WOV Winds Down for a Build-up. Fall 2020

Fall of 2020, WOV found itself winding down with the birth of COVID19. We wrapped up our Covid shows with a few firsts: The first COIVID19 show in the city of Pittsburgh; the first art exhibition since the closing of  the PCA &M Marshall (yellow) building, and the first exhibition WOV has ever done centered around global health concerns. KDKA covered our exhibit. PCA&M also did great video.

Art Shown: Serving Tray. Medium: porcelain/ceramic By Altha Pittrell

Billed as the "kick-off" of our 40th Anniversary, we were pleased the exhibitions received a healthy number of visitors. Every timed ticket was taken.

WOV Exhibition teaser:

WOV Addresses The Pandemic on October 3, 2020

COVID19 Exhibition runs through November 14, 2020

Twelve WOV artists showcase their work and tell their tales of creating art and living their lives during one of America's most defining moments in history--a global pandemic during three time ticked slots on October 3, 2020. Also how fast can you make a face mask? Learn one easy way at the event! More info here.

WOV Does COVID Art

 

WOV is proud to announce they are the first exhibition at PCA&M since COVID shut downs began in March of 2020. Our show will feature work by: Lynn b.,  Christine Bethea, Jo-Anne Bates, Ruth Bedian, Elizabeth Ashe Douglas, Mayota Hill, Annette Jackson, Charlotte Ka, Altha Pittrell, Dominique Scaife, Janet Watkins, Ruth Ward. The exhibition runs through Saturday, November 14. You can make a reservation by calling 412-361-0455. Our reception is Sat. Oct 3, 2020 from 5-8 pm. There are 3 time slots. You must get a timed ticked to attend at pghartsmedia.org. Artists Talks and COVID-related art activity. For more info, use our FACEBOOK button in right hand column. Event is FREE, 

Two works by Lynn b., a WOV artist who has expelled her full last name to unhinge relations to any ancestral slave master and who uses a lower case b, to further devalue its origins. Left: You Don't Say  Right: I'm Ok, You're OK

NEWS AND VIEWS/ JUNE 2020

WOV Joined ARTSBURGH. But if you are an artist, you can too. It's the "black and yellow" way to promote arts and culture events in and around  Pittsburgh.The website is hosted by GPAC and is connected to more than 40 museums and cultural institutions in the region. That's a lot of free event advertising for very little effort.

Annette Jackson

Annette Jackson isn't letting the pandemic stop her creative streak. She's been inspired to work on a series of mixed media pieces that include paint, fiber and found objects. Look to see them exhibited in an upcoming show

LaVerne Kemp

LaVerne Kemp does it again! Just earning the Kent Rockwell Award last month, she snagged the Kiskiminetas Spring School Award--Will's Gift-- in June! In a congratulatory letter from the Kiski School Communications Director, Craig O'Lear, the award is said to honor E. William Turley, one of Kiski's finest educators, to be given to a working artist in the state of Pennsylvania. It's the hope of the school to build one of the finest art archives in the area. Kemp's work was hailed as "Exceptional and Distinctive."

Jackson Art

Kemp Couturier 

MOKA, which is a hybrid of two names: Mobutu "Mo" Reynolds and Charlotte "Ka." have busy planning a grand opening. They are expanding their venue at 2297 Centre Avenue to become a "Jazz Gallery." MOKA will soon feature musicians from across the country and even host events in a format that resembles the "Gong Show," for kids in the neighborhood who have few places to display their talents. And all this while WOV member Charlotte Ka is working on a exhibition that will be held next month in New York as a result of her Advancing Black Arts Grant.

Charlotte Ka

"Mo" and Jazz band members @ MOKA

Christine Bethea

Remembering last summer, Christine Bethea, picks a favorite inspirational photos from a visit to the Mosaic Gardens of Philadelphia with her daughter, Brigette Bethea and Grandson, Chase. Should you ever go on this adventure, she highly recommends you take a child. You will not have truly seen these marvels half as well without their unique perspective

Through-way of  assemblage

Painting by Charlotte Ka

WOV NEWS AND VIEWS/ MAY 2020

A Look At What WOV Women Are Doing!

Photo by Jared Murphy, City Paper

One of our most prolific artists, Dominique Scaife is developing a new doll business. "I'm filling a niche that's not being filled," said Scaife."Sink or swim,"she mused about living in the COVID19 era, "I'm going to keep reinventing myself." Scaife is self-taught, and once she discovered clay, she just kept practicing her craft. Then, she said, "peace came and creativity evolved." Visit her store. (More on Scaife  here)

Internationally renowned, Tina Brewer, a Governor's Award  winner,  has been working with the Westmoreland Museum of Art. Check out these videos on her quilting expertise.(click here or here) One of her quilts is part of their current exhibition: African American Art in the 20th Century                                               

Janis Burley Wilson rocks a mask

LaVerene Kemp, an iconic weaver, textile artist and jewelry designer, has joined the ranks of women making stylish face masks for sale. She creates them in fabrics that especially appeal to African-Americans. Contact LaVerne to get one here. And see her amazing website which features shaws and wraps so incredibly soft they've been compared to mink! Kemp is also a member of Origins, a division of MonMade, that supports African American artists and entrepreneurs. Origins recently held an exhibition at Concept Art Gallery (see it here) featuring innovative and expressive work from the regions top emerging and established talents. Kemp walked away with the Rockwell Award, given once a year to honor and further the career of a noted artist.

Janet Waktins, is one of  WOV's talented CFO's. She, like Kemp, is a member of Origins, a division of MonMade. Watkins came from a banking background. "I didn't even know I was an artist, "she once stated before becoming a guild selling sensation. Here find, Janet Watkins Ceramics, which is also on Instagram. Watkins creates whimsical "Potheads,"and vessels for plants, and a celebrated series of playful figurines.

Janet Watkins

Janet Watkins Ceramics

Through Origins, connections with PG &H, Watkins offers a rotation of products: Jewelry sculpture and home goods. Watkins' art pieces are predominately clay. They are formed and built by hand. Her studio is currently at the Union Project in Highland Park.

A section of the Origins Exhibit at Concept Art Gallery

WOV Creates New Website

Ashley Jones

WOV's PR and Marketing Committee has created an exciting new website! Under the creative direction of WOV Graphic Designer, Ashley Jones, the website finally shows off the multiple talents of WOV members in vivid color.
Said Lynn B., PR and Marketing Chair, "Christine Bethea, has given our blog an incredible face-lift.  And Women of Visions deserved a website that makes our talented membership standout. Many people aren't aware WOV Inc. is the oldest running arts organization established by women of color in the country. Please visit our site for updates and feel free to donate. Your donations contribute to our goals and help us to expand our vision."

....Which includes wonderful plans for our 40th Anniversary in 2021. But more on that later...To visit the website click here.

Section of the Colorisim Installation by Ashley Jones