Celebrating Amazing Women
I've taken the opportunity...
As GSAC's executive director, I have less and less time to do what I love most: making art. But having less time, makes me love art even more. I enjoy promoting the artists we put before you, and I enjoy this opportunity to share my own work.
Some times it looks like we're a religious organization...
We have spiritual roots. True religion, true spirituality lifts people up and helps them become most fully what they are intended to be. At this darkest season of the year I place before you women who have lit up history.
Kwanzaa
Some years back I took some time to ponder the virtues of Kwanzaa, and then to reflect on African-American history, to pair women from that history with these virtues. Please forgive me if this is cultural appropriation: it was intended instead as trying to improve my cultural literacy. There are two sets of these images. One is at Maryhurst and the other at Neighborhood House, both in Louisville, Kentucky.
A Woman Menorah
I have also tried to image a menorah, with women as the candles or as the flames. The Jewish People have some fantastic women who made things happen. Rebekah must have had some guts to put the younger Jacob before the older Esau. She was used of God. Each of these women have that fantastic virtue: chutzpah.
Thank you for viewing these images
And thank you for the ongoing support.
Childhood Cancer
Each year, the parents of more than 17,000 children age 0-19 in the U.S. will hear the words “your child has cancer.” Across all ages, ethnic groups, and socio-economics, this disease remains the number one cause of death by disease in children. In the last 40 years, the overall survival rate for childhood cancer has increased from 10% to over 85% today, but for many more rare childhood cancers, the survival rate remains much lower. Furthermore, the number of diagnosed cases annually has not declined in nearly 20 years. There are approximately 483,000 adult survivors of children’s cancer in the United States. (from CureSearch.Org)
CureSearch
For over 30 years, CureSearch has been a driving force in children’s cancer research. Recognizing a broken system, growing obstacles and unmet need in pediatric cancer drug development, we’ve launched an innovative and unique strategy to address the urgent, critical need for new childhood cancer treatments.
About Jane Reise
Jane Reise from St. Louis, Missouri is a lot of things – a retired educator who loves spending time with her grandchildren, a leader at her local community garden, and an avid hiker who enjoys the great outdoors. In fact, she’s a three-year veteran of the Tecumseh Trail Ultimate Hike. In her spare time, she practices yoga and even dabbles in a variety of crafty endeavors.It was her love of hiking and being crafty that inspired her to create a CHAIRity silent auction, which supports CureSearch’s efforts to find a cure for all children diagnosed with cancer.
Thank you for fighting to change the odds for kids with cancer.-Jane
Jane's efforts raised more than $4000 for Children's Cancer Research
Jane's online fund raising site: www.hiketocurekidsSTL.com (look for Jane Reise)
- TEXT: CURE to 56512 (look for Jane Reise)
- Send personal checks payable to CURESEARCH to
CureSearch for Children's Cancer/Ultimate Hike Donations
(Jane Reise)
PO Box 45781
Baltimore MD 21297
THE CHAIRS (to be sure to see all chairs - there are more than 20 - click on "+show more"
About Gerrie McManamon
Artist Statement
Gerrie McManamon was born and raised on the West Side of Cleveland, Ohio. Always making things throughout my childhood - sewing dolls, coloring, drawing, etc. she wanted to be an artist. She became German/Russian/ Elementary/ Middle School teacher and used my creativity in my teaching, coming up with many ‘hands on’ projects like books and posters for students to show their learning. As she neared retirement, her husband suggested she
‘get into her art’. So, I did. She has taken classes in life drawing, print making and finds herself leaning toward collage and mixed media as a way of expressing my art. This is her first howing. Challenged to make a collage with just three pieces of material, she was inspired to create houses. Owning a home was always a huge goal for her, and she recognizes not everyone can realize this dream. Out of sales of her work she was able to donate to GSAC and also to the Ferguson Warming Project. You can reach her at
Excerpts from FROM THE HEART: works by Laura Saunders Kaiser
Many pieces of my art are born from a “what if” curiosity. I enjoy experimenting and trying new techniques. I draw inspiration from many sources and creating art in a series was not my intention, but I have found that as I fully explore a technique or return to familiar inspiration, one quilt leads to another.Creating is restorative, therapeutic and spiritual for me. It provides me an avenue to process my emotions as well as the world around me and gives me the opportunity to embrace the mantra, “Let Go and Let God”. There are few problems that can’t be solved by a few hours in my studio. I am grateful for the many artists and quilters who have inspired me and helped me on my journey as anartist. I have learned so much from so many. I have benefitted especially from my friends in the Flower Valley Quilt Guild, ArtFiber Saint Louis and the Missouri Fiber Artists.
Brock Seals "If the Shoe Fits"
Brock Seals uses his surroundings and experiences to create art that resonates with the everyday consumer and yet is timeless. "If The Shoe Fits" serves as a reminder that the only thing more boring than a blank canvas is a blank mind. And everything a canvas.
