Wells International Foundation Celebrates Women Leaders in the Arts

PARIS - Sept. 11, 2018 - PRLog -- In anticipation of the launch of its inaugural International Women's Day conference – The Successful Woman: Lifestyle, Legacy, and Leading by Example – on March 7-8, 2019 in Paris, France, the Wells International Foundation (WIF) is celebrating women leaders in the arts.

WIF is uniting two of its Strategic Focus Areas, Women's Empowerment and The Arts, through The Successful Woman.  WIF's founder and CEO, Dr. Monique Y. Wells, explains why this is important:

"Because success in the professional world of visual and culinary arts requires as much business acumen as creative talent, and because there are fewer women in leadership positions in these fields than in the corporate world, we are inviting several high-achieving women in the arts to the conference to celebrate their successes and learn about their challenges.  Examples include Michelin-star chefs, owners of renowned restaurants, and top-level administrators at major museums."

The Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, which is the venue for the event, provides a natural environment for this objective.  When designer Ed Tuttle conceived of the décor for the hotel, he commissioned sculptures from French artist Roseline Granet (now retired) to create the ambiance of quiet elegance that is the hallmark of this luxury establishment.  Granet's caryatids stand guard at either side of the entrance of the hotel and her bronze sculpture Le Grand Couple en Marche greets guests upon entry.

Granet has been referred to as "the Rodin of our century."  Her work is a study in contrast in that it depicts the human body's fragility, while illustrating elements of comfort and strength that can be found in companionship.  Her sculptures successfully combine the use of "heavy media" such as bronze and plaster with impressions of lightness and movement.

During the welcome reception that Park Hyatt is hosting on the evening prior to the first day of The Successful Woman, participants will enjoy a tour of its contemporary art collection with a special focus on Granet, her career path, and the pieces she created for the hotel.  More than 5000 of her sculptures, including door handles, wall lights, and candlesticks, grace public areas and guest rooms.

Since WIF announced the launch of the conference in July, it has shared the stories of several women artists and leaders in the arts on its LinkedIn page – women such as Sandra Gajic, the newly hired President and CEO of Madison, Wisconsin's Overture Center for the Arts.  It will continue to focus on these women during the months leading up to the conference and beyond.

To raise awareness of Roseline Granet's work, the foundation asked its 2018 study abroad summer intern, Sekai Abeni, to visit the Park Hyatt, "sit with" Granet's art, and write about the sculpture that inspired her most.  Abeni, who was a rising junior at The Juilliard School during her internship, wrote a poem about Saltimbanque (2002), a plaster sculpture that is suspended above the stairwell that leads to the lower level of the hotel (http://www.wellsinternationalfoundation.org/if-only-my-blood-and-yours/).

Abeni also wrote a LinkedIn opinion piece about women leaders in the arts as part of her internship responsibilities.

The Successful Woman will provide an opportunity for high-achieving women from around the world (C-level executives, upper-middle managers, 7-figure business owners, licensed professionals…) in all sectors of the global economy to come together and explore how they view themselves and how others view them as leaders, how well their current lifestyle corresponds with their ideal lifestyle, and how they view the legacy (personal, financial, philanthropic) they are building.

WIF will create a safe and welcoming environment in which these women can explore the challenges and questions they have about their lives that they constantly put off because of lack of time, lack of energy, and/or fear of exposure to people who don't "get it" or who might use their revelations against them.  Programming will include a keynote presentation, a panel discussion, mastermind sessions, and dedicated time for social interaction.

To view the agenda and to register for the event, visit http://www.wellsinternationalfoundation.org/the-successfu....

About the Wells International Foundation

The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is a U. S. non-profit organization whose mission is to empower women and persons of African descent to realize their highest potential through arts, literacy, study abroad, and other educational and cultural programs. We are building a network of global citizens who embrace inclusiveness and foster a spirit of cooperation throughout the world.