History of Women's Works
We are celebrating a very important anniversary, we want to advance the work of women in our time. We strive to bring out the best in this celebration of the creativity of women artist. We look forward to the future of Women's Works, but we take time to look back at the past to see the path that we taken.
The History and Mission
of Women’s Works
In 1985 Women's Works was created, a group of
women dreamed of having a place for women to show
their talent so The Workshop for
Contemporary Artists created an collaborated forum in which they
would see and critique each others’ work, share
information
on contemporary art issues, and support each
other in the “sometimes insular work” of artists. The
early members of the Contemporary Workshop included
Lynn Carlson, Doris Davis Gallagher, Shirlee
Estep, Rita Kay Halvorsen, Judith Nahill, Nancy Seidler
and Alice White.
Because March celebrated Women’s History Month, it
was chosen as the time for the first exhibit. Held in the
McHenry County College Library, Mary Kurtzman, an
MCC English instructor, was the driving force behind
the first program of it’s kind in McHenry County.
In 1987, Carol Ann Harris saw the potential of a
women’s art exhibit and created a juried competition
that would include contributions and awards. Publicity
was generated, rules were set, and in the spring of
1988, Carol Ann Harris’s vision was realized when
Women’s Works was born.
Today, Women’s Works is a fine art exhibition that
provides an opportunity for female artists of North
America to exhibit collectively. Women’s Works fulfills
the vital need for women to view their work in a larger
context, allowing the artists to identify themselves as a
larger whole.
We continue to encourage the area business community,
in the spirit of good will, to provide award funds
and scholarships which publicly affirm the value of
women artists in impacting the lives of others.
Women’s Works continues to reconfirm our worth as
women artists.
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