enjoy as we welcome 2025 and beyond.

EXHIBITS:

Appreciative moments continue, and our hearts smile on our phenomenal shows advertised in Artscope Magazine, currently running below. Let’s continue the conversations with new and familiar faces and a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone; we are so grateful, honored, and appreciative of what is to come.

These shows include ‘Permanent Impermanence’ at Dartmouth Cultural Center, an incredible, captivating, and powerful exhibition; our artistic creations embody a pro-found theme. We delve into the impermanence of everything, a concept often over-looked daily. Despite continuous change, we often invest as if life is fixed and unques-tionable, such as our relationships, jobs, income, and housing. Our exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore this theme and present your interpretation. There is ab-solute peace and understanding, mindfulness to accept nothing lasts forever.

‘WHERE DO WE COME FROM? WHAT ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE GOING?’ The exhibition at the Art Complex Museum ran through September 1, 2024, at artcom-plex.org. It is titled after questions posed by Paul Gauguin in his 1897 painting. The exhibit highlights the vast life experiences and heritage of NAWAMA members: where their families migrated from, what made them artists, why they focus on a particular in-terest, and where they may go with their work.

‘Painters + Poets,’ a show of contemporary artworks and original poetry, runs through September 1, 2024, at artcomplex.org. In Collaboration with the Unbound Visual Arts (UVA), presents Being Human, an in-person exhibition at the Arthaus Gallery curated by Jennifer Jean Okumura, Art World Professional, and Dave Santulli, Founder and President of United Planet. Being Human during a time lacking humanity. Our eyes, ears, hearts, and souls are open. Being Human should be obvious – no need to discriminate or constantly hate – a need to say humanity is not lost; our habitat conditi-on can be changed, and we can recover and be reborn if love is not over. Learn once again to be human.

‘ART WITH INTENTION’ I & II at Gallery Sitka South, Newport; Art enhances the story and our living space. Our Art, Our Story, restores the harmonious balance in times of much-needed healing, our new, continuous love, and the human spirit of hope, and the world comes to life – a jolt of energy, esse, community, and love.

‘TOGETHER AS ONE’ at Galatea Fine Art in SoWa Art & Design District, Boston, runs on Artsy Aimée Burg, the Gallery Director of The Ely Center of Contemporary Art, cura-tes it. We are all one; we are all the same. Our strength to be one and understand the world as creators, artists, and humans through our craftsmanship, heavy and love-filled hearts, and hope for change speak volumes through our hands. ‘Time’ works chosen by Kaveh Mojtabai, the founder and publisher of Artscope Magazine, at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse, Seaport in the Front, Atrium & Harbor Park Galleries, ran through October 1, 2024. ‘TIME’ is a group exhibition that explores all things that have their turn to change with time.

The year ends with ‘Self-Awareness and Love’ at The Wedeman Gallery at the Yama-waki Art and Cultural Center, Lasell University, with a vast FFAW reception. Who do you create for when you create? A work of art does not just exist. It comes to life between two people, one creating and one visually taking it in via the studio or a packed show. You are not creating for no reason. You have to choose a person or so-meone to create for. If you are not creating for anyone or a cause, then all art is the same; the work of art does not exist; you do not exist.

GENERAL CHAPTER NEWS

Learning something new and gaining more insight into everyone’s life and your pure love for creation is a privilege and a joy. We are only more robust as a chapter family with your involvement, as your coming shows your dedication, your love for growing our creative family, and for sharing your artistry of our work throughout these many years – for that, thank you, my friends, my colleagues as this is the best part of this artis-tic journey we are all on. We support our members by providing in-person and virtual exhibition opportunities, PR visibility via sponsor Artscope Magazine Jan/Feb, March/April ‘Special 18th Anniversary Issue for Artscope‘, July/August, Sept/Oct, and Nov/Dec ‘Art Basel yearly issue’ to be displayed during Art Basel Magazine sec-tor, name, full-page Ads, Artscope bi-weekly eblast, upcoming 2025 NAWAMA Art Sa-lon, Social on November 3 Member’s Appreciation Celebration along with Art Chat, social media platforms, and TransCultural Exchange TCE TV more to come a spot on our TV show, ongoing 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 local community collaboration, such as SoWa and South End Busi-ness Alliance, is influential in supporting, strengthening, and unifying us as artists. and a sense of community, i.e., gatherings, in-person events, an ongoing rotating gal-lery on Newbury Street, Junior League of Boston, ‘Marketing and Social Media as Part of your Creative Arsenal’ 2025 workshops — to celebrate our 2024 Scholarship recipi-ents, Grace O’Malley, $1500., Elisha Torres Bueno $1500., Abeer Hassan $1000. Aetna Corp underwrites the special recognition award. All NAWA members are welcome to join the MA Chapter to take advantage of our artist members’ numerous and signifi-cant ways to engage in the arts and culture. Our Chapter continues to grow with a healthy roster of events: nawama.org/calendar. Beginning with ‘Of Two Minds: Adapt or Die’ Piano Craft Gallery, Boston – March 7-23, 2025 — Of Two Minds: Adapt or Die means Dancing between Art and Coexisting on Earth; the art world is a shaky hand of fate. Draw us in, drown us, and fulfill us. Waking up and changing our lives is an all-consuming passion for Artists who do not choose art; art chooses them to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of fu-ture generations to meet their own needs.

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 move 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 2025 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 was a big one; let’s get 2025 as we continue to make waves as a chapter and individually; congratulations to all as we roll into the holiday season. You are appreciated for every-thing you do, from the phenomenal 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 2025

1. Junior League HQ, Newbury Street, Boston – ongoing two-month rotation
2. TransCultural Exchange’s International Conference Create the Future – residencies to explore
3. 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, A special evening with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s ‘City of Boston’ special event with poets, DJs, and more.
4. 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
5. “Painters and Poets” runs from May 18 through September 1, 2024, alongside The Art Complex ‘Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?’
6. Gallery Sitka South, Newport, RI ‘Art With Intention I & II’ May 16 to June 13, August 3 and September 4.
7. Galatea Fine Art, SoWa Art & Design District ‘Together as one’ – July 5-28, 2024. Ju-ror Aimée Burg is the Gallery Director of The Ely Center of Contemporary Art.
8. John Joseph Moakley US Courthouse, Seaport ‘Time’ July-October 2024, in the front, atrium & harbor park galleries, works chosen by Kaveh Mojtabai is the founder and publisher of Artscope Magazine
9. ‘Being Human’ UVA’s Arthaus Gallery – June 22-August 3, 2024
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
12. ‘Self-Awareness and Love’ October 2024 The Wedeman Gallery at the Yamawaki Art and Cultural Center, Lasell University
13. The White Room Social – Spring 2025 *More socials to come!
14. ‘Of Two Minds: Adapt or Die’ Piano Craft Gallery, Boston – March 7-23, 2025
15. ‘Marketing and Social Media as part of your Creative Arsenal’ – Spring 2025, 1-3 pm
16. ‘We are not women; we are gods II’ at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod – April 2025
17. John Joseph Moakley US Courthouse, Seaport ‘Breakthrough’ July-October 2025, and ‘Chance Moments’ July-October 2026, in the front, atrium & harbor park galleries, works chosen by Kaveh Mojtabai is the founder and publisher of Artscope Magazine

By Denise Cormier Mahoney, Chapter President

The foundation of our work as volunteers is and should always be gratitude. As the Florida chapter of a professional art organization of women artists, we operate as smoothly as we do because of our member volunteers. We all benefit from the hard work they do, but it’s imperative to remind them how important they really are.

Thank you, Muffy Clark Gill, for the consistent work you do in finding new venues for future exhibitions for our chapter, for keeping our exhibition coordinators organized, for all the prospectus details, the jurors, and the amazing number of minutiae that creep up when you’re at your busiest.

Thank you, Joanna Coke for your hours of keeping our books straight with incoming and outgoing monies. We appreciate your balance sheets and your patience. Your organizational charts are making everything run so much smoother.

Thank you, Beth Scher for putting our minutes together so that we have accurate records of the discussions we have had and the decisions we have made.

Thank you, Patrice Boyes for looking over our contracts and artist prospectuses to make sure we are in line with our national office and to protect the rights of our artists.

Thank you, Judy Kirtley for keeping our membership on track with paid members and new members added to our group’s roster. This is your busy season and we appreciate your organizational skills.

Thank you, Jill Baratta, Jackie Lorieo & Christie Devereaux, for coming to our meetings and supporting us every month from our National office.

Thank you, Anabel Rub Peicher & Roberta Millman-Ide for the work you do in coordinating our monthly zoom artist workshops which are such a gift in professional development.

Thank you, Katherine Coakley, Pat Zalisko, Annette Crosby, Ann Kozeliski, Patricia Richards, Roberta Millman-Ide, Muffy Clark Gill and Janet Gold for approaching and pursuing new venues to give our group the opportunity for future exhibitions.

Thank you, Annette Margulies, for keeping our website up to date for us. It looks so great!

Thank you, Helene Kleiner for all your work on our graphics when needed.

Thank you, Shirley Goldblat for keeping our physical historical information organized and archived for us.

Thank you, Fran Mann Goodman for helping us navigate a new direction for our scholarship program and for volunteering to be the coordinator for our east coast team.

Thank you, Jane Baldridge, for creating one page artist statements/BIOS for our exhibitions when a booklet of our artists can be kept on site. They make us look like the professionals that we are.

Thank you, Janice Carragher Charles for being our juror for the Miami Library exhibition and for your generosity in supporting our chapter’s work.

I appreciate you all and know in my heart that I would not be able to do the work I do, nor would I want to, without each and every one of my sisterhood of artists.

You make my job as president of the Florida Chapter a pleasure. Thank you.

by Jen Haefeli, Chapter Vice-President

The National Association of Women Artists, Pennsylvania Chapter, is the newest to join NAWA, the impressive history-making venture of the first women’s fine art organization in the United States. Our chapter celebrates membership among an illustrious and incredibly talented group of professional artists with a wide variety of talents. Our organization seeks to extend the benefits of NAWA’s national membership to all current, juried-in, Signature NAWA members.

Our strategic plan includes offering local and statewide events, awards programs, opportunities for partnership, community involvement, juried and non-exhibitions, and we welcome your voice and talent in our chapter activities.
The Pennsylvania Chapter meets monthly, and there are opportunities in leadership as well as within committees.
Our talent includes an impressive variety of creativity, including Painters, Sculptors, Writers, Photographers, Multimedia Artists, Weavers, Dancers, InterArtists, Fiber Artists, and more. We encourage all juried Signature Members of NAWA to join the new Pennsylvania Chapter.

NAWA PA Executive Board of Directors:
President, Lolly Owens
Vice President, Jen Haefeli
Belle Manes, Second Vice President
Jennifer Kish, Treasurer
Marilyn Lowney Johnson, Recording Secretary
Cheryl Levin, Historian

Committees

We are seeking volunteers for the Membership, Communications, and Fundraising Committees. Current members of the Exhibitions Committee are June Blumberg, Elizabeth Myers Castonguay, Mandi Moerland.

Our Mission

As a chapter of NAWA, our name is NAWA PA. Our intention is to follow the By-Laws of NAWA and its Mission Statement while making use of our location in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with its rich and unique possibilities. Our size allows for the prospect of interaction among the members, which is an advantage to learning from each other, arranging exhibitions, and creating teaching possibilities while contributing to our growth as women artists and to the enrichment of our community.
Please keep an eye on us as we grow at: http://www.theNAWAPA.org
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenawapa/
Email us to join: theNAWAPA@gmail.com

by Meyriel Edge, Chapter President

Meyriel Edge

As the newly appointed President of the NAWA South Carolina Chapter, it is my privilege to congratulate the NAWA sisterhood for continuing to create the strong work that our founders envisaged 135 years ago. When asked by the SC Chapter nominating committee to take on the Presidency, I realized how much I love NAWA and, because it has helped me tremendously with my work, I accepted because I want to reciprocate in some way.

Susan Hammond

We are now operating with a full board, as Susan Hammond, from Mansfield, NJ, has accepted the Vice Presidency. Susan was juried into NAWA in 2002, chaired the Membership Committee in 2005, served as NAWA President from 2008 – 2010 and as NAWA Executive Director in 2010; and, in 2018, was a founding member of the NAWA SC Chapter. Susan is a contemporary fine art photographer who usually exhibits black and white images that are metaphors for life. In 2009, Susan collaborated, with Alice Harrison, on a book titled The Artists Guidebook to a New Creative Life.

Rhian Swain

Additionally, new chapter member Rhian Swain has volunteered to manage our social media. Rhian is President and Owner of Redwolf Advertising in Augusta, GA. We are fortunate to have her expertise to boost our social media platforms. Rhian is a painter, photographer, illustrator and writer who grew up all over the world. She is the Augusta Arts Council’s Board President and is best known for her “Arts in the Heart” artwork, used to promote the festival over the past 24 years. In 2023, Rhian received an NEA grant to create an exhibit titled: Breaking the Barriers: Women Who Impacted the Arts. In Fall 2024, she will be guest curator for exhibits at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts and the Laney Museum of Black History.

Welcome New Members:

With the addition of two new members this summer, we are 58 members strong. Welcome Pokey Park, from Tucson, AZ; and Krystal Hart, from Greensboro, NC.

SC Chapter Membership Renewals Date Change:

Current NAWA SC Chapter members will receive one month free membership for the 2024-2025 membership year. The reason is to begin our membership year the month following payment of members’ NAWA national dues. Renewals for NAWA SC Chapter membership will be due November 1, 2024, instead of October 1, 2024. Annual ($30) may be paid online at nawasc.org or by check, mailed to: NAWA SC Treasurer, Melinda Welker; 157 Red Cedar Rd., Aiken, SC 29803. A reminder will be sent closer to the due date.

Recent Exhibit:

Sisterhood is the theme that runs through our members and exhibits. Our recent exhibit, Chaired by Staci Swider, was titled Sisterhood: Inspiration from our members past and present and was held at the Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum in Myrtle Beach. Members paired their submitted art with a present day or past NAWA member, who inspired their work. At the exhibit closing, members met in Myrtle Beach for lunch and our annual chapter meeting. Several members presented artist talks on their exhibited work, which were well received by exhibit goers.

Major Upcoming Exhibit:

The sisterhood theme continues with our next exhibit titled Brookgreen Inspires – Women Create, which will take place May 3-July 20, 2025. The visionaries of the renowned Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, SC were Anna Hyatt Huntington, a NAWA member in the early 1900s, and Archer Huntington. Brookgreen Gardens was originally planned as a location to exhibit Anna’s sculptures. It is now one of the most prominent sculpture gardens in the United States, showcasing American sculpture from the 19th century to the present. It is meaningful to our members to have the opportunity to continue the NAWA sisterhood through Anna Hyatt Huntington’s legacy at Brookgreen Gardens. Please visit nawasc.org to see important dates for this exhibit.

Member Feature: Flavia Lovatelli

Columbia, SC resident and NAWA SC Chapter member Flavia Lovatelli is a multidisciplinary artist but, primarily, an assemblage sculptor artist.

What is the Inspiration for your work?
“I love to create installations, all nature inspired, and one of my passions is creating Trashion pieces. Trashion stands for Trash Fashion ie. wearable pieces made from non- wearable materials. My Trashion is historically made with recycled paper or plastic. I have created and organized a show called EcoFab Trash Couture that started in Charlotte NC and moved to Columbia SC with me.”

Coral Cluster by Flavia Lovatelli (from left to right) Coral 15: Colorful People Magazine quills with book paper tentacles and seeds; Coral 25: Recycled thermal receipt paper coils and junk mail seeds; Spore CXXI: Recycled black and white print book paper coned coil seeded XL spore; Coral 23: Recycled twotone colorful Lands End and Sundance Catalogue base and white receipt paper top.

We asked how she creates these unique pieces:
“I start by creating a structure out of willow branches and papier-mâché, as I am creating the structure the design and style of coils start formulating in my mind and, once it is ready, I set off to creating the coils and then assembling them to the structure as I progress in my production of the pieces. The process of coiling is a tedious one; I cut the paper to the desired size, then I have to roll it into a straw-like shape, flatten it and roll it into a coil. Once I have created a good number of them I proceed to manipulating them into the desired shape; flat, domed, coned or tentacled. Once I settle on the desired shape, I have to glue the inside to fix a shape in place and once that is cured then I can proceed to gluing them onto the structure. There are several steps to my process.”

We asked what she wants to communicate with her art:
“I hope the viewer can draw the love from my pieces that I have spilled onto them. I am an environmental artist creating sculptures inspired by nature out of recycled paper and wood. I strive to enrich public dialogue and stimulate culture shift with my work, and explore new ways to approach environmental issues”.

We asked her to share her other art endeavors:
“I am currently creating an installation for the Olympia Guard House Public Art Trail that will open in late summer 2024. I was a proud inclusion in the NAWA show at Hollis Taggart Gallery, NY that just closed. I just ended a residency at 701CCA in April. I won Honorable Mention at the Palmetto Hands Show in Charleston, I have been included in the upcoming Piccolo Spoleto Show at City Gallery in Charleston May 24 – June 9, 2024, and I have two solo shows coming up; the first at Park Circle Gallery, in Charleston, in July 2024; and the second at the Dalton Gallery, in 2025, in Rock Hill, NC.”

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Nancy Jacey won the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Artfields for her 2D work titled: New Beginnings. Art medium is Prisma color, Holbein and Polychromos Colored pencils.

Congratulations to Sheila Grabarsky for her Second Place Award in the NAWA Tomayko Foundation Today Exhibit. Her work, titled: How’d We Get Here is a 24” x 36” acrylic.

Four additional SC Chapter artists had their work juried into this Pittsburg, PA Exhibit: Elizabeth Miller McCue, Maidy Morhous, Jennifer Jean Okumura, and Melinda Welker. The Women in the Arts Recognition Award was presented to Bernice Tate by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Bernice’s innovation of “fused continuity” goes beyond contributing to her artistic field in mastery of technique, which the award requires.

White Noise II

The art of  Emi Sisk and Jennifer Jean Okumura was juried into the Hollis Taggart, NY exhibit (July 11 – Sept 7, 2024).  The exhibit’s theme is Asian Influences and Traditions as Traced through American Abstraction.

Catherine Conrad’s art was accepted  into Prelude 2024 – Artists of the Upstate Juried Exhibition at Greenville, SC’s

Artisphere. She is currently exhibiting her  work at the SC Department of Commerce  satellite gallery. Catherine also opened her  studio as part of Spartanburg County’s  Open Doors Studio Tour.  Catherine’s art, is titled: Prelude; Encaustic and pine needles  on wooden board, 11 x 12 x 1.5