Dear Friends, Artists, Sisters
A year ago, days before the New Moon in January, I was home alone in bed in surgery recovery with a laptop on my legs (although it was not allowed) and with the enthusiasm and creativity which flowed through that silence, Wumanas was born.
Just a few weeks prior, I was in contact with my cyber-friend Gitte Spinder inviting her to bring her art to my favorite guys-band's concert. She jumped on the next train to Berlin and it turned sisterhood since the first hug. We went through that wild concert together and the next day when we were able to talk again, I looked at her snd said: "Let's work together just with women".... Gitte looked at me and said: "Let's do it"
Days passed and I organized a morning coffee for 5 artists at my house on Maybachufer. They didn’t know each other but I knew all of them. Synergy aroused by each door bell, sisterhood was vibrating. Expertise and stories were shared. While I stood back to observe, my heart was assuring me: this was the path. I returned to the table. I asked my heart the same question... and surely I got the same answer: this was the path.
Lupe Carranza, Camila Piana, Camila Salazar, Marisa Fuentes-Prado,Wendoly Monteiro Dacosta, Vanessa Borderlight, Gitte and myself decided to work together to reunite women-power in a nonjudgmental space of free-expression. A space where we all can feel safe to share and to grow. A space to act as one: without competition and the honest decision to support each other to reach our dreams.
The name came to us in a winebar across the bridge Camila Piana and I and our rieslings ... The signature that now represents us in the community. Name and Fonts. Meraki, Virago, Shakti, Serendipity and others passes.... then Wumanas came. A name that immediately vibrated like us.
By this time - I was already introduced to who is now one of the most committed motor of the platform, Iris Kaufmann. We were transcribing the DNA of the collective, while Amsterdam was birthing as Wumanas as a second-home.
Many relationships have happened after that day, all which fostered sisterhood, connectivity, inspiration, confidence, openness and togetherness. Each artist joining the platform in this first year was a special, talented and nice person with innate values.
I feel very lucky and blessed for what we have created. In an effortless flow we have remained united with the goal to keep creating together.
This New Year Wumanas will return with its first tour to the town where we launched our inaugural event on International Women's day in 2020! Thanks to the dedicated support of Nida Safak, Pamela Rodriguez and Biba.
Thanks to the Latinamerican artists that joined the platform almost blindly, with little digital information from afar, just trusting and feeling our message and our vision.
Congratulations to all of you that have continued to make your art during these awkward times.
Congratulations for all the Releases, first exhibitions, solo debuts, fashion weeks, sustainable partnerships and invaluable connections that accompanied us.
Congratulations to the Mothers, for holding on to your passion and ride the wave as a SuperMamma that they are.
Congratulations also to the ones that rode a Big Wave, (some Super Big!) and did so with bravery and courage.
Thank you to the healers and coaches that keep offering their gifts open to us during pandemic times.
Thank you to the musical talents that share their time and creativity to grow our musical content.
Thank you to all of us for keeping a cultural platform rolling through first "survival" year.
May our laces grow stronger as your community.
Looking forward to a great year of sharing and inspiring other womxn and humxns around us.
Much Love,
Maxima
