Meeting Participants:
April Sullivan, Artworks Director, VSA arts of Texas
Linsey Whitehead, Public Information Officer, Office of Cultural Affairs
Nelson Watson III, Goodwill Industries
Sylvia DeLeon, Goodwill Industries
Alan Drymala, father of visual artist and poet
Anne Shifflett, visual artist and musician
Mary Ishler, visual artist and writer
Susan Beattie, visual artist
Joy Grabowski, mother of visual artist
Notes from meeting:
April Sullivan discussed the point of the meeting and how it came about. Gave background information on VSA arts of Texas. Resources available for artists with disabilities including workshops, exhibitions, and calls for art can be found at the VSA arts of Texas web site.
April also talked about resources for artists at Texas Commission on the Arts website.
Linsey Whitehead talked about local resources for artists available from the Office of Cultural Affairs. Visit the San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs website. Art Speak is a weekly email newsletter that comes out Thursdays that list upcoming arts events and calls for art. You can subscribe to the newsletter or submit entries for consideration by emailing Email Outsider Art.
Linsey also talked about Luminaria-Arts Night in San Antonio, March 15, 2008. Find information at the Luminaria-Arts website. Artist proposals are due January 8, 2008.
Nelson Watson and Sylvia DeLeon talked about the artist opportunities at the Goodwill Good Bytes Café. This café has been open for one year and has food and computers with internet access and accessibility features. Hours are Monday through Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at 418 W. Commerce Street. They have a wall hanging system for artwork and are interested in featuring artists with disabilities on consignment for 60 days with a 60/40 split with 60% going to the artist. Visit the Good Bytes Cafe website. Artists can send images for consideration for display by Emailing Syliva.
The artists introduced themselves and talked about the artwork they create and what they expect to gain from the Networking meetings. Discussion included The Poet Magazine. A free publication that features local, non-professional poets. Information can be found at the San Antio Poet website. Art classes were also discussed and information on Art classes through the Parks and Recreation Dept. can be found at the San Antonio Parks and Rereation website. Information on classes at Coppini Academy of Fine Arts can be found at The Coppini Academy website. A Co-op gallery where all artists could show and sell their work was also discussed.
Meeting Participants:
Susan Beatty, visual artistThis was the second meeting of the Artworks Network San Antonio group. We discussed upcoming calls for art and exhibition opportunities. April mentioned that she is looking for a space to host large workshops in Social Security Disability Benefits and Work Incentives. Goodwill talked about their need to find more artists with disabilities to display in their café and that the pricing on the artwork needs to be conducive to their customer base. They also want to use their outside space for a performance of some type in the late summer.
Susan suggested contacting Jim Keist of Express News to do a story on the café and that we should invite him to our next meeting. Susan also suggested that we get a booth at First Friday in the King Williams area.
Joy talked about ArtCessibility, a call for art for an exhibition she is putting together at Gallista Gallery with an opening reception on July 12th from 6-9 pm. The call for art will be posted on the VSA arts of Texas website.