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.

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.

Women in Theatre: July Edition

Here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

American Treasure by Julia Jarcho, public reading as part of the Bay Area Playwrights Festival at the Magic Theatre, July 18 at 8pm and July 25 at 12 noon.

Ecstasy | a waterfable by Denmo Ibrahim, Golden Thread at Thick House, July 23 - August 16.

Fayette-Nam by Aurorae Khoo, Asian American Theatre Company at Thick House, June 25 - July 11.

House and Junction by Martha Jane Kaufman, public reading as part of Bay Area SHorts (BASH) at the Magic Theatre, July 19 12 noon and July 26 12 noon.

March by Sharyn Rothstein, public reading as part of the Bay Area Playwrights Festival at the Magic Theatre, July 19 at 4pm and July 24 at 8pm.

Natasha and the Coat by Deborah Stein, public reading as part of the Bay Area Playwrights Festival at the Magic Theatre, July 17 at 8pm and July 25 at 4pm.

Our Peculiar Instituion by Lauren Yee, public reading as part of Bay Area SHorts (BASH) at the Magic Theatre, July 19 12 noon and July 26 12 noon.

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.

Alice Shaw's Auto(biography) at Gallery 16

In her upcoming Gallery 16 exhibition entitled (Auto)biography, Alice Shaw has employed others, such as a handwriting analyst and a psychic, to tell her information about herself that she may not have been aware of. She has taken what she has learned from these sessions and made artwork in response to this new knowledge.

For this show, Shaw, primarily known as a photographer, has also used painting, printmaking, drawing, and other media to illustrate her responses. Shaw looks at the theory that 'digital photography is more closely akin to painting than traditional photographic techniques because of its malleability.' She also believes that the digital arts has created a 'society of skeptics.' Auto(biography) sets out to satisfy these skeptics, and suggests 'we should not always believe what we see.'

The exhibit runs through July 3rd.

City Arts & Lectures Featuring Patricia Clarkson

Monday June 1st Patricia Clarkson will participate in San Francisco's City Arts & Lectures series in conversation with Graham Leggat.

Clarkson's penchant for substance over stardom has made her more of a familiar face than name. Clarkson studied drama at Fordham University, where she graduated summa cum laude, and earned her MFA at the Yale School of Drama before making her film debut in The Untouchables in 1987.

For more information and to buy tickets visit the City Arts & Lecture web page online.

Next WATA Meeting May 21 at Koko's Cocktails

The next WATA meeting, and by meeting we mean hanging out over drinks, will be May 21st at 7 pm located at Koko's Cocktails on Geary.

If you haven't been to one of one of our Koko's Cocktail meetings, you're in for a treat. We hope to see you there.

Last Week of Susan York's Porcelain & Graphite Exhibit

Closing May 9th is Susan York's exhibit "Porcelain & Graphite" at the Braunstein/Quay Gallery.

Originally recognized for her stacked sculptures of wafer thin porcelain, in the last several years Susan York has been working with graphite to luminous effect in large wall drawings and distinct works. Influenced by the Constructivist and De Stijl movements, she uses repetition, accumulation and the manifestation of visceral tension as the basis for her work. In describing York’s porcelain work in Art in America, Sarah S. King wrote that her “striking body of work and systematic methods . . . adroitly provoke tensions between space and form.”

Apologies for the Radio Silence

Sorry about that, didn't mean to slack off on my blogging duties.

I'm sleuthing for events of interest to post.

More soon.

Made In America at Oakland Museum

In her film Made in America filmmaker Stacy Peralta interviewed members of the Crips and Bloods in this examination of the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles.

Watch the film April 22nd at the Oakland Museum. This event is free and will begin at 6pm.

Watch a trailor for the documentary online.

Women in Theatre: April Edition

Here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

Distracted by Lisa Loomer, TheatreWorks, April 1 - 26

Rita Moreno in Conversation, by Rita Moreno, Berkeley Rep, April 20

This is Not a Torture or an Engine by Erin Bregman, staged reading, Playwrights Foundation, April 28

War Music by Lillian Groag at A.C.T., March 26 - April 26

Women's Will 24 Hour Playfest, featuring local playwrights, Women's Will, April 6


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.

San Francisco Women's Film Festival

The 5th Annual San Francisco Women's Film Festival is set to kick off on April 1, 2009.

The festival celebrates women in all areas of fill in select theaters and community centers across the Bay Area.

Checkout this year's schedule and films online.

WATA Monthly Meeting Tonight at Koko Cocktails

Sorry for the short notice here on the blog, but WATA is having its monthly meeting tonight at Koko Cocktails at 7pm.

Hope to see you there.

Women’s Cinema from Tangiers to Tehran

The Pacific Film Archive presents a series of films directed by women from North Africa, the Middle East and European Diaspora.

A celebration of women filmmakers from North Africa and the Middle East, as well as the diaspora in Europe, this series represents a remarkable geographic, cultural, and stylistic range. In documentaries, features, and experimental works, the directors depict urban attitudes and rural traditions, the dream of escape and the isolation of exile, and the comforts and entrapments of family. But as James Neil, co-curator of the British series that inspired this one, has said, a common theme runs through the films: “They are about women who struggle and strive against their surroundings, and they’re directed by women who have had those experiences themselves.”

Learn more about the film series online.

Sólo Mujeres Exhibition at the Mission Cultural Center

The Sólo Mujeres (Women Only) exhibition runs February 20-March 27 at the Mission Cultural Center in San Francisco. Entitled "Future Landscapes Designed by Women," was currated by Patricia Rodriguez and includes:

Jenny Badger Sultan
Isabel Barbuzza
Bianca Ana Chavez
Maria Adela Diaz
Amy M Ho
Kate Leffler
Ana de Orbegoso
Alejandra Palos
Anastasia Winter Schipani
Marsha Shaw
Zahava Sherez
The Counter Narrative Project
Linda Vallejo
Michelle Waters
Anais Ye

The exhibit "expresses how women envision our times yet to come, what landscapes women are women designing and how women see themselves in these times of change. The exhibition will feature: installations, paintings, sculpture, mixed media, fiber art, and video."

WATA Monthly Meeting Tonight at Koko Cocktails

Don't forget tonight is WATA's monthly meeting.

We're meeting at Koko Cocktails on Van Ness at 7:30pm.

We're trying something different this month and instead of a formal agenda, WATA members are invited to come and just hang out for a bit. You're invited to get to know your fellow women artists.

See you there!

Second Annual International Support Women Artists Now Day (SWAN)

Support Women Artists Now Day (SWAN), a project of The Fund for Women Artists, will take place on the last Saturday of March. SWAN organizers invite all to participate in this holiday (March 28, 2009).

The goal of SWAN is to focuse attention on the work of women artists thereby "SWAN Day helps people imagine what the world might be like if women’s art and perspectives were fully integrated into all of our lives."

How can you celebrate?

You can host or attend an event. Check out the SWAN website for information on how to participate.

Funding for Arts Restored to House Stimulus Package

Good news!

Today the House of Representatives voted 246 to 183 to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bill includes $50 million in direct support for arts jobs through the National Endowment for the Arts and language that would have prevented museums, theaters, and arts centers from receiving stimulus funds was removed.
-Americans for the Arts

Many thanks to all those who wrote their congressman in support of the arts. And a special thank-you to those who've been advocating for the arts.

Why the Arts Matter

Like many artists I have a 9-5 job. I work in the philanthropy sector, which has given me some insight into how grantmakers think (especially those who give money to the arts). As the economic crisis has taken hold I have seen its affects on both the arts and philanthropic sector.

Like many artists I have seen what happens during lean times: the arts are first on the chopping block.

So I am very glad to see Jim Canales, the CEO of the James Irvine Foundation (a very big supporter of the arts), making the case for why the arts is an essential part of our communities and our economy.

Last week Jim wrote an article featured in the SF Chronicle. Here are some of the highlights (emphasis mine):

• In the Bay Area, the arts create more than 31,000 jobs and generate $1.2 billion in economic activity every year.
• The arts produce $105 million in local and state tax revenue for the Bay Area (far more than the government spends on the arts).
• Surveys report that 93 percent of parents believe that the arts are essential to a well-rounded education.
• Ten million new jobs in the next decade will be in the "creative class," according to economist Richard Florida. These are jobs that involve imagination and ingenuity which are best developed by experiencing the arts.

Read the full article online.

Chantal Ackerman Film Series at SFMOMA Jan. 3 - Feb. 28

The SFMOMA film series presents the work of Chantal Ackerman, a Belgian film director and artist.

Chantal Akerman crosses between the worlds of art and cinema, making video installations for galleries as well as films for theatrical release. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai de Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, her breakthrough work, observes a woman's domestic routines, slowly, patiently, and ultimately disturbingly. It exemplifies Akerman's ability to create intense psychological studies of everyday life. She is also highly attuned to the human experience of time, memory, and journeying, whether in relation to migration and political borders (News from Home, Histoiresd’Amérique) or coming of age (Saute ma ville; Je, tu, il, elle).

The film series will explore Ackerman's work in depth and runs January 3-February 28. Tickets are $5 for the general public and free to SFMOMA members. Learn more at the SFMOMA website.

Ladies Only

How many arts organizations are out there that support women artists here in the Bay Area? Good question. So I’ve started searching on Google for organizations that focus on women artists in one form or fashion. Here’s the list so far:

Asian American Women’s Arts Association: AAWAA’s mission is to be a catalyst of change and empowerment for Asian American women artists in the visual, literary and media arts by offering thought-provoking projects and programs that challenge, inspire and interpret their work.

Brava! For Women in the Arts: Founded in 1986, Brava is committed to the artistic expression of women, people of color and youth. With extensive education programs and a new Artistic Director, Brava is poised to become even more of a powerhouse in theatre and the arts.

San Francisco Women Artists: San Francisco Women Artists is a non-profit organization dedicated to the furtherance of women in the visual fine arts. Since its inception in the late 1880's as a sketch club it has been in continuous operation. In 1924, then known as the Society of Women Artists, it evolved into today's San Francisco Women Artists.

San Francisco Women’s Film Festival: Established to address the under representation of women in the film and media industries, WFI's mission is to honor, showcase, and facilitate the creation of films that are directed or co-directed by women. We achieve our mission by supporting, promoting, exhibiting, and honoring the achievements and contributions of women in the world of cinema.

South Bay Area Women’s Caucus for Arts: The South Bay Area Women's Caucus for Art was established in 1989 as a local chapter of the national Women's Caucus for Art. SBAWCA strives to provide contacts and places to exhibit the artwork of their members.

The Fund for Women Artists: The Fund for Women Artists was founded on the belief that women artists have the power to change the way women are perceived in society. Working to ensure that women artists have full access to the financial and other resources they need to do this crucial work, The Fund for Women Artists focuses mainly on women in theatre, film, and video.


Obviously, this list is just the beginning. I’ll continue to work on expanding it.