GWTK Tour the Addison Gallery

GWTK members braved mountains of snow and bone-chilling temperatures to attend a tour of the newly-renovated Addison Gallery at Phillips Academy. The event, which had to be rescheduled from Wednesday, January 12 to the following night due to the snowstorm, included an informative lecture of the Sheila Hicks : 50 Years exhibition by Ms. Julie Bernson, Addison Gallery's Curator of Education. Ms. Bernson directs the school, teacher, community, artist-in-residence and public programs, working with the Phillips Academy community and with pre-K through high school teachers and students locally, nationally and internationally. A strong supporter of GWTK's work with Esperanza School, Ms. Bernson recently hosted the 7th and 8th grade classes and 5th and 6th grade classes on separate days.

To say that Sheila Hicks is a weaver would be an understatement. She has also worked and experimented with wrapping, stacking, folding, twisting, assembling, knotting, merging, stitching, sewing, bundling and tying a wide range of fibers into ingenious forms. Born in Nebraska in 1934, Ms. Hicks has spent much of her life traveling the world, using the textiles, baskets, architecture, textures, climates and colors of the places she visits for inspiration. Equally fascinating to see are some of the artist's journals, in which she has recorded her artistic and cultural influences. Ms. Hicks is an exceptional role model for both the women of GWTK and the students at the Esperanza School.

After the tour, members visited the also newly-renovated Samuel's Restaurant at the Andover Inn for appetizers and lively conversation. Board Member Susan Wilson held a short meeting, focusing on our next major event, "Shadow Day", which is to be held on Tuesday, February 1st. During this, our 4th Annual Shadow Day, the students at Esperanza School will be both visited by and will visit strong female role models in various careers such as business owners, lawyers, medical/dental fields, the culinary arts, realtors and the financial world. All members are urged to participate in some capacity this day, whether speaking, hosting students at your place of business, driving or having lunch at the school. The students, who very much look forward to this day, find inspiration and guidance for their career choices, and the women who participate feel great satisfaction sharing their work lives. With everyone's help, it will be a wonderful day for our future Great Women to Know!

GWTK members wish to extend a big thank-you to Leislie Godo-Solo for her role in making this event such a memorable evening.