Making HerStory: Women to see at Artomatic 2009

It took close to three hours to do it, but we made it--through all nine floors of Artomatic 2009.  We started at the top making concentric circles while spiraling down floor by floor until we reached the bottom.  On seven, Co-Curator Jennifer Judelsohn was hosting "Cupcakes and Conversation" as part of annual event's Meet the Artist Night.  We were able to stop there to catch a break and snack on spinach dip with veggies and fresh grapes and cheese.  Two hours and five floors later, we're at the bottom--whipped and inspired at the same time.  

We were so inspired by what we saw, we thought we'd make a list of some of the must see women in this year's exhibition, including some of H4's own.

In no particular order, Drum Roll Please......

jamea richmond-edwards

Amber Robles-Gordon

Alicia Ensey

Kiddo Foto (L. Boocks)

Pat Goslee

Melissa Tenney

Melissa Burley

Joan Konkel

Atti Vakili Wheeler

Monica Stroik

Sally Tsou

E.B. Kellinger

Sherill Anne Gross

Gwen Zaberer

Sally Babylon

Claire Hackney

Molly Moorstein 

Jennifer Judelsohn

Heather Randell

jennifer anne deskins

Blair Anderson

Kim Reyes

Kay Layne

Dorothy Frye

Amy K. Tubbs

Yelena Rodina

Meghan Taylor

Sable Sirens

Lisa Osgood-Dano

Maria Santiago

Akua Walker

Bryanna Millis

Zandra Chesnut

Kiona Cloud

michele late

Roberta D. Eckard

Deborah Addison Coburn

Sybil Irby

Project Mixed Media

Danyell Irby

Erin Antognoli

Karma Krafts by Kimberly

Susan Finsen

Linda Elliff 

Victoria Vu

Zenia Bennett

Ashira Malka

Camille Mosley-Pasley

the sisters

While these women caught our eye on our first take of the event, there are dozens more fabulous women (and men) to see in this years exhibition along with musicians, demonstrations, theater, and other art media.  It is free to enter with a host of events scheduled through July 5, 2009, 55 M Street SE, Washington, DC at the new Capital Riverfront Area.  

Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton to Receive 2009 Alice Award

The Making HerStory team could not have been more elated to have been invited to extend the 2009 Exhibition, "Making HerStory 4: Feminine Reflection," at the Sewall-Belmont House through June 2009. But, to make it even sweeter, the work will be present during the 2009 Alice Award luncheon. Why is this exciting? This year's recipient is none other than Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Secretary Clinton will receive the 2009 Alice Award at SBH's annual luncheon on Monday, June 8, 2009.

Each year, SBH pays tribute to a distinguished woman who has made an outstanding contribution in breaking barriers and setting new precedents for women. This year’s prestigious Alice Award, named after Alice Paul, founder of the National Woman’s Party, will be presented to Secretary Clinton for putting “eighteen million cracks” in the glass ceiling. Under her leadership as First Lady, the Sewall-Belmont House, along with the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Star Spangled Banner, was one of the four nationally significant preservation projects named by Congress in the legislation that established the “Save America’s Treasures” program.

The Sewall-Belmont House and Museum celebrates women’s progress toward equality and their continuing contributions to our society. Through educational programs, tours, exhibits, research and publications, the museum is committed to preserving the legacy of the historical National Woman’s Party – the campaign for women’s equal rights – and bringing the history to life for future generations.

Making HerStory is proud to be a part of the spirit of celebrating womanhood and all the strides that women are making in all aspects of life. HerStory is committed to celebrating women in all genres of art and works to provide encouragement for women to find their creative niche.

Artist Highlight: Pat Ortman

Meet the Artist: Patricia E. Ortman...in her own words:


"I am a retired Women's Studies professor, a Founder and the Executive Director of the Girls Gotta Run Foundation (http://www.girlsgottarun.org), and an artist (http://www.patriciaeortman.com), not necessarily in that order. There is no order, really, because all of my work informs all of my work. And, it is all prayer. My life is a prayer.

Most of my commissioned art consists of portraits (of people, places, pets) and murals that I develop in close consultation with clients. Murals come either entirely from my imagination or make use of pre-existing images which I alter as artistic needs require. I also paint abstract watercolor prayers and blessings for people or causes I want to support based on my thoughts and feelings about them. I individualize guardian angel collages for the people they are meant to protect. I also paint feminist spiritual icons, as well as flowers, still lifes, and whatever else I am moved to paint...that generally means anything that is beautiful to me. I know it is not hip in the official art world these days, but my feeling is:

'....if eyes were made for seeing, Then Beauty is its own excuse for being.' —from "The Rhodora" by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)"

Artist Highlight: Loretta Thompson

Meet the Artist: Loretta Thompson, in her own words...

"My intent is to create a piece that represents gesture and resembles a particular emotion, feeling, or situation. The underlying form is the descriptor. The composition of the piece, the materials used, marks made, and position of the figure are the clues to the thought behind the piece. The figures are drawn simply, and masked with multiple lines that cross the surface of the canvas. These lines separate the figure, adding movement, and room for improvisation from the viewer. Though the figures themselves are not detailed, the addition of the lines creates some chaos. The areas created from the lines are painted in with various colors, shades, and textures, giving the piece a puzzle-type look. This work for me is intriguing. First to see if the viewer can see what I have intended them to see. Second, to see what new ideas, feelings and generalizations the viewer has created. My intent is not to be literal, add some mystery, and create work that is more than an object."

Loretta Thompson is a Maryland native. She graduated from The University of the Arts in 2003 with a BFA in Sculpture, and George Mason University in 2007 with a MA in Arts Management. Loretta is a sculptor and painter, and in 2007 ventured into the mural arts field. Artists that have inspired Loretta include Degas and Rodin, because of their ability to represent the human figure in motion on paper and in 3-dimensional form. Today Loretta is the Community Programs Manager at Sitar Arts Center in DC, where she teaches youth, manages the Center’s gallery, and organizes opportunities for young people to become engaged in the arts.

Artist Highlight: Marina Reiter

Meet the Artist: Marina Reiter, in her own words...


"Through a masterful use of color and shape Marina Reiter's paintings exhibit a visual playfulness. In them, soft colorful shapes drift together in space, often intersecting and interacting to create new colors. Although Reiter considers herself to be an abstract artist, at closer glance, her paintings transcend beyond the basics of abstraction or surrealism. With their unique curves, each form has a distinct, almost joyful personality — an oddly human trait for shapes painted in oil. Each painting is an exploration of relationships, and she often derives inspiration from personal connections. According to Reiter, "An artist’s friends, family, people we loved, emotions we feel, hopes and aspirations that we have [live in these paintings]." As a result, Reiter describes her forms as "souls" that crave interaction, as each shape stretches across the canvas, pensively reaching out in search of connectedness— with both joyful and melancholic results.

Born in Moscow , Marina Reiter's work has been exhibited worldwide. She currently resides in Washington , D.C. , where she is a member artist at several galleries and organizations. "

Artist Highlight: Susan Brandt

Meet the Artist: Susan Brandt, in her own words...

"I Am Not Afraid (Title of this work)
Sometimes recovery is one day at a time, like this piece is one letter at a time. Hours spent finding letters, cutting them out, pasting them on would not let me forget Louisa May Alcott’s words 'I am not afraid of storms for I am learning to sail my ship.' "

Susan Brandt graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan, School of Art where she received the Richards Award for fiber art. Now Susan works in a variety of media, acrylic paint, cut paper and fiber (cross stitch, tapestry weaving, knitting). A theme of much of her work is dehumanization - of herself, of groups to which she belongs (woman, mother, Muslim), of other minority or marginalized people. Her work is often an effort to assert her own personhood, to promote understanding of people’s feelings, to explore the societal consequences of denying the humanity of the people around us.

Artist Highlight: Meet Nora Stinley

Meet the Artist: Nora Stinley, in her own words...

"It’s true; women are beautiful. But if you look more closely, you’ll find we are more than that. We are heads of state, masters of art, Nobel Laureates, musical geniuses, activists, scientists, Pulitzer Prize winners. We are also mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. We are grace and grit, elegance and intelligence. Yes it’s true; women are beautiful. "

Nora Stinley received her training in fine art and art therapy at The George Washington University and continues to live and work in the Washington, DC area. Using a broad scope of media, Nora has exhibited in many venues across the city and strives to convey empowerment and action through her pieces. Nora feels that art is a witness and a testament to the human experience, and truly believes in the power of creation.