We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine McCray-Bethea and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Christine, what do you attribute your success to?
Women of Visions, Inc. (WoV) which began in 1981 with several innovative and motivated creatives, it is currently the longest running African-American women’s visual arts non-profit in the country. For decades they have produced exhibitions, workshops, and community collaborations that have uplifted artists of every medium and been a catalyst in art activism in which many of their members continue to participate. Current President, Cynthia Kenderson and Past President, Christine CMC Bethea passed recent milestones in the organization’s history. During Bethea’s tenure, at the height of COVID19, WoV celebrated their 40th anniversary exhibiting at Carnegie Museum of Art. altering institutional inequities. Post Covid, Kenderson was at the helm of WoV’s first experience with brick and mortar, as part of a unique partnership with Bunker Projects and their Executive Director Jessie Rommelt that would expand both groups Professional Development. The two non-profits dubbed the project Summer Subs.
Having a permanent home of their own, was very much in the long range goals of WoV,Inc., but getting there hasn’t been easy. With a few false starts, and with differing views on how this goal should be accomplished, Bunker Projects, an experimental art space, became the perfect haven for WoV’s nesting
needs. WoV spent June, July and August of 2023 running the Bunker gallery as their own including it’s art residency program. Kenderson was at the forefront of three key exhibitions creating under the theme #Red Black Green: Resilience Reimagined, while also coordinating workshops, demos, and even a popular Lip Synch competition. The results and exposure far exceeded what either group imagined. WoV concluded the program with a new network, realistic expectations of building ownership and began a new search for a more permanent exhibition space. During the same timeline, Bunker’s Jessie Rommelt had creative space to reconsider their own options and this year rallied support, raising $100,000 toward the purchase of the building they were renting in Pittsburgh’s Penn Avenue Arts District.
WoV, Inc. and Bunker are in the process of discussing future collaborations with the Summer Sub experiment.
Contacts: Christine Bethea (412) 596-6521
Cynthia Kenderson: 412-759-6156
Jessie Rommelt, Bunker. 814-574-9844
Website: womenofvisionspgh.org
FB: Women of Visions, Inc.
Insta: Wovpgh1981
Here is some more background information the project
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dream-team-art-collaboration-christine-bethea/?trackingId=UBxAlH2YT5WhYicc3sTPsQ%3D%3D
What should our readers know about your business?
What sets WoV apart is 40 years of tenacity. At a time when their were few opportunities for women of color to exhibit and gain visibility in the the arts world, our founders took it upon themselves to make a way for this underserved commuity. While there have been many great arts organizations by African American Women, none has outlasted this non profit of dedicated creatives who continue to build and grow with the talents of many amazing black artists and their supporters. The main lesson WoV has learned over time is that you can overcome adversity with collaborations be it local, state or federal organizations, groups or institutions. Seek them out and you will be surprised at who can assist your mission.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When in Pittsburgh, you definetly need to consider your many, many options. Amazingly, our Visitpittsburgh.com site has diverse refrences, all of which we applaud, but which are not the only opportunities The August WIlson Center and. all of our Carnegie museums are world class! Call first for hours. Butler Street and it’s blocks of shopping and restaurants is a great starting point for an easy lookey-loo day, but if you are able, there are wonderful spots on the Northside and Southside and other neighborhoods as well. And while visiting a restaurant or bar, talk to some REAL Pittsburghers of any ethnicity about the city’s best spots, if you want more insider info. Most Pittsburgher’s love a friendly chat!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
AE&E Arts, Equity & Education Fund, Pittsburgh, PA
https://www.aeefund.org/
For understanding our vision and supporting our dreams.
Website: womenofvisionspgh.org
Instagram: Wovpgh1981
Facebook: Women of Visions, Inc.
Yelp: womenofvisionspgh@gmail.com
Image Credits
Monica Godfrey Photography