American Women Artists’ first museum show as part of its 25 in 25 initiative will open at the Tucson Desert Art Museum, October 13 – December 3, 2017. The Master and Signature Members Show and National Juried Exhibition, titled Under a Vast Sky, will include an Artists’ Reception and Awards Ceremony, November 3, from 5:30 – 8:00pm. The following day, AWA and the Tucson Museum of Art will be co-hosting an all-day free symposium at the Tucson Museum of Art featuring five speakers, including Tucson gallery owner Dr. Mark Sublette, Oklahoma cowboy bootmaker Lisa Sorrell, and “Master of the Southwest” artist Dyana Hesson.

Launching its 25 in 25 campaign, with the Tucson Desert Art Museum show, AWA is pursuing 25 museum shows for its members over the next 25 years to address the lack of women artists in museum collections; estimated to be as low as 3-5% (according to statistics from the National Museum of Women in the Arts). “We know what the problem is, and we know how to do something about it,” notes AWA Board President Kathrine Lemke Waste. “By building partnerships with museums, patrons, and supporting businesses, AWA is bringing vision into reality with five museum venues already scheduled through 2020.”

Signature member and Indiana artist Carol Strockwasson will be exhibiting her pastel painting, Indiana Sky Early Spring, at the museum show. “I’ve lived in rural Indiana all my life,” said Strockwasson, “my painting is of a field close by my home. I was struck by the clouds, the shadows, and the sky all moving together. I never have to go far to find landscapes to paint.”

Strockwasson is one of over 100 artists who will be in the show; artists from across America. She was introduced to American Women Artists through another artist and became a member because she says believes in what AWA is promoting; opportunities for women artists. “We’re here,” declares Carol, “we’re painting, and we’re good!”

A non-profit organization dedicated to the inspiration, celebration, and encouragement of women in the visual arts, AWA will follow the show at the Tucson Desert Art Museum with museum exhibitions at the Rockwell Museum (2018), the Haggin Museum (2018), the Steamboat Art Museum (2019) and the Booth Museum of Western Art (2020).