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