Mary Martin, WOV and Members in Rivers of Steel History Highlights

Mary Martin, an internationally known ceramicist, and
mixed media artist is a long-time member of Women of Visions, having served in many capacities. But the one which she has relished most, as do over half of the WOV membership, is her role as a Teaching Artist. Martin, currently working for Winchester Thruston, and three other WOV cohorts were contacted by Rivers of Steel, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the region's cultural and industrial heritage. These artists were interviewed based on their work in traditional art forms. In the recent Rivers of Steel newsletter, writer Jonathan Engel celebrated the work of  Mary Martin as well as members, Janet Watkins, LaVerne Kemp, and Christine Bethea. Their mediums include pottery, weaving, and quilting.  Read the full article here.

Rivers of Steel offers a lot to the community through "artistry, industry, and innovation." Cultural tourism through renovation projects like the Pump House and Carrie Furnace have become iconic favorites, In addition, the non-profit both educates and entertains through programming that includes workshops, exhibitions, festivals, and even carpool cinema. Take a look at their website for upcoming classes and attractions for every member of your family. 

Betty Douglas Brings "Soul" to BNY, Tina Brewer Shines in New York and LaVerne Kemp goes Smithsonian

WOV MEETING @ BNY STEEL PLAZA

For WOV's last business meeting on April 11, we decided to take a field trip to see our BNY exhibition in downtown, Pittsburgh (see the previous post). We were delighted to see member Elizabeth Asche Douglas who came in from Sewickley, Pa for the occasion. She brought with her a copy of The Soul's Twins: Emancipate your Feminine and Masculine Archetypes by Jean Benedict Raffa. One of Elizabeth's beautiful digital art pieces was selected as one of the illustrations for it.  Betty was also recently honored by CMU in the pages of its's Alumi Newsletter, who remarked how Elizabeth entered Carnegie Tech, as it was known then, at the age of 16. Betty continues to be a gift to Women of Visions through her continued support and with her on-going accolades and accomplishments in the arts. We've also learned that member, Tina Brewer has a quilt that has been curated into Eric Shiner's (former Director of the Andy Warhol Museum) selected works in EXPOChicago at the De Buck Gallery. Catch Brewer's work in the web page's opening slide show. In Craft Optimism, an online show and sale curated by the Smithsonian Women, Laverne Kemp Studios is at its best among star makers from all across the country. Congrats to these three wonderful WOV women!

Diaspora Series: Hand of God by Tina Williams Brewer

Woven Wall Hanging by LaVerne Kemp from Craft Optimism