https://www.gagaart.org/copy-of-a-winter-s-song

Two works were accepted.
Exhibition November 5, 2021 - December 4, 2021

“Bouquet of Hope”
Raised $700 toward research.

The Arts Heals Heart Show
Four large works included in the show.
June 3, 2021 San Antonio Texas

Huisache Grill
New Braunfels Texas
Invited Show
April May 2021
12 Art pieces exhibited

https://www.gagaart.org/

Coffee Me Crazy San Antonio Texas
Invited Solo Art Show

Coffee Me Crazy
Invited Solo Art Show
April through May 2021

Kapej Coffee Shop
Invited Solo Art Show
January through March 2021

MY STORY is an exhibition of narrative paintings. To create these pieces, GAGA artists had to journey through their personal life stories. Many of these works share early childhood memories that morph into present day. Other interpretations are more secretive, private and intentionally abstracted. Overall, the majority of the shown paintings are forthcoming, telling about and revealing growth, struggle, whimsy, delight and love. Some artists were even willing to expose their pain.Take Lara Hye Coh, Ligia Bedenkop, Caroline Royall, Kathrine Lamb and Malena Stidham’s work for instance. Their paintings deal with real personal struggle, sharing the darker side of life’s passage into light. Hebé García presents a mélange of fractured faceless selves, adrift in a sea full of cacophonous lines. Susan Michael Sørensen and Paula Sussman even dared to take this one step further, choosing to address their current situations. Other works are lighter in scope, full of happy memories and topped with twinges of wistful nostal-gia. The delightful renditions presented by Cindy Morawski, Abeer Haddad, Marguerite McCarthy, and Robin Gara, give us both insight and a grin. Anna Gordy lures us with luscious color, tender embraces and fantastical bouquets, intentionally contradicting the sadness presented in her text. Laurel Cyrene, Vera Smith, and Lisa Mara Bell chose to share a part of their life story by celebrating their heritage: stitching a quilt with significant life memories, webbing a weave of distant lands, or presenting a patriotic, yet recently widowed, urban mother. Nancy Gerfers, on the other hand, depicts a delightful progression, representing happy artistic growth. Virginia Lukefahr eloquently sums a full life up. She tells a story that pairs longing and loneliness with stability and tradition. Thelma Muraida’s self-portrait carries a protective feeling, coupled with wisdom and maturity; her headdress accepts the heavens. There, swirling in cosmic energy, are hidden personal story-telling markers–her life’s stepping-stones. Lesta Frank, Virginia Ridgeway and Patricia Cody’s work also demonstrates a maturity gained from a lifetime of myriad experiences. Others chose to use a solitary symbol to represent their life’s evolvement. Shea Daniel Youngblood’s The Conscious Uncrumpling just says it all. Elizabeth Payne’s stand-alone horse reminds us of young girls’ youthful horse-playing games, all the while bringing us full circle to that mature symbol of strength.

Ilna Colemere presents her life’s growth by using another time-honored icon — the connecting puzzle piece.

Loretta Medellin sticks to her abstract style, full of delightful colors and cartoon-like fantastic imagery. Initially, seeming as peaceful as a lava lamp, this story is full of chaos. Also exhibiting abstract work, Bibi Saidi captures the aftermath of World War ll as seen through her remembered childhood eyes. More secretive and protective, Stefani Job Spears, Chel Delaney and Susie Monday chose to collage their story, summing it up with clues that one can only decipher if one takes the time to truly get to know them.I was very impressed by the work GAGA created for this exhibition, both by the variety of creative interpretations as well as the artists’ willingness to reveal themselves. Through this exhibition, I learned more about these artists than from the ten years of working with them. Funny, all I had to do was ask. All of us have stories.
Sylvia Benitez President and Founder The Gentileschi Aegis Gallery

January 15, 2021News and Commentary

The women’s art organization, GAGA, that we introduced to you last year, continues to grow and present shows by its members, albeit mostly online. The latest, “A Winter’s Song” includes 40 artists and is available for viewing on GAGA’s website, www.gagaart.org. Just about all works are for sale at very reasonable prices, so, it’s a great place to start or add to your art collection.

Ilna Colemere: Winter Vista

GAGA, which stands for Gentileschi Aegis Gallery Association, was founded in 2010 “to help further women artists (of S. Texas) through exhibitions, promotion and education.” Founder Sylvia Benitez explained that without the help of an organization, it is very difficult for artists to get exposure for their work through galleries, festivals and other venues. At this time, however, GAGA is not accepting new members because its own activities have been curtailed due to COVID restrictions.

Still, in addition to the beautiful online exhibition, seven of its members are currently showing their work at the Kerr Art and Cultural Center, a brick-and-mortar building in Kerrville, (288 Earl Garrett St.; 830-895-2911). Sounds like a reason for a little trip into the Hill Country! The seven artists included in the show are newer GAGA members, said Benitez, who did not have a chance to take part in gallery shows before the pandemic. The exhibition honors the memory of former member Leslie Williams, who initiated the project before her untimely death. The seven artists are: Patricia Golden Cody, Marguerite M. McCarthy, Thelma Muraida, Stefani Job Spears, Dawn Marie Rae, Sylvia St. Jean, and Shea Daniel-Youngblood. The show closes Feb.14.

Tito's Cafe Exhibition through January 2021

Exhibition runs January - February 2021

Title:Prometheus
Multimedia on canvas

Eres un Milagro

Parman Library Marque

Participated in 2 Second Saturday in the Lone Star District / Southtown Art District Gallery Events.

Lone Star Art Space show

Three pieces were critiqued by Lauren Welsch, Art Prof Teacher.
https://artprof.org/about/
Candidates are chosen by the Art Ptof instructors and provided a review of their art submission.
ILNA’s submission consisted of 3 abstract works-
1) Binary Stage 2;
2) Compartment; and,
3) Emergy..

Deception - the work shown above, was selected for an Inspire Fine Art Center Juried Competition.

On Thursday, August 22, 2019, Lisa Cortez Walden, Ph.D. <lisa@inspirefineartcenter.org> wrote:

Hi Ilna

Congratulations!!! The following piece was accepted into the Juried Art Show: Deception

Participant: September 6, 2019
McNay Art Museum/McNay Contemporary Collectors Forum
The McNay Contemporary Collectors Forum (MCCF) invites you to participate in our annual benefit that directly supports the McNay’s acquisition fund for contemporary art.
HIP TO BE SQUARE is a unique one-night exhibition and sale of original artworks by established and emerging artists.
This event would not be possible without the generous contribution of artists like yourself. In appreciation for your donation, each participating artist receives 1 complimentary admission to the event. Additional admissions to the event may be purchased at $50 per person.
This benefit sale is first-come, first-served, and all works of art are sold for $100 each. Canvases are exhibited anonymously and the identity of the artist is revealed only after the work is purchased. Collectors are able to take their masterpiece home at the end of the night. Unsold artwork will be returned to the artist or donated to MCCF.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.

Title of Exhibit:The Artist Crackled Soul: An Expressionism Awakening

San Antonio Public Library - Parmam Branch Library
San Antonio Texas.

The Artist Talk is scheduled:
November 14, 2019
6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

The dates of the exhibition at the Parman Branch Library:
October 19, 2019 through December 10, 2019