Next WATA Meeting - Thursday, October 15 at 8PM at Koko Cocktails

After a month hiatus, we'll be having our monthly meeting this Thursday, October 15 at Koko Cocktails in SF (Van Ness and Geary) starting at 8PM. Hope to see you there!

Arab Film Festival

The Arab Film Festival opens October 15, 2009 with a 7:30pm screening of "Pomegranates and Myrrh" by female Palestinian director Najwa Najjar at the Castro Theatre. A group of WATA members will be attending. Click here for more details.

Next Wata Meeting--August 20th at Koko's Cocktails

The August Women/Arts to Action (WATA) meeting will be once again at Koko's Cocktails.

Come join us for an informal happy hour or conversation and networking.

When: August 20, 2009

When: 7:30 pm

Where: Koko's Cocktails (on Geary at Van Ness)

Hope to see you there.

Women in Theatre: August Edition

We're in that time right before theatres begin their fall season. However, here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

Moontel Six, Part 1 by Constance Congdon, A.C.T., Augst 22 - 28.

Ecstasy: A Water Fable by Denmo Ibrahim, Golden Thread at Thick House, July 23 - August 16.

Unexpected Man by Yasmina Reza, Spare Stage at the Exit Theatre, August 1 - 15.

I know this list is far from exhaustive, it's a first pass. I'll try to add on more plays as i find them.

Storefront Art Exhibits

Gavin Newsom just announced a partnership with the SF Arts Commission to use vacant storefronts as gallery space for visual artists. A lot of cities have been doing this at all different levels (I think Minneapolis has the best program for it) and I'm happy to see it starting up here now too. I hope some WATA members are able to take advantage of this great opportunity. Here's the official press release.

Playwright's Festival

It's that time of year again! The annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival kicks off again next Friday night, July 19. This year's festival features work by seven talented American playwrights (including five women - Sharyn Rothstein, Deborah Stein, Julia Jarcho, Martha Jane Kauffman, and Lauren Yee) in collaboration with dozens of Bay Area artists. There are also many special events, classes, and panel discussions in conjunction with the festival. Check out the website for more details.

SOMArts Cultural Center Features Bay Area and El Salvadorean Artists

I met Tessie Barrera-Scharaga four years ago. As part of the 2005 Bay Area Playwrights Festival Tessie collaborated with the presentation of my play Braided Sorrow, created original sculptures that were displayed in the lobby and even on stage as we incorporated one into the reading itself.

Tessie is now one of the artists participating in SOMArts Cultural Center's Territorios exhibit which features Bay Area artists and artists from El Salvador. The exhibit will run from July 9 - 29.

Check out Tessie's work online and for more information on the exhibit visit the SOMArts website.

The slide show below if ofTessie's Mujeres de Juarez (Women of Juarez) installation.