Vision Statement

Woman Made Gallery supports all women in the arts by providing opportunities, awareness and advocacy. Unlike the mainstream art world, we are building an alternative community where the artistic values and criteria are determined by women, for women. Woman Made Gallery is dedicated to promoting the equal placement of women's art in the world. Through programming which examines the female experience, the organization educates and serves as a forum for dialogue between artists and the community.

Mission

Woman Made Gallery supports and cultivates the diverse contributions of women artists through exhibitions, educational programs and community outreach. We believe that such contributions are an essential component in the spectrum of cultural expression.

Programs

Woman Made Gallery (WMG) offers stimulating and educational programs with a focus on women artists, performers and writers who share an interest in the interaction of the arts in contemporary culture.

All events are programmed with the public in mind. Determination of the value of these programs to the public is made in four ways:

1. attendance
2. direct service to the gallery mission
3. written evaluation forms
4. verbal evaluations

Here are the main services we provide each year:

• Nine Juried Group Exhibitions
• Twelve Invitational Exhibitions
• Artisan Gallery: Four Juried Group Exhibitions
• Her Mark Publication with Art and Poetry by Women
• Holiday Bazaar
• Exhibition Space for over 500 Artists
• Beginning & Advanced Artist Workshops
• Lectures About Women Artists
• Online Registry
• Gallery Research Library
• Poetry Readings

Juried Group Shows

WMG conducts nine annual group exhibitions which explore a wide variety of themes: spirituality, contemporary family issues, environmental concerns, historical observations, political investigations, etc., with an emphasis on celebrating human diversity. You may view select works by visiting our Group Show Archives and clicking on the exhibition title of your choice.

All group exhibitions are curated and juried by different professional women, both artists and non-artists. Artists are challenged to translate chosen topics into visual presentations and a short general artist statement is required of the artist and exhibited together with the work. This gives additional information to the viewer, who in return is often challenged to investigate and question his or her own belief system based on traditional values.

(above left) Formula for Extinction, computer art, by Christina Canzoneri from the Sham to Shame Group Exhibition
(above right) Milk, found copper, hair and embellished handwoven cloth, by Annette Tacconelli from the 9th International Open

Solo Exhibitions

In addition to thematic group shows, WMG schedules 12 solo shows per year where professional women artists have the opportunity to exhibit a more comprehensive body of work than is possible in the group shows. These solo shows give gallery visitors a chance to experience both a wide variety of works in the group theme shows as well as a more in-depth look into the work of an individual artist.

Solo show artists are selected by invitation only. WMG does not accept unsolicited proposals but selects solo show artists from a large pool of individuals whose work is already well known to the Gallery Directors. Usually, the artist is a current member of the gallery, has been previously accepted into WMG group exhibitions, has been involved in other gallery functions such as jurying a show or volunteering, and/or is part of the online registry. The criteria for inclusion are a consistent body of quality work, a strong content, feminist orientation, how the work in the solo show complements the group show planned for the same time period, professional activities as an artist and professional attitude.

The current fee for a four-week exhibition is $500, which includes placing up to 15 images on our website. Solo Show artists are responsible for printing their own invitations and sending invitations to their personal mailing list. WMG includes Solo Show artists in newsletters, on our website, in press releases and on our juried group-show invitations in an effort to promote participants.

Check the Solo Show Archives to view past exhibitions.

Workshops

Because we are dedicated to programming of the highest quality, WMG provides a variety of workshops designed to help artists reach standards of excellence in the presentation of their art. Even women with formal art education often lack the knowledge it takes to get their work into galleries and to promote themselves. Our workshops are designed to equip artists with the tools they need to take their art into the market place.

Workshops to help women artists with their artistic career include "Exhibiting Professionalism," "Portfolio Review," "Career Day" and "Women’s Art Group." Most of the workshops are scheduled once or twice per quarter and the "Women's Art Group" meets on the fourth Sunday of each month. From time to time other interesting and enriching workshops are added, and all are detailed under Workshops.

Additionally, WMG advocates for systems change by encouraging women to collect art. Building a female market of collectors is a key issue in changing the current art market structure. As with the "Professionalism" workshops, we offer our "Collecting Art" workshop at the gallery as well as to professional groups and schools in the Chicagoland area.

Special Events and Projects

WMG offers many other events, including lectures by noted women artists, poetry readings and fundraising events, among others. In addition, WMG publishes an annual date book called HER MARK. There is an Open Call for entries for the art and poetry featured in HER MARK (entry deadlines in February). Please visit the Special Events section for details.

Online Registry

Woman Made Gallery offers a professional and affordable Online Artists' Registry to promote and showcase art by women. Open to all women artists around the world, this website, www.womanmade.net, serves as an extension of Woman Made Gallery. Its mission is to "support and cultivate the diverse contributions of women artists."

This site provides women artists with a professional tool to help them create visibility and market their art more effectively. It is a place where women artists can participate as individuals in an innovative, unique project designed to support and encourage the fellowship of women artists around the world. It contributes to educating the viewer (the public) about the artistic achievements of women artists. Participation in the Online Artists' Registry has resulted in art sales, exhibitions and publications for a number of women artists. Visit the Online Gallery Page to see the individual artists' websites.

Contact and Gallery Hours

What Others Say About WMG

Over the last ten years many individuals have written about Woman Made Gallery. We have decided to include an article written by Suzanne Scott, who visited the Gallery personally and later joined our Advisory Board. Please read her story, published in May 2000 in WOMO, an independent monthly publication by, for, and about women in the greater Washington/Baltimore metropolitan area. For further information about WMG please visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page to see if your questions are answered there.

(above left) LU'OVO, polyester resin sculpture, by Dora Natella.

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