Branch News, Winter 2024

Columbus (GA) Teams Up with Gallery for Ekphrastic Show

By Linda Farmer Ames, Columbus Branch Treasurer

Painting by Susan Rood Dolan with the companion poem by Amy Patterson
Painting by Susan Rood Dolan, branch secretary, with the companion poem by Amy Patterson on the left. Each painting was presented in this fashion, with the poem by a branch member nearby

During a spring meeting of the Columbus Branch (Georgia), members challenged themselves to write ekphrastic poems* after studying a picture postcard of art. After completing the task, they each read aloud their poems.

They enjoyed this activity so much that the branch agreed to couple with the Gallery on 10th, a local member-run art venue. From a choice of displayed artwork, participants wrote ekphrastic poems. Members of both the gallery and our branch were delighted with the outcome and agreed to repeat the activity next spring.

*“Description” in Greek: An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning.

 

 

 

 

 


Greenwich Shares ‘Points of View’

By Leigh Grant, Greenwich Branch President

Kathryn Shorts
Kathryn Shorts
Pen Women Greenwich Branch
Branch Members at Les Beaux Arts in September.
Photography by Doris Mady

A marvelously quirky, small sculpture by Karen Heffner titled “Biker Babe” greeted one at Les Beaux Arts gallery at the Round Hill Community Church. Made of found objects, Biker Babe’s head is a bicycle seat. This was one of several works that were exhibited at “Greenwich Pen Women: Points of View,” showcasing an array of artworks by Greenwich Pen Women — each an accomplished artist and all passionate about their individual points of view and their approach to painting, photography, and sculpture. The exhibit was their first since the pandemic.

Participating Pen Women were Sally Fine, Lynn Garelick, Doris Mady, Lee Paine, Heather Sandifer, Kathryn Shorts, Connie Stancell, Dana Goodfellow, Margaret Esme Simon, Kathy di Giovanna, Katherine Stahl, Karen Popp, Ilse Gordon, Maria Friscia, and Hazel Jarvis. Mediums included photography, oil on canvas, oil on aluminum, acrylic on canvas, collage on hand-painted papers, mixed media, acrylic and white tissue paper mounted on board, and gouache on paper. Something for everyone! The show ran Sept. 10 through Nov. 2.


Diamond State Hosts Exhibits, Plans Another

By Mary Lou Griffin, Diamond State Branch President

Sandra Michel
Sandra Seaton Michel with her new novel, “Chasing the Wind,” on opening night.

We kicked off November with the opening of our branch biennial art show, Everything Delaware, at the Station Gallery in Greenville. The artwork from our art members showed our diversity in medium and styles and was impressive. Margaret Winslow, chief curator of the Delaware Art Museum, was the judge for the awards. She wrote a brief comment on her choice for each ribbon. Congratulations to our winners: Karen Hearn, first place; Nita Balderstron, second place; Michele Foster, third place; and Maria Keane, honorable mention.

Four paintings were sold on opening night, along with six copies of “Chasing the Wind,” a new novel by Sandra Seaton Michel. Hopefully more sales will follow during the course of the month

From Inspiration to Expression – Branch Traveling Exhibit

It has been a year since we started our challenge project. The premise and structure from this challenge has generated enthusiasm and public interest in the work produced and the League in general. Becky Stanko from Penn State Great Valley noted that this was, by far, the most interesting and fun exhibit she’s worked on to date at the Henry Gallery.

Chriztie Elliott, new owner of The Palette and the Page in Elkton, Maryland, is excited to host the Pen Women exhibit in February. This exhibit will bring additional attention to our branch and NLAPW in yet another area outside of Wilmington. Our branch will be working together with The Palette and the Page to determine how many pairs of writing and artwork will fit into the gallery space exhibit.


Vero Beach Visits Art Show

By Mary Ingui, Vero Beach Branch President

Branch Members at the Vero Beach Museum
Branch members at the Vero Beach Museum.

In August, several branch members visited the Vero Beach Museum of Art to see the inaugural juried Fine Art Exhibition of recent works of art by living local artists. “Japan Cherry Blossom Time” by former branch President Jane Howard was featured as part of the exhibition. The award-winning photograph was also featured on the cover of the The Pen Woman in spring 2021.

Out of 350 applicants and over 800 artworks to consider, 137 works were selected for the show. The juror was Ellen E. Roberts, the Harold and Anne Berlley Smith senior curator of American Art at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida.

This event was followed by a branch meeting in September at Howard’s home, where new members were invited to learn more about the NLAPW while enjoying snacks, desserts, and conversation.

 

 


 

Diablo/Alameda Enjoys Getting Together

By Winnie Thompson, Diablo/Alameda Branch President

The Diablo/Alameda Branch in the East Bay of San Francisco is happy to return to having potluck lunch meetings in members’ homes. In September, our speaker was Sue Bogue of the Eden Garden Club of Castro Valley. Her presentation was very interesting and informative. For the past 75 years, the Eden Garden Club has greatly benefited local students and the environment. In October, we hosted a “Shout Out for Pen Women” reception at the CV Center for the Arts in Castro Valley. Watch the reception video here.

Pen Women Diablo Alameda Branch
Left to right, Kazumi Cranney, Connie Rusk, Pam Holloway, Winifred Thompson, Jo Ann Frisch, Azar Vaghefi, Pat Doyne, guest Kristoph Klover, Margaret Davis, speaker Sue Bogue, and Ann Maloney-Mason. Photography by Ray Heung

 

 

 

 


State Conference Wows Florida Members

By Wilma Davidson, Sarasota Branch

The Shores Hotel and Spa in Daytona Beach, Florida, greeted us with sunshine and waves during our Oct. 26- 28 state conference, our first in-person conference since the pandemic. And the conference’s theme, “Our Creative World,” didn’t disappoint. Quite the opposite!

Talented members attended and several presented workshops. Everything from making mailbox art to building an author’s platform, from sharing a musical legacy to creating a self-portrait without pain, from turning tragedy into profit to reaping powerful rewards through collaboration among the varied arts.
The Shores Hotel and Spa in Daytona Beach, Florida, greeted us with sunshine and waves during our Oct. 26- 28 state conference, our first in-person conference since the pandemic. And the conference’s theme, “Our Creative World,” didn’t disappoint. Quite the opposite!

Pat Setser in front of her painting Beckoning
Conference Chair Pat Setser in front of her painting, “Beckoning,” which received the first-place award.

Talented members attended and several presented workshops. Everything from making mailbox art to building an author’s platform, from sharing a musical legacy to creating a self-portrait without pain, from turning tragedy into profit to reaping powerful rewards through collaboration among the varied arts.

We immersed ourselves in business, shared a moving memorial ceremony for those departed, and shopped at the Florida Pen Women Boutique for our members’ books, art, jewelry, cards, and CDs. We clapped for the winners in the art contest and exhibit; we smiled at the letters readings and winners — and we were sorry to leave it all at the end.

Our centerpieces were also creative: baskets filled with items donated from our branches. After every meal, attendees selected something from the basket at their table to keep. (The baskets were refilled every meal, thanks to the generosity of the Florida branches.) What lasting mementos.

We renewed old friendships and welcomed new ones. We learned from others. We acknowledged the achievements of others. In two special awards, Nancy Nesvik was named Pen Woman of the Year and Pat Black-Gould received the Individual Achievement Award.

One highlight was a Zoom speech from our national president, Sheila Byrnes; and another memorable evening was our keynote speaker Erin Smith, CEO of Ocean Sole Africa.

Her nonprofit organization turns ocean trash into art. She shared with us how much litter, mainly flip-flops, washes up on Kenya’s shores. Through giving the local women jobs and hiring local woodcarvers, the organization cleans and upcycles the flip-flops, turning them into art. Thus, her nonprofit provides jobs, creates pride, saves the sea, and cleans the environment — one sole at a time. Ocean Sole Africa and our entire conference were utterly inspiring!

We immersed ourselves in business, shared a moving memorial ceremony for those departed, and shopped at the Florida Pen Women Boutique for our members’ books, art, jewelry, cards, and CDs. We clapped for the winners in the art contest and exhibit; we smiled at the letters readings and winners — and we were sorry to leave it all at the end.

Our centerpieces were also creative: baskets filled with items donated from our branches. After every meal, attendees selected something from the basket at their table to keep. (The baskets were refilled every meal, thanks to the generosity of the Florida branches.) What lasting mementos.

We renewed old friendships and welcomed new ones. We learned from others. We acknowledged the achievements of others. In two special awards, Nancy Nesvik was named Pen Woman of the Year and Pat Black-Gould received the Individual Achievement Award.

One highlight was a Zoom speech from our national president, Sheila Byrnes; and another memorable evening was our keynote speaker Erin Smith, CEO of Ocean Sole Africa.

Her nonprofit organization turns ocean trash into art. She shared with us how much litter, mainly flip-flops, washes up on Kenya’s shores. Through giving the local women jobs and hiring local woodcarvers, the organization cleans and upcycles the flip-flops, turning them into art. Thus, her nonprofit provides jobs, creates pride, saves the sea, and cleans the environment — one sole at a time. Ocean Sole Africa and our entire conference were utterly inspiring!


Tampa Looks Ahead, Remembers the Past

By Barbara Routen

The Tampa Branch received its charter — the League’s 83rd — in 1938, 85 years ago. We celebrated this milestone last May, with the theme “Let us guard our future by preserving the past.”

Pat Setser in front of her painting Beckoning
Tampa Pen Women and guests gather to celebrate the branch’s 85th anniversary of its charter

Carolyn “Cat” Gardiner Trabulsi organized our celebration. Virginia Rhan Halloway embodied the theme by playing 20th century music on digital piano. On display were historical documents — including newspaper articles, letters, and copies of The Pen Woman from the 1930s and ’40s — as well as artwork, music, books, and magazine articles created by current and late branch members.

As an author of World War II historical novels and a 1940s living historian, Gardiner Trabulsi wore one of her vintage frocks to present “Preserving the Past.” She traced our branch history from 1936 (two years before our charter), when Maude Martin DuLaney (radio impersonator, author, and art teacher) founded Tampa Branch with six other women.

“What I find most appealing about being a Pen Woman is the inspiring history of our birth in the middle of our fight for women’s rights and the pride I derive from being part of professional creative women — including some sisters, mothers, daughters, granddaughters — who passed a legacy of talent down over four generations,” she said. “I’m part of something profound.” She herself is the daughter of Claire Gardiner (art) of the Tampa Branch (formerly of the Long Island Branch).

Branch President Meletha Everett presented “Honoring Our Present,” describing prominent members’ individual accomplishments through the decades, such as late art member Dorothy “Dot” Byrd Setlow’s creation of embroidered patches for NASA’s Apollo astronauts.

Cat Gardiner Trabulsi
Cat Gardiner Trabulsi, author and 1940s living historian, organized the event. Photography by Michele Thibodeau and Barbara Routen

“Tampa Pen Women are constantly innovating to better ourselves and our community,” she said.

Kat Heckenbach, mother of Tampa’s student member Anna Heckenbach, talked about “Guarding Our Future.”

“Creatives tend to work in solitude and crave fellowship, which Pen Women provide through meetings,” she said. “The next generation, though, tends to be activity focused. Rather than luncheons and workshops, the focus may turn to festivals and field trips. For them, fellowship is time spent doing. Also, their definition of creativity is expanding, stretching the limits. Generation Z is increasingly interested in animation, film production, make-up artistry, tattoo art, LEGO sculpture, fashion display, and cosplay, which require true artistic talent. Pen Women will need to expand their boundaries. … We meet with living, breathing people, so music, art, and writing generated by artificial intelligence won’t make the cut. Creativity is an expression of emotion and experience and can only be held by human beings — people who need community. We can be that community well into the future.”

The celebration ended with branch recording secretary Debra O’Reilly (letters) presenting a recognition plaque and a dozen yellow roses to President Everett, lifetime NLAPW member, for 30-plus years of service to the League at the branch, state, and national levels.

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