Organized December 3, 1892
Charter signed December 10, 1892
The mission of this organization is to promote the creation and appreciation of visual arts by education
through workshops, lectures, and demonstrations to adults and children in the surrounding communities.
The Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati is the oldest existing women’s art club operating without interruption in the United States. Founded December 1, 1892 by nineteen women artists in response to the Cincinnati Art Club’s refusal to include women, the Woman’s Art Club continues its tradition of stimulating its members to greater effort in their work and increasing a general interest in art.
Founding club members were Christine Bredin, Jennie Brookbank, Louise Fisher, Pauline Frank, Laura Fry, Altha Haydock (Caldwell), Ida Holterhoff Holloway, Grace Kennett (Wheelwright), Caroline Lord, Kate Reno Miller, Clara Chipman Newton, Carlotta Agnes Raymond, Clemmie A. Roberts, Dixie Selden, Mary Spencer, Annie G. Sykes, Mary Trivett (Haight), Henrietta Wilson, Kate Wilson. The newly organized Club held its first exhibition in April 1892 at the Clossons Co. on Elm Street — that tradition, The Woman’s Art Club Annual Juried Art Exhibition, is in its 128th year.
In its 125+ years of operation the Club has had several homes — but never one that felt permanent until 2006 when the historic Resthaven Barn in Mariemont became available. The Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati Foundation was formed to purchase the barn, oversee the transformation, and manage its operation and further development as the Woman’s Art Club Cultural Center.
Club financial operations depend upon dues payments, Annual Juried Exhibition entry fees, a 20% commission on art sold at that exhibition, profits from club-sponsored workshops, and donations. Membership dues are generally $60/year.
Meetings: Monthly on the second Saturday morning of the month from September through May, consisting of a light refreshments and time to socialize before a (usually) brief business meeting which is followed by an artist demonstration or educational program.
Exhibitions: The Club sponsors three exhibitions a year.
• The All-Member Exhibition — Associate, Signature, and Honorary Members.
• The Signature Member Exhibition — Signature & Honorary Members.
• The Woman’s Art Club Annual Juried Exhibition — female artists 18 years and older who live in Ohio, Kentucky, or Indiana. This year’s exhibition will be the Club’s 128th.
Workshops: The Club sponsors several workshops every year which have open enrollment — Club Member fees are discounted. Click Here to view current workshop offerings.
Philanthropy: In keeping with our mission, the Woman’s Art Club sponsors a merit-based scholarship for a female artist pursuing art education. We also donate funds to Cincinnati’s Art Works Summer Apprentice Program.
Other Club Activities: These include a bi-monthly Book Club and Spontaneous Social Activities in addition to the organized ones.
Communications: Club members receive a monthly newsletter September through June as well as emails and reminders about Club events and Member exhibitions. Club members also have access to member-only resources on our website.
Clubwomen of Note
Executive Board of Directors
President
— Margaret Kastner
Vice President
— TBD
Treasurers
— Carol Rentschler
— Barb Zentgraf
Membership & Welcome Coordinator
— Yuki Lodge
Programming Coordinators
— Sue Helbling
— Dodie Loewe
Recording Secretary
— Sue Blaney
Corresponding Secretary
— Hannah Beck
Foundation Board Liaison
— Dana Olsen
Annual Juried Exhibition Coordinator
— TBD
Advisors
— Jan Boone
— Dodie Loewe
Presidents
2020-Present
Margaret Kastner
2018-2020
Dodie Loewe
2016-2018
Mary Beth Dowlin
2014-2016
Marie Redfearn Smith
2012-2014
Diana Taylor
2010-2012
Mrs. Diana Kilfoil
2008-2010
Mrs. Jan Boone
2006-2008
Mrs. Ann M. Arnold
2004-2006
Mrs. Victoria Jensen
2002-2004
Nikki G. Orlemann
2000-2002
Mrs. Jewel O’Neal
1998-2000
Dr. Crickett Todd
1996-1998
Mrs. Ann M. Arnold
1994-1996
Mrs. Diane Hoppenjans Hofmann
1992-1994
Mrs. Reabelle Emdin
1990-1992
Mrs. Gloria Morelli
1988-1990
Mrs. Adele Garneret
1986-1988
Mrs. Hope Kain Fjord
1984-1986
Mrs. Monte Foster
1982-1984
Mrs. Mary Fran Costello
1980-1982
Mrs. Ruby Wilkinson
1978-1980
Mrs. Jean Werner
1976-1978
Mrs. Virginia Cowell
1974-1976
Mrs. Kay Knight
1972-1974
Mrs. Romilda Dilley
1970-1972
Mrs. Dorothy K. Newstedt
1968-1970
Mrs. Lela Cooney
1966-1968
Mrs. Cherry Lyford
1964-1966
Mrs. Helen Johnson
1962-1964
Mrs. Dawn Wilson
1961-1962
Mrs. Carolyn Schwenkmeyer
1960-1961
Mrs. Ida Bolsen
1958-1960
Mrs. Edna Marie Schmidt
1956-1958
Miss Anita Fenton
1954-1956
Mrs. Georgiabelle Clark
1953-1954
Mrs. Martha Breidenbach
1951-1953
Miss Katherine King
1950-1951
Mrs. Martha Breidenbach
1949-1950
Mrs. Frances Pogue Nelson
1948-1949
Mrs. Mildred Snarr Cavagnaro
1947-1948
Mrs. Louise Veach Becksmith
1945-1947
Mrs. Edith Gellenbeck Foy
1944-1945
Mrs. Jessie Roberts Grooms
1942-1944
Mrs. Agnes Prizer Fay
1941-1942
Mrs. Leona Haswell
1939-1941
Mrs. Virginia Cramond
1938-1939
Mrs. Louise Binn Gibson
1937-1938
Mrs. Jimmie Otten Gillespie
1935-1937
Mrs. Marion Maxon Healy
1933-1935
Miss Blanche Waite
1931-1933
Mrs. Marie MacPherson
1930-1931
Miss Annette Covington
1928-1930
Miss Effie Trader
1927-1928
Miss Henrietta Fischer
1925-1927
Mrs. Stephen E. Cone
1923-1925
Miss Agnes Prizer
1921-1923
Miss Emma Mendenhall
1919-1921
Mrs. Francis Dodge (
1918-1919
Mrs. Bessie Hoover Wessel
1917-1918
Miss Bessie Hoover
1916-1917
Mrs. W.J. R. Alexander
1914-1916
Miss Effie Trader
1912-1914
Miss Kate Reno Miller
1910-1912
Miss Dixie Selden
1909-1910
Mrs. Ida H. Holloway
1907-1909
Miss Emma Mendenhall
1905-1907
Mrs. Ida H. Holloway
1901-1905
Miss Henrietta Wilson
1897-1901
Miss Dixie Selden
1892-1897
Miss Mary Spencer
Charter Members
Christine Bredin
Jennie Brookbank
Louise Fisher
Pauline Frank
Laura Fry
Atha Haydock
Ida Holterhoff Holloway
Grace Kennett
Caroline A. Lord
Clara Chipman Newton
Carlotta Agnes Raymond
Clemmie A. Roberts
Dixie Selden
Mary Spencer
Annie G. Sykes
Mary Trivett
Henrietta Wilson
Kate Wilson
Honorary Members
Mrs. Velma Morris
Mrs. Margaret Wasielewski
Mrs. Myrtle Blankenbuehler
Mrs. Ann M. Arnold
Mrs. Martha Breidenbach*
Mrs. Joan Cord*
Mrs. Helen Hilberg*
Mrs. Ruby Wilkinson*
Mrs. Mary Fran Costello*
Mrs. Carolyn Zimmerman*
Miss Betty Zimmerman*
Miss Clotilde Zanetta*
Miss Henrietta Wilson*
Mrs. Bessie H. Wessel*
Mrs. Maria Longworth Storer*
Mrs. Hannah Rauh*
Miss Dorothy H. Pflager*
Miss Elizabeth Nourse*
Miss Louise McLaughlin*
Miss Emma Mendenhall*
Miss Caroline A. Lord*
Mrs. Marion G. Hendrie*
Miss Laura A. Fry*
Mrs. Agnes Prizer Fay*
Mrs. Louis F. Drach*
Mrs. Lela Cooney*
Mrs. Stephen E. Cone*
Mrs. Atha Haydock Caldwell*
Miss Christine S. Bredin*
Mrs. W. J. R. Alexander*
*deceased