MISSION:
The mission of the Women's Caucus for Art is
to support women in the visual arts professions.
We are committed to:
• education about the contributions of women
• opportunities for the exhibition of women's work
• publication of women's writing about art
• inclusion of women in the history of art
• professional equity for all
• respect for all individuals without discrimination
• support for legislation relevant to our goals
2006 CONNECTICUT CHAPTER REPORT
Exhibits, lectures, conferences and workshops during the months of 2006 were available for Connecticut Chapter members. Good general attendance at monthly meetings kept members involved and interested.
Three member exhibits highlighted the year: 1) A Woman's Place: Celebrating Women and the Arts was held during Women's Art History month in March. Varied work by members indicated the range of the group and positive reviews helped to strengthen the efforts of all women artists. 2) Flower Power, in which a beautifully spacious gallery filled its walls with members' interpretations of flowers during early April. Expressions ranged from realism, surrealism, abstract and non-objective in the newly vitalized arts area of downtown Bridgeport. 3) Another August show Fibonacci the Golden Mean, the Curve of Life at Arts Center in downtown New Haven produced outstanding works by members on an abstract theme. The exhibit was particularly in tune with the latest craze and interest in Fibonacci poetry and sparked original and interesting interpretations of the Fibonacci theory. It was so appreciated by the New Haven community that it was extended an additional two weeks.
In February, WCA members were invited to participate in a conference on Women and Justice at Norwalk Community College. Four members formed a panel discussion on women in the arts that was well received and highly informative to a mixed audience.
Chapter members further fulfilled the general mission of WCA to promote women artists in a program sponsored by Mattatuck Art Museum in Waterbury in March. This was the third consecutive year that WCA members were invited to discuss their work and speak about the process of art-making in a program aimed to educate and inform the community.
The newly established Women's Studies Program at Norwalk Community College has accepted the archives of the sixteen-year old WCA Connecticut Chapter. The record of chapter activities has grown since 1990 and includes books on women artists, magazines, articles, tapes and other information documenting the works of prominent women artists including chapter members. In our effort to promote the work of women artists, the chapter is delighted to archive this material with the Women's Study Department at the college.
Our chapter film Women Make Art produced in 2005, by Lisa Seidenberg (a WCA-CT member) was shown on November at the Wonder of Women Film Festival at Caldwell College, Caldwell, NJ. The film was also screened at the Through Women's Eyes International Film Festival in March 3-5 in Sarasota, FL. Sponsored by UNIFEM, the United Nations International Women's Fund and hosted by Unifem's Gulf Coast Chapter. The 16 minute film, will be among work highlighting women's issues from all over the world and so it is quite an honor to be included.
Four Professional Development Workshops were scheduled for chapter members throughout the year. Topics covered 1) My art is done, what do I do next? 2) The Gallery Venue 3)The non-Gallery Venue and 4) Grant Writing. Attending members praised and proclaimed the value of the topics in their development.
At some of the general meetings, members presented visuals, discussed and shared their ideas. The experience of speaking about one's work before a group and the exchange of ideas benefited both artist and audience. Sharing methods, procedures, and ideas is an energizing force.
Membership is increasing in the Connecticut Chapter with approximately 124 members including 15 new members by the end of 2006. Renewals are coming in at a steady rate and as of January 2007 about half of the members have paid their dues. The membership chair, Lorraine Agri, reports personal contact with members encouraging them to rejoin and bring a friend.
Two member exhibitions are planned for 2007. The first is in April at the Gallery of Contemporary Art at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. The theme, Caryatids, reflects the supporting role of women in the arts by examining current artistic interpretation of women in their expression of images that strengthen and nurture. Another exhibition, Green, scheduled for summer at the newly renovated Bruce S. Kershner Gallery at the Fairfield Public Library explores that color through printmaking and works on paper.
Consult our web page wca-ct.org to see works by artist members and our latest activities.