By: Richard L. Smith
The West Orange Arts Council (WOAC) is set to commemorate Women’s History Month with its 2025 exhibit, "HERStory:
Past, Present & Moving Forward." The showcase features works by local artists Cynthia Vaughn, Denise Toney, Gina Rivas-Velazquez, Josephine Dakers-Brathwaite, and Yvonne Onque—a collective known as The Sistars’ Connection.
The exhibit will run from March 15 to April 5, 2025, at the West Orange Arts Center, 551 Valley Road, with gallery hours on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and Sundays from 2-4 p.m. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, March 15, from 4-7 p.m., inviting the community to meet the artists and explore their work.
In addition to celebrating Women’s History Month, the exhibit also highlights National Quilting Month and National Craft Month with hands-on workshops led by the exhibiting artists:
- Needle Felting with Josephine Dakers-Brathwaite – Sunday, March 16, 2-4 p.m.
- Sewing & Quilting with Denise Toney / Patchmaking with Yvonne Onque – Saturday, March 22, 1-4 p.m.
- Beading with Gina Rivas-Velazquez & Cynthia Vaughn – Saturday, March 29, 2-4 p.m.
The celebration continues with "When Women Speak," a poetry and spoken word event hosted by Ameerah Shabazz, featuring performances by Kendee Love, Rescue Poetix, Laura Daniels, and Edwinna Simmons.
This special event takes place on Sunday, March 23, from 2-4 p.m.
HERStory not only highlights the creative talent of these artists but also underscores the importance of women's voices in the arts.
"The West Orange Arts Center remains a vital space for artistic expression and community connection," said WOAC Chair Patricia Mitrano. 
"As we celebrate women artists this month, we also encourage support for our creative hub—because without community backing, spaces like this wouldn’t exist."
For those looking to engage with local artistry and honor the contributions of women in the arts, HERStory promises an inspiring and interactive experience.