N.E.W. – the Network to Empower Women

Biography of Leigh (Donna Leigh), Artist
THE FUTURE FOR WO/MEN

Donna Leigh graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1968 and attended Northwestern University as a post-graduate in finance. She had her first experience with discrimination against women in the work place when she went to work for First National Bank of Chicago in the Bond Department: men could smoke but women couldn't. While this caused her to quit smoking, the reason for it stuck with her. During her 13 years in the male-dominated securities markets, she was to see many more instances of discrimination towards women. Her "mettle" was raised, and she eventually became an Assistant Vice President in the Bond Department.

While in Chicago, Donna studied figure drawing with Sanaé Hagino and it became a passion for her. "Say it with a line, Donna," Sanaé would say. After moving to Michigan, Donna attended Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, where she received the Kendall Dean´s Scholarship for Excellence. Donna does figure drawing at the Holland Area Arts Council in Holland, Michigan, and also loves to draw horses. Her favorite media are charcoal and ink. She likes to use her whole body to draw with, swinging from the shoulder. It becomes kind of a dance which gives an energy and expression to the forms. She actually works big, and the drawings on this web site and in the book, THE FUTURE FOR WOMEN, had to be scaled down considerably by an engineering firm in order to be a manipulable size.

Donna and Marchiene met in the mid 1990's, and became immediate friends, with the common interests of art, spiritually, and equality for women. Donna also is a strong animal rights person, and believes that if women had a stronger and more equal presence in the world, it would be a kinder and gentler place to live, with more love and respect for each other and all of God´s creatures.