Photograph by Jeff Kearns

Art Support: Sharon Luchett displays her artwork for her fellow members of WG WAG.

Women's art group works to provide encouragement to its nine members

WG WAG will display work at this weekend's annual Open Studios

By Jessica Lyons

Shari Rooney holds up a pastel portrait of a little girl with a red jacket and two red bows in her dark curly hair. She smiles as she moves it from side to side so the eight other women in the room can see it.

"That's great, Shari," says Christine Burgess, jumping up from her place on the living room floor to hug Rooney. The other women in the room immediately chime in, using words like "great," "beautiful" and "wonderful."

"It makes me want to kiss her little lips," says Debi Goddard, sitting across the circle of women from Rooney.

"The child is from a photograph, but it's not anyone I know," Rooney explains to the group. "I'm calling it 'Margo' because of my youngest sister, Margo--that's what she looked like when she was younger."

As the show-and-tell continues around the circle, the women--all members of the Willow Glen Women Artist Guild (WG WAG)--display art projects they have been working on and similar reactions ensue.

It's been one year now since the first meeting of WG WAG, a group Burgess launched in April '98 to bolster fellowship among local women artists. Judging from the hugs, smiles and words of encouragement as each woman shows off her painting, drawing, or hand-made journal, it looks like Burgess got her wish.

The nine women, who work in all different artistic mediums, meet every other week at different members' homes. At the Thursday meetings, the members host mini-demos and display artwork, ask questions and offer suggestions on projects and techniques and talk about upcoming galleries or art classes. But most importantly, Burgess adds, they support each other.

"It's good to get a little praise once in a while," Burgess says. "We are a very friendly group who encourage each other often--that's our main goal, to encourage each other, even if something doesn't work out."

Today seven of the women show art projects they are working on for the upcoming Open Studios of the South Bay, an annual self-guided tour of artists' studios in 28 Bay Area cities.

Burgess holds up a brown and black painting of her couch, comforter and coffee mug, appropriately titled "Trio of Comforts," one of the projects she will be displaying at the Open Studios.

"It's really hot," says Debi Goddard. "It really makes an impact."

Burgess appreciates the praise.

"Some people don't like it," Burgess says, pointing upward with her finger, "some people upstairs," motioning to the second story of her Willow Glen home where her husband is confined during tonight's meeting. Her husband doesn't like the black and brown together in the drawing, she explains. But the women do.

"You've got a combination here and it really works," says Katy Kindig. "It's hot."

Burgess is also exhibiting several large papier-mâché bowls at the weekend art show.

"It's exciting because my last exhibit was in Malaysia," she says. "So this is the first time I get to show the public my work in California."

Burgess moved to Willow Glen three years ago, after living in Malaysia for six years. She says she missed the kinship she felt with her fellow artists in Malaysia--both on an artistic and a friendship level. So she started WG WAG.

"The group's not just an art group, it's also a close friendship we're developed," says Sharon Luckett, who has been with the group from its inception. Luckett works with watercolors and graphite drawings, but today she is showing soft-bound blank journals she will be selling at the Open Studios.

"I'm very happy. I have a wonderful life, I have a wonderful husband and grandchild, and now I've found this wonderful group of women."

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The Willow Glen Women Artists Guild Open Studio will be held April 17 and 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1669 Juanita Ave. For more information about WG WAG, contact Christine Burgess at 279-0587 or via email at chrisian@juno.com.

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