February 2025
SHE'S ROCKING IT in HOUSTON, TEXAS!
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Tammy Talks About BEAR's Mission and Growth
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Since working for BEAR, what accomplishment are you most proud of?
It’s hard to choose just one, but I’d have to say I’m most proud of how BEAR has expanded its reach to serve even more children in the Houston area. When I first joined, I knew the need was great, but seeing firsthand just how many children rely on BEAR for basic necessities has been both eye-opening and motivating. One of the biggest milestones has been launching our mobile resource van, which allows us to bring critical items like clothing, shoes, diapers, and school supplies directly to the children and families who need them most. That kind of direct impact helps us to meet kids where they are and has been a game changer. Beyond that, I’m incredibly proud of our community partnerships and the way Houston continues to step up to support our mission. From our seasonal programs like BEARing Gifts to the generosity of our volunteers and donors, it’s inspiring to see how much people care about making a difference in the lives of CPS-involved children. Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when they receive something as simple as new shoes or a new backpack for school reminds me why we do this work. It’s about giving them hope, dignity, and the knowledge that they are not alone. ~ Tammy Hetmaniak |
About BEAR
BEAR (Be A Resource) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization improving lives by providing hope and help for at-risk and CPS-involved children and their caretakers in the greater Houston area. BEAR is the only 501(c)(3) organization working with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and Harris County Resources for Children and Adults that offers unique programs for abused and neglected children, which provide not only the basic needs of children recently uprooted, but also supportive services that offer comfort, dignity, and celebration of successes to propel the child toward a successful future. About Tammy
Tammy Hetmaniak is the Executive Director of BEAR (Be A Resource), a Houston-based nonprofit organization. With 25+ years of experience, Tammy has held various leadership roles, including Director of Development at the Houston Food Bank and Senior Development Manager at the American Cancer Society. Tammy is committed to improving the lives of vulnerable populations, particularly children in need. |
Do you know someone who is rocking it in your local area? Email us!
TIPS & TALES
Women in Business Provide their Expertise
Women in Business Provide their Expertise
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Dana Hammond
Founder of Colorful Style by Dana Dana provides tips for "Sprucing Up Your Business Wardrobe" Dana is a trained color and style analyst who lives in the Hudson Valley Region of New York. She has been providing color analysis and style services since 2021. She has taught classes in-person and online. Dana's mission is to help her clients look and feel better. Services include: color analysis, makeup analysis, wardrobe review, style revival, and more. She works with individuals and groups. CONTACT DANA! |
OUT & ABOUT
A Night at the Ballet: New York, New York
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February 8, 2025
A fabulous evening at the New York City Ballet, kicking off with the world premiere of Paquita by Marius Petipa, which he premiered in 1847 for the Imperial Ballet of St. Petersburg. After exhaustive research, Alexei Ratmansky has choreographed a gorgeous ballet. A surprising and passionate follow-up is In the Night, a series of Chopin nocturnes choreographed by the great Jerome Robbins in 1970 and exploring the relationships of three couples. For an electrifying windup, Igor Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements keeps the entire company on their toes. Such an evening doesn't need a second act, but after several rounds of deserved applause, we were treated to an unraveling of gigantic photographic panels of the company by dancer and photographer Erin Baiano. We wandered the David H. Koch lobby in awe, enjoying free nightcaps of bourbon and beer. Greeted by nature's own performance of a wintry snowfall when we finally exited, what better way to end a New York City night out? ~ Sandra Bertrand, Travel & Culture Editor, Reports |
An Exhibition Space in West Palm Beach, Florida
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Slideshow Photos: Carol Lippert Gray
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January 2025
The Bunker Artspace in West Palm Beach, Florida, opened in December 2017 as a private display space. It presents rotating exhibitions of the vast Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection, showcasing an expansive range of contemporary art, iconic pieces of furniture, and other curiosities. Built in the 1920s as a toy factory and used as a munitions armory during World War II, the Art Deco building has been refitted inside to provide the ideal stage for a considerable amount of work to a wide audience by invitation and through scheduled private tours.
~ Carol Lippert Gray, Associate Editor, Reports About Beth Rudin DeWoody
She is an art collector and curator who resides between Los Angeles, New York City, and West Palm Beach. She is President of The Rudin Family Foundations and Executive Vice President of Rudin Management. Her Board affiliations include the Whitney Museum of American Art, Hammer Museum, The New School, The Glass House, Empowers Africa, New Yorkers for Children, and The New York City Police Foundation. She is an Honorary Trustee at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and on the Photography Steering Committee at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. Beth has curated numerous exhibitions, and the Collection has been the subject of exhibitions featured at the Rebuild Foundation, Chicago; Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach; Parrish Museum, Southampton; and the Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke; and others. |
Georgia on My Mind: Georgia O'Keeffe's Home and Studio ~ Abiquiu, New Mexico
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Slideshow Photos: Carol Lippert Gray
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October 2024
Sometimes it’s hard, even for a writer, to put into words your reaction to a piece of art or a body of work. The reaction is emotional, visceral — sometimes positive, sometimes negative, but never neutral. I have loved Georgia O’Keeffe’s work since I first saw it. Her use of color. Her sensuality. Her voluptuousness, even when painting mountains. To me, her canvases sing.
When I visited her home and studio last October and learned that, while she could be prickly socially, she was extremely philanthropic toward the people in her community, I fell in love with her more. My tour mates and I agreed seeing where she lived and worked was transcendent, spiritual. And when we went to see the actual trees and mountains she painted, still standing just as she had seen them, it gave her work, to us, an added dimension. ~ Carol Lippert Gray, Associate Editor, Reports About Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986)
She was a major figure in American art who painted prolifically, and almost exclusively, the flowers, animal bones, and landscapes around her studios in Lake George, New York, and Abiquiu, New Mexico, and these subjects became her signature images. She created a highly individual style of painting, which synthesized the formal language of modern European abstraction and the subjects of traditional American pictorialism. IN HER OWN WORDS |
WHERE IS SHE NOW?
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Slideshow Photo Credit: 808 Photography
Courtesy: DeLores Pressley |
DeLores Pressley
CEO of DeLores Pressley Worldwide & Executive Director of She Elevates DeLores speaks nationally on women’s empowerment and confidence building. Through her nonprofit, She Elevates, she empowers and inspires young girls to seek their dreams and become future leaders. The She Elevates Life program empowers girls ages 10 to 15 with essential life skills, from communication and conflict resolution to confidence, resilience, and financial literacy. The She Elevates Academy is designed to teach girls how to start a business and become confident leaders. DeLores was interviewed in Sanctuary in June 2017. |
Latest News from She Elevates
She Elevates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls ages 8 to 14 with confidence and entrepreneurial skills through mentorship and hands-on learning. In 2025, the organization launched She Elevates LIFE in the Canton City School District and Heritage Christian School, helping girls 10 to 15 build confidence, self-respect, communication, and financial literacy. The She Elevates Academy (July 14-18, 2025) offers an immersive experience where girls learn business skills, gain mentorship, and launch their own ideas. Upcoming Event: Girls ages 8 to15 are invited to a FREE community night: Friday, March 14, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM One Center ~ Canton, Ohio Dinner, Meet She Elevates alumni, & explore upcoming programs REGISTER EMAIL or call 1-877-550-1751 |
EVENT HOP
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Photos in Slideshow: Myrna Haskell
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Exhibition Opening:
"So You Think You're Too Old to..." February 1, 2025 This juried exhibition includes works by 63 artists ages 62 to 94. The works were diverse and engaging, encouraging dialogue amongst attendees. "I appreciate that this exhibition celebrates artists who continue to work successfully into their senior years. The works were varied — a multitude of perspectives and mediums — some with humor, others with reverence, many attracting lengthy conversation. It was also a joy to bump into several artists whom I know through my work with Sanctuary." ~ Myrna Haskell, Executive Editor, Reports |
HV MOCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and education organization founded in Peekskill, New York, by Livia and Marc Straus. The museum works with an international roster of renowned artists as well as emerging local talent. In addition to exhibitions, the 12,000 square foot space has been the site for city-wide celebrations and performances.
Exhibition Dates: Now through May 3 Museum Hours: Thursdays & Saturdays ~ 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In-depth tours available by appointment. "There is a story, not sufficiently touted, of artists finding their best creative energy as they enter their senior years." ~ Hudson Valley MOCA, partial exhibition statement |
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Host and Chef/Owner of Gigi Trattoria, Laura Pensiero, launched this monthly networking event to bring women in the Hudson Valley Region together, offering attendees an opportunity to make new connections and be empowered by the ideas and energy of others in a welcoming environment.
A bonus: Wines by the glass are half price, and Laura always shares some bites.
"I've attended several of these events. Each time, I've met interesting women from varied backgrounds and fields. The atmosphere is always relaxed, friendly and inviting. I encourage others looking to make new connections to attend one of these inspiring evenings. Of course, the food is delicious, too."
~ Myrna Haskell, Executive Editor, Reports |
This month's event included a trunk show.
Attendees browsed J. McLaughlin's beautiful designs. The Rhinebeck store is just across the street from Gigi on Montgomery Street. Check it out! Sign up for Gigi's e-newsletter for information about these events, holiday specials, recipes, and more.
Stay tuned for another installment of Laura's Corner Table in our March issue. Besides running her busy restaurant, Laura is a culinary consultant, nutritionist and author.
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SNEAK PEEK RECOMMENDATIONS
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Photos in Slideshow: Courtesy of Newport Art Museum
Artworks: © Donna Bassin |
"Portraits of the Precarious Earth"
Now through May 5th This fabulous exhibition is based on Donna Bassin's series, Environmental Melancholia, works that reveal Earth’s vulnerability and profound losses of land, animal, and plant life. We appreciate that this exhibition spotlights community engagement. The museum has partnered with an environmental nonprofit called the Aquidneck Land Trust for their annual Art and Writing competition, and 200+ student works exploring nature are exhibited as part of the overall show experience. Additionally, students from the Bradley School, which serves high-need students, met with Donna and created poetry and reflections based on her work. |
About Donna Bassin:
Donna Bassin is a photo-based artist, filmmaker, clinical psychologist, and published author. Her long-term projects engage with painful aspects of contemporary life, including post-traumatic stress, racism, social injustice, and our precarious environment. These efforts have led to two award-winning feature-length documentaries, museum and gallery exhibitions, and publications in numerous art and culture magazines. Donna shares a video where she comments on this exhibition from the home page of her website. |
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Slideshow Photos by David Johnson
Courtesy of the Gibbes Museum of Art |
World Premiere of
"Statement Pieces: Contemporary Fashion Design and the Gibbes Collection" Now through April 27 This exhibition presents an exciting juxtaposition of acclaimed fashion designs (treasures from the Barrett Barrera Projects) with the museum's permanent collection. The show exemplifies how fashion and fine art have always influenced each other. The works by these gifted creators in both arenas are expertly paired and invite contemplation and dialogue. The exhibition is the centerpiece of this year’s Art Charleston, the city’s annual visual arts festival (April 23‒27). |
Established in 1858, the Museum’s art collection was founded as the Carolina Art Association and is heralded as one of the earliest and most longstanding arts institutions in the United States. In 1905, the Museum moved into a new Beaux Arts building at 135 Meeting Street in the heart of the Charleston Historic District.
Barrett Barrera Projects is a cross-disciplinary group of originators who redefine art experiences and push boundaries to explore the continuously expanding spectrum of art forms. Art Charleston is the city’s annual visual arts festival, presented by the Gibbes Museum of Art. The five-day celebration features signature events, exhibition tours led by experts, artist lectures, panel discussions, gallery walks, professional workshops, and more. |
VIRTUAL EVENT
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Tax Tips for Artists
Thursday, Feburary 20 at 7:00 p.m.
This free, virtual event is facilitated by Mary Therese Yamamoto, owner of MTY Bookkeeping. It's designed for artists in mind and will include a question and answer period. Those who register will receive a link to join the day before.
This event will be recorded. |
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