Women in New Roles
by Tiffany Davis, south news editor

     The Women in New Roles (WIN-R) program on South Campus presented its annual art show this year at Circle Theater as a part of RetroFest for the first time.

     “The theme of the show was based upon the song In My Life written and released by the Beatles in the 1960s,” Triesha Light, WIN-R coordinator, said.

     “Drawing on the lyrics for inspiration, the artists displayed a wide variety of artistic expressions looking at how places, people and the passage of time have shaped our lives,” Light said.

     According to Light, “The annual art show was created to provide a venue to celebrate women’s creativity.”

     “By having an art show, it pushes them to think of themselves in new ways. For several years, many women have been so busy taking care of others that they have always put themselves last. I see this exhibit as a way for them to come to the forefront,” she said.

     The participating artists range from professionals to amateurs who have never shown their work publicly before.

     “Just like the women themselves, the mix is riveting, deep, fun, full of mystery and surprise,” Light said.

     According to Barbara Muley, art show coordinator and former WIN-R student, the WIN-R program helped her get in touch with her inner-self because, like many women, she too had gotten caught up in “the whirlwind of life.”

     “The program taught me to seek out what I really desired from life,” she said.

     Muley said she realized her life-long hobby that had been pushed to the side for more than nine years was art. She soon became the coordinator of the art show and began displaying her pieces not only in the WIN-R art show but in other exhibits as well.
“The art show is special because it gives amateurs an opportunity to show their work and gain confidence and feel gratification from their work,” Muley said.

     Ann Winchester, a former WIN-R student and professional artist, submitted art to the show this year.

     “I was basically a terribly shy person. I always knew I wanted to paint, but I never pursued it because of my family,” she said.

     “A friend referred me to the WIN-R program, and I am still grateful for that today. The program helped me break my shyness and my life has grown tremendously since then,” she said.

     “I have been painting for six years now, and my first presentation was viewed by my WIN-R classmates. They were very supportive and encouraged me to fulfill my dream,” Winchester said.

     “I now paint and sell my own art. I am teaching art as a continuing education course here at TCC,” she said.

     For more information on the WIN-R program, contact Light at 817-515-4740 or visit the Web site at www.tccd.net/win-r.