Women's Art Exhibit Reception

 
The Josephy Center is honored to present our third annual Women’s Art Month. This month's exhibit, inspired by National Women’s History Month, opens with a reception on Friday, February 26 at 7 p.m.  The Center will celebrate women through readings, two art workshops, an art exhibit, music performances, films and Brown Bag discussions for the entire month of March.
 
Executive Director Cheryl Coughlan says, “I look forward to the Women’s Art Exhibit every year, we have incredible women artists who deserve recognition and the Josephy Center is the perfect venue to celebrate their work.” Artist Leslie LeViner juried the submitted artwork. We will have a People’s Choice Award given at the exhibit opening. More than twenty-five artists from the Northwest will display their work in the exhibit. These women are from all walks of life: working artists, students, retirees, mothers and career women. A few of the participating artists are Leslie LeViner, Shelley Curtiss, Aimee Jungmann, Cynthia Harvey, Faith Hulse, Jean Falbo, Jennifer Klimsza, Mary Zeise, Nancy Clarke, and more.
 
Women-themed events will take place throughout March including three Brown Bags: Tuesday, March 1 at noon, we welcome Stacy Green to speak about Wallowa Memorial Hospital’s “Circle 100”, Tuesday, March 8 at noon, musician Janis Carper will be here to sing and talk about the Music Alliance and lastly, we will have Ann Browder from Soroptomist on Tuesday March 15 at noon to tell us who the Soroptomists are and what they do.
 
We are excited to host two art workshops in March: first on March 4 from 4-6:30 p.m., Jennifer Klimsza will host a “Wine & Painting” class. This is for the total beginner and costs $40 + $10 for supplies. Each student will get a 16” x 20” canvas and will learn the basic painting skills with acrylic. Students will leave with a beautiful completed work of art.  On Sunday, March 20 from 10-4 p.m. we are honored to have book artist Roberta Lavadour here to teach a “Book Arts” class (cost is $75 + $7 for supplies). During this one-day class students will create a distinctive leather travel journal that can be used for anything from writing to creating plein air watercolor sketches. We'll look at the ways that sound structure and creative design elements can work together to make a book that will be sturdy enough to go anywhere. No previous experience is necessary. Roberta Lavadour lives and works in Pendleton, Oregon. Her work is fueled by her rampant curiosity, and explores everything from found objects and thrift store finds to family history and current events. She received an Oregon Arts Commission/ National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowship in 2001. All interested students should pre-register online at www.josephy.org/classes, or call 541-432-0505, or register in person and leave a deposit or pay in full to reserve a spot.
 
 
On Friday, March 4, at 7:00 p.m., the Josephy Center  and Fishtrap will host a Women’s Writing Panel with three women writers with strong ties to Wallowa Country in an evening of readings and discussion. Memoirist Liz Enslin, novelist Mary Emerick, and journalist Anna Bird will each read for 15-20 minutes, and Amy Zahm will then moderate a panel addressing the special joys and problems of being a woman writer. 
 
Enslin’s book, While the Gods Were Sleeping: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal, was recently nominated for an Oregon Book Award in creative non-fiction. Mary Emerick chose to write her years of Alaskan experience in novel form, and The Geography of Water, published recently by the University of Alaska Press, is receiving glowing reviews. Enslin and Emerick both live in Wallowa County now. Anna Bird, who graduated from Joseph High School and the University of Oregon, is a staff writer at 1859 Oregon Magazine in Bend, where “The Storied Life of Alvin Josephy” appeared in the November 2015 issue. Admission is by a donation. Books will be for sale by Mary from the Bookloft. A non-fiction writing workshop will be offered on Saturday, March 5 at Fishtrap, please call for details 541-426-3623.
 
Thursday, March 10 at 7 p.m. “The Woodmans”, a documentary film about a family of artists. Francesca Woodman was on the cutting edge of photography in the 1970’s when her life was cut short at age 22 by suicide. Her artistic family talks about their work, family and Francesca’s amazing repertoire.
 
Saturday, March 26 at 7 p.m., Women’s Music and Reading Event in partnership with Wallowa Valley Music Alliance. Join us and hear the great songs and writings of Janis Carper, Heidi Muller, Carolyn Lockhart, Jennifer Hobbs and more.
 
 
Women’s month provides an excellent opportunity to honor women and their accomplishments. The exhibit and events are made possible by the generous support of Soroptomist, Oregon Cultural Trust, and the Collins Foundation. Please contact the Josephy Center for additional information, 541-432-0505.