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Greetings!
This message is to wish you a very Happy New Year and to Thank You for being part of the WMG Community. It is always the connection to others that give meaning to our lives and to our work.
We are so very grateful for another fabulous year successfully serving women artists. It was a year overflowing with new connections and creative experiences.
2012 Review
We began WMG's 20th anniversary with a great new logo created by the team at Firebelly University. The new logo was inspired by the symmetry and beauty found in how the 'W' and 'M' of WMG fit together. The resulting form is symbolic of how women in the arts support each other and their communities.
WMG hosted seven group and seven solo exhibitions, the "20 Neighborhoods Project," participation in Chicago Artist Month, and SOFA CHICAGO. Two-hundred women artists have exhibited work in group exhibitions; seven artists showed a larger body of work in solo shows, 145 individuals exhibited assemblages resulting from the 20 Neighborhoods workshops, four women were part of SOFA, and 35 women have exhibited fine crafts in the Artisan Gallery. Here is a glimpse of WMG's 2012 Year in Review on our Facebook page.
2012 Group and Solo Shows
In January/February "Twenty in Their Twenties," a group exhibition with 29 works by 20 women artists less than thirty years of age and solo shows by Chicago artists Alexandria Eregbu and Betsy Odom were on display. In March through April WMG presented the "15th International Open," a group exhibition with works by 33 artists, juried by Linda Warren and solo shows by Claudia Kleefeld and Kaitlin Kostus. "Consumer Culture" from May 4 to June 21 explored issues surrounding and resulting from the insidious desire for consumption and the waste products produced by fulfilling that need, and Sarah Hahne from Illinois and M.E. Ware, Associate Professor and head of Sculpture at Central Michigan University showed related work in their solo shows. WMG hosted its "20th Anniversary Exhibition" with work by 20 Jurors from July 13 to August 16, and from August 24 to September 27 WMG presented "Inspired By: Celebrating Illinois Women Artists," a group exhibition with works by 47 women. Chicago artist and juror for this show, Mary Stoppert exhibited works in "Reliquaries: A Matter of Measure." The opening reception for both exhibitions was attended by 300+ guests. In November/December WMG installed two group exhibitions: "20 Years Strong: Women Working in Clay," curated by Illinois artist Linda Hillman, and "State of G/Race" with works by Sapphire and Crystals, a collective of professional African American women artists in Chicago, curated by Joyce Owens.
2012 Outreach
Much of WMG's 2012 outreach efforts were focused on "20 Neighborhoods" led by WMG's Gallery Coordinator, Ruby Thorkelson. It included curriculum design sessions and teacher trainings in the spring, summer art-making workshops that took place across the city with 20 organizations, many of them lacking in access to arts programming, citywide gatherings at WMG, and a group exhibition with assemblages by 145 women at WMG during October. With the help of teaching artists, teaching assistants, partner organizations, interns, and volunteers, "20 Neighborhoods" introduced a diverse group of individuals to an array of artistic skills and abilities, as well as created space for new conversations on self, home, community, and city. Related programs included a reading, a film screening and discussion, and an artist talk with Victoria Martinez. Please view the 20 Neighborhood catalog, designed by Susan Mazzeri as a gift to WMG.
Other Programs
Besides monthly Her Group meetings, where women artists share their work and provide feedback, WMG offered seven literary events curated by Nina Corwin. Recorded by Kurt Heintz the readings can be heard online in WBEZ's Chicago Amplified Partners section.
Who Makes it All Possible?
None of our good works could be done without private and public support. The 2012 Gala, WMG's most important fundraiser of the year was a memorable and successful event with hundreds of individuals contributing generously. Many more responded to our pleas for donations throughout the year, and joined WMG as members.
Woman Made Gallery is supported in part by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development, a donor-advised fund of the Chicago Community Trust; the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; The Efroymson Family Fund, a CICF Fund; a major anonymous donor; and the generosity of its members and contributors. Thank you!
Thank You!
We thank our devoted board, staff, interns and volunteers, members, artists and artisans, curators and jurors, collectors, sponsors, contributors, creative partners, gallery and website visitors, and all our Twitter and Facebook friends and fans. Thanks to the amazing support we are able to fulfill our mission to provide exhibition opportunities to women artists and to educate the public about women's important contributions to our culture! And we will continue to do so!
Looking Ahead to 2013!
The programs in 2013 include eight group exhibitions and seven solo shows. January/February will show works in all media by 27 artists in "Public/Private," juried by Emily Green. The "Exquisite Uterus Project," curated by Alison Gates and Helen Klebesadel and a solo show by Chicago artist, Julia Ris will be on display during the same time span. Following are the "16th International Open" and solo shows by Chicago artists, Allison Svoboda and Kathryn Gauthier in March/April. Artists with disabilities exhibit in "Humans Being II" curated by Riva Lehrer in May/June and Ginny Sykes is jurying entries for "Body and Brain" during the same time. An exhibition addressing art and pornography takes place from July 12 to August 22, and a photography exhibition follows in September/October. Two group exhibitions, "Of the Land" and "Form and Function" at WMG's lower level space will be the final 2013 group exhibitions from November 1 to December 22. Of course there will be readings, workshops and other events. Make sure you check out WMG's website for updates!
Save the Date: WMG Gala on Thursday, April 25, 2013
Roaring Into Our Twenties!
WMG's most important fundraiser of the year at Salvage One is set for Thursday, April 25, 2012. It will include fun activities with a live and silent auction, a raffle, music and appetizers provided by Amazing Edibles. Please save the date!
Happy New Year!
Wishing you and all of us Peace, Joy and Unlimited Creativity!
Beate and Ruby
Woman Made Gallery Board, Staff, and Volunteers
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