Women/Arts to Action (WATA) in the Bay Area

Next WATA Meeting - Thursday, October 15 at 8PM at Koko Cocktails

2009-10-14T14:35:00.001-07:00

After a month hiatus, we'll be having our monthly meeting this Thursday, October 15 at Koko Cocktails in SF (Van Ness and Geary) starting at 8PM. Hope to see you there!

Arab Film Festival

2009-10-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

The Arab Film Festival opens October 15, 2009 with a 7:30pm screening of "Pomegranates and Myrrh" by female Palestinian director Najwa Najjar at the Castro Theatre. A group of WATA members will be attending. Click here for more details.

Next Wata Meeting--August 20th at Koko's Cocktails

2009-08-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

The August Women/Arts to Action (WATA) meeting will be once again at Koko's Cocktails.

Come join us for an informal happy hour or conversation and networking.

When: August 20, 2009

When: 7:30 pm

Where: Koko's Cocktails (on Geary at Van Ness)

Hope to see you there.

Women in Theatre: August Edition

2009-08-05T16:09:00.000-07:00

We're in that time right before theatres begin their fall season. However, here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

Moontel Six, Part 1 by Constance Congdon, A.C.T., Augst 22 - 28.

Ecstasy: A Water Fable by Denmo Ibrahim, Golden Thread at Thick House, July 23 - August 16.

Unexpected Man by Yasmina Reza, Spare Stage at the Exit Theatre, August 1 - 15.

I know this list is far from exhaustive, it's a first pass. I'll try to add on more plays as i find them.

Storefront Art Exhibits

2009-07-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

Gavin Newsom just announced a partnership with the SF Arts Commission to use vacant storefronts as gallery space for visual artists. A lot of cities have been doing this at all different levels (I think Minneapolis has the best program for it) and I'm happy to see it starting up here now too. I hope some WATA members are able to take advantage of this great opportunity. Here's the official press release.

Playwright's Festival

2009-07-08T14:18:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again! The annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival kicks off again next Friday night, July 19. This year's festival features work by seven talented American playwrights (including five women - Sharyn Rothstein, Deborah Stein, Julia Jarcho, Martha Jane Kauffman, and Lauren Yee) in collaboration with dozens of Bay Area artists. There are also many special events, classes, and panel discussions in conjunction with the festival. Check out the website for more details.

SOMArts Cultural Center Features Bay Area and El Salvadorean Artists

2009-07-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

I met Tessie Barrera-Scharaga four years ago. As part of the 2005 Bay Area Playwrights Festival Tessie collaborated with the presentation of my play Braided Sorrow, created original sculptures that were displayed in the lobby and even on stage as we incorporated one into the reading itself.

Tessie is now one of the artists participating in SOMArts Cultural Center's Territorios exhibit which features Bay Area artists and artists from El Salvador. The exhibit will run from July 9 - 29.

Check out Tessie's work online and for more information on the exhibit visit the SOMArts website.

The slide show below if ofTessie's Mujeres de Juarez (Women of Juarez) installation.

Author Janelle Brown Reads At San Francisco Main Library

2009-07-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Public Library presents author Janelle Brown as part of their One the Same Page series.

Janelle will read from her novel All We Ever Wanted Was Everything and will be available to sign copies of her book.

The event takes place July 9, Thursday, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm at the Main branch of the San Francisco library. Go to the SFPL website for more information.

Women in Theatre: July Edition

2009-07-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

American Treasure by Julia Jarcho, public reading as part of the Bay Area Playwrights Festival at the Magic Theatre, July 18 at 8pm and July 25 at 12 noon.

Ecstasy | a waterfable by Denmo Ibrahim, Golden Thread at Thick House, July 23 - August 16.

Fayette-Nam by Aurorae Khoo, Asian American Theatre Company at Thick House, June 25 - July 11.

House and Junction by Martha Jane Kaufman, public reading as part of Bay Area SHorts (BASH) at the Magic Theatre, July 19 12 noon and July 26 12 noon.

March by Sharyn Rothstein, public reading as part of the Bay Area Playwrights Festival at the Magic Theatre, July 19 at 4pm and July 24 at 8pm.

Natasha and the Coat by Deborah Stein, public reading as part of the Bay Area Playwrights Festival at the Magic Theatre, July 17 at 8pm and July 25 at 4pm.

Our Peculiar Instituion by Lauren Yee, public reading as part of Bay Area SHorts (BASH) at the Magic Theatre, July 19 12 noon and July 26 12 noon.

I know this list is far from exhaustive, it's a first pass. I'll try to add on more plays as i find them.

A Play with Music June 23 & 24

2009-06-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Developed by two of WATA's founding artists. I'll be organizing a group trip to this so email me at watabayarea@gmail.com if you're interested in joining me.

Just Theater Presents
a work in progress...

TAKE ME TO THE BRIDGE or
THE DROWNING PLAY

Written by Erin Bregman
Music by Dina Maccabee

Directed by Molly Aaronson Gelb

In TAKE ME TO THE BRIDGE, a professional collector pulls photographs and papers from the surf revealing untold macabre stories. Director Molly Aaronson-Gelb (Just Theater), playwright Erin Bregman (PlayGround), and composer Dina Maccabee (Ramon & Jessica) plunge characters into classic musical structures sonata, sarabande, fugue to explore the boundaries between the rhythm and drive of musical and textual storytelling.

With Ava Jackson, Michael Barrett Austin*+, Danielle Levin*, sibani michael bose+, Dina Maccabee+

Designed by Jon Fischer

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, an Equity approved Project

+ Just Theater Company Members

For Tickets Call 1-800-838-3006

Or visit

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/62313

$12 - $15 sliding scale

June 23 & 24 @7pm

NOHspace

Next WATA Meeting

2009-06-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

Sticking with our new tradition of meeting every third Thursday we'll be having our monthly WATA meeting/cocktail hour on June 18 at 7PM at Koko's Cocktails. Please join us for networking and discussion while we enjoy an eclectic mix of DJed jazz.

Susan Mogul Film at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

2009-05-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival presents DRIVING MEN, a film by iconic feminist filmmaker, Susan Mogul on June 2, 2009 at 7:30 PM at Yerba Buena.

Alice Shaw's Auto(biography) at Gallery 16

2009-05-26T23:07:00.000-07:00

In her upcoming Gallery 16 exhibition entitled (Auto)biography, Alice Shaw has employed others, such as a handwriting analyst and a psychic, to tell her information about herself that she may not have been aware of. She has taken what she has learned from these sessions and made artwork in response to this new knowledge.

For this show, Shaw, primarily known as a photographer, has also used painting, printmaking, drawing, and other media to illustrate her responses. Shaw looks at the theory that 'digital photography is more closely akin to painting than traditional photographic techniques because of its malleability.' She also believes that the digital arts has created a 'society of skeptics.' Auto(biography) sets out to satisfy these skeptics, and suggests 'we should not always believe what we see.'

The exhibit runs through July 3rd.

City Arts & Lectures Featuring Patricia Clarkson

2009-05-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

Monday June 1st Patricia Clarkson will participate in San Francisco's City Arts & Lectures series in conversation with Graham Leggat.

Clarkson's penchant for substance over stardom has made her more of a familiar face than name. Clarkson studied drama at Fordham University, where she graduated summa cum laude, and earned her MFA at the Yale School of Drama before making her film debut in The Untouchables in 1987.

For more information and to buy tickets visit the City Arts & Lecture web page online.

WATA Member Launches Website for Documentary on Asian Elephant Hospital

2009-05-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

WATA member Windy Borman, Creative Director of D.V.A. Productions has launched a website to promote her latest project "The Eyes of Thailand," a documentary focused on raising awareness about the plight of Asian elephants in Thailand who are "endangered, but the remaining elephants are overworked, abused, or disfigured from injuries resulting from Thailand’s rapid industrialization."

Learn more about the plight of the Asian elephant in Thailand and the film by visiting The Eyes of Thailand website.

Commonwealth Club Talk on Healthy Arts Organizations

2009-05-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

Michael Kaiser, President of the Kennedy Center, is giving a talk at the Commonwealth Club in downtown SF on Monday, May 11. He'll be discussing how arts organizations can thrive in this economic climate. In case you don't know, the Kennedy Center has proven itself an invaluable resource for small arts organizations across the country in the past few months and the leaders have made themselves available to give advice to anyone who would like it. So even though this is more a policy/business type event than we normally post here - I thought I'd share this rare opportunity to hear from one of our nation's major arts leaders right here in the Bay Area.

Next WATA Meeting May 21 at Koko's Cocktails

2009-05-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

The next WATA meeting, and by meeting we mean hanging out over drinks, will be May 21st at 7 pm located at Koko's Cocktails on Geary.

If you haven't been to one of one of our Koko's Cocktail meetings, you're in for a treat. We hope to see you there.

Last Week of Susan York's Porcelain & Graphite Exhibit

2009-05-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

Closing May 9th is Susan York's exhibit "Porcelain & Graphite" at the Braunstein/Quay Gallery.

Originally recognized for her stacked sculptures of wafer thin porcelain, in the last several years Susan York has been working with graphite to luminous effect in large wall drawings and distinct works. Influenced by the Constructivist and De Stijl movements, she uses repetition, accumulation and the manifestation of visceral tension as the basis for her work. In describing York’s porcelain work in Art in America, Sarah S. King wrote that her “striking body of work and systematic methods . . . adroitly provoke tensions between space and form.”

Women in Theatre: May Edition

2009-05-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

Assisted Living by Deirdre O'Connor, Playwrights Foundation, In The Rought staged reading, May 4 - 5

Dead Man's Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl, SF Playhouse, May 9 - June 13

For All the Babies' Fathers by WATA member Molly Rhodes, Brava Theatre, April 30 - May 16

Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck, the Magic Theatre May 23 - June 14

Natasha and the Coat by Deborah Stein, Playwrights Foundation, In The Rough staged reading, May 11 - 12

Wreckage by Caridad Svich, Crowded Fire, May 9 - June 6

You, Nero by Amy Freed, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, May 15 - June 28

I know this list is far from exhaustive, it's a first pass. I'll try to add on more plays as i find them.

Apologies for the Radio Silence

2009-04-30T00:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry about that, didn't mean to slack off on my blogging duties.

I'm sleuthing for events of interest to post.

More soon.

Arts as Economic Stimulus

2009-04-17T10:13:00.001-07:00

The Nation published an article on the "creative stimulus" today that has a lot of interesting ideas about how the arts can stimulate America's economy and also the importance of creativity at this time. Read it if you have the time.

Made In America at Oakland Museum

2009-04-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

In her film Made in America filmmaker Stacy Peralta interviewed members of the Crips and Bloods in this examination of the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles.

Watch the film April 22nd at the Oakland Museum. This event is free and will begin at 6pm.

Watch a trailor for the documentary online.

SF Women's Film Festival - April 2, 6:00 PM

2009-03-30T14:11:00.001-07:00

Hi all,
We're having another WATA outing on April 2nd at 6PM to the San Francisco Women's Film Festival

Hope you can make it!

Women in Theatre: April Edition

2009-03-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the plays opening/playing this month here in the Bay Area written by women playwrights.

Distracted by Lisa Loomer, TheatreWorks, April 1 - 26

Rita Moreno in Conversation, by Rita Moreno, Berkeley Rep, April 20

This is Not a Torture or an Engine by Erin Bregman, staged reading, Playwrights Foundation, April 28

War Music by Lillian Groag at A.C.T., March 26 - April 26

Women's Will 24 Hour Playfest, featuring local playwrights, Women's Will, April 6

I know this list is far from exhaustive, it's a first pass. I'll try to add on more plays as i find them.

Evolve and Vocalize: A Spotlight on Next Generation Leadership

2009-03-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

An interesting looking event for emerging artists in the Bay Area sponsored by San Francisco Bay Area Emerging Arts Professionals that's being held on Sunday, April 11. Details about the event are here

San Francisco Bay Area Emerging Arts Professionals

The San Francisco Bay Area Emerging Arts Professionals is a newly-formed peer-based membership organization dedicated to evolving the professional capacities of arts administrators, managers, cultural workers and artists within the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. We work collaboratively to provide professional development and networking opportunities, as well as a fresh exchange of ideas, practices, and knowledge.

We act as a connecting point, drawing upon collective strengths and interests, to develop peer-generated solutions. By fostering strategic partnerships; and investing in the leadership capacity and literacy of members; we work for a sustainable, diverse, and progressive arts and culture sector.