Tuesday, March 17, 2009

mission statement draft

WAAM (Women Artists AND Mothers) is a visual arts organization dedicated to the vast and unique needs of women artists, who are also mothers. Our mission is to create a forum to discuss support networks, both emotional and fiscal to promote artistic creativity to flourish, while balancing the responsibilities of motherhood. We aim to raise public awareness and create programs that assist in this endeavor. Currently WAAM will exist as an online community, with an immediate goal to create meet up groups. You already made your choice, WAAM is here to celebrate and support you!

10 comments:

  1. This is great, I know lots of powerful moms out there who are creative and pursuing their artistic careers while also having kids as a career....not an easy task.
    Bring it on! Community makes a big difference; when you know you're not in it alone.

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  4. I hope this doesn't develop into a "feminist" site. It conjures up a negative vibe to some...

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  5. Jamie, I love the idea that this is a support system for moms interested in keeping in touch with the arts during a full-time job of motherhood. What kind of programs do you have in mind? I saw your beautiful website for photography. When do you find the time to do your work? I find that if I do my beaded jewlery work during the day and give my son some of his "own" beads to work with, he feels like its a special project and we can still "play" together while I work--this can be very frustrating and it ususally takes twice as long for me to create--but atleast its SOMEthing. What are your thoughts on that?

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  6. i am having a hard time with the comment section

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  7. ok it worked yeah!!!
    something is always better than nothing
    this site is intended to be ultra positive
    i hope that we could come up with program ideas as a group but I would love to have a shared studio space with art moms or at least coffee
    stay tuned

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  8. oops! did not intend to put any negative or feminist spin on this site.. just an inquiry to 'what is'.. perhaps I misunderstood the point of this blog.

    good luck jame!

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  9. Im not a mom yet, but when I am I will certainly be scrambling to find all the support I will need! I am an artist, currently working from my home. Im not sure how this is different from fathers artists with kids too though. Could you expand on this aspect?
    Do you think that its harder to be a mom AND an artist as opposed to a working mother that is not in the arts industry?

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  10. I think any artistic career in never 9-5, so you always bring it home and its hard to detach it from everyday life stuff. I think this is a blessing that work becomes an extension of oneself not just a task, but a curse in someways with regard to balancing motherhood... as this job never ends 247... you can never truly step away from the responsibilities and not that you want to but sometimes it can be overwhelming. So is it harder.. I guess I am inclined to think so.. my life is not compartmentalized into categories it all kind mushes, but would I trade it NEVER. AS far as fathers I have a very balanced relationship with my husband, but traditionally women have been the care takers I think that is why we might see more men exhibiting and pushing their art. Of course gender roles have evolved and are continuing to change. I think for me it was my pre conceived notions that I needed to change not my husbands willingness of unwillingness to support balance. I needed to be ok to step away from time to time..let go. Growing up in a house where mom did most of the domestic stuff it can be hard to recreate a new normal in your own household
    stay tuned
    Jamie

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