Meet Jill Cliffer Baratta

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jill Cliffer Baratta a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jill Cliffer, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I came from a family with parents who emphasized work. There were 4 siblings (including me- I was second oldest), and we had jobs. Dad planted a garden and we weeded. I set the table- we did the normal kinds of chores, and helping out for the family was important. Beyond that, I went to a camp that taught Rochdale cooperative principles. At camp there was no cleaning staff. We did “nitty gritty” or cabin cleaning by rotation even as young children. Then we did a work project- things to maintain or even build in the camp. The model was in the roots of the camps founding as a Swedish Work camp for youth. I worked as a counselor-in-training, then as a counselor, and even as a cook for a post-season shift. I can’t remember not working on something, whether the above, or as an artist and as a dancer.
I was a stay-at-home hands-on mother for three children, and worked teaching enrichment art part time. I wanted to model for my children that I was not just the cook and washer, but had value outside, even if a bit. I took the Executive Director job at age 70, and am working very hard for NAWA because I care so much about art and its value in society.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

NAWA, the National Association of Women Artists, Inc. is a 501c3 organization that supports women artists 18 and older who are US citizens or permanent residents. NAWA offers numerous exhibitions, educational programs and promotional projects that can enhance an artist’s career. The organization was founded in 1889 by 5 women artists who were serious about having their artwork get the respect and attention it deserves, as the quality was/is equal to that of any male artist’s work. Women sometimes have different obstacles to finding the support and promotion they need, along with the studio time required to create excellent work. Therefore, I believe a support organization is extremely helpful in providing the validation and opportunities required to have a career in art. NAWA works hard to provide this, employing a small staff and many member volunteers to implement its programs. I have been a member since 2011, when I began volunteering on the Exhibition Committee. I held several chair positions in the various committees, and when the Executive Director retired, I stepped up and joined the staff. NAWA has a Members Annual Exhibition, as well as a members meeting and luncheon every year, There is new member jurying twice a year in March and September, with a New Members Induction Ceremony and Exhibit in November to welcome those new members, network and show their artwork on a slideshow. In addition there is an ongoing “Conversations with Farrin,” an interview platform on YouTube that features one artist in each monthly interview. There is a newsletter that features the artist of the week, and videos available of Artist Professional Practices Round Tables that are held regularly to focus on topics such as self-promotion, writing or speaking skills. Like many organizations in this time of great change, NAWA has had to be resilient and flow with increased Zoom and other virtual media, and stay up to date so it can thrive another 136 years.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Leadership is something that, for me, is a learned skill. I am not a “born” leader, like some folks. I have good organizational and problem solving skills, and empathy, but had to learn to be succinct and appropriate for speaking to large and small groups in a professional capacity. This is an ongoing journey.

Flexibility is something I have had to have my entire life. Surviving an older brother (by 2 years), one has to learn how to maintain one’s strength through teasing or harassment. I endured the death of my father at just 12 years old, so learned of life and death issues from that young age. I also had responsibilities that teens usually didn’t have- helping my mother with childcare and finances as she finished raising four of us. The benefit is that one learns what is truly important in life, not to “sweat the small stuff.”.

Tolerance for varying views and personalities is another ongoing journey. I had the benefit of going to a camp that taught Rochdale cooperative principles, and required work projects every day. It was in a rural setting where peers came from suburban and urban environments, and some local. We lived together, essentially, building, creating, playing, swimming and having to get along with many different types, religious ideas and racial differences. This was normal to me, though some would say “liberal” which seems to be made into a dirty word these days- for me it meant freedom with reasonable rules. I now practice Buddhism (for 44 years) and it teaches the same philosophy of tolerance and reason.

For advice, I would say the above 3 qualities can get you far. Above that, being reliable, willing to take direction, accept instruction and do anything a job requires goes a long way to achieving success. This will not diminish self-esteem if you play a long game, holding your goals in mind, but also being willing to adapt to change. It is a good idea to dress, act and work for the next level you wish to achieve. Also very important is the ability to infuse your life with appreciation and express it to others. When someone else does something, give them credit- do not take credit for the work of others, as it leaves a wake of resentment if they have put in effort and you take credit. Everyone likes validation. Think of others and benefit comes to you. This is different from a dog-eat-dog competitive atmosphere. People can get along and feel safe with each other, not have to waste energy defeating the fear or reality of hostility. Quality does not have to suffer for folks working in harmony if high standards are held for all. With teamwork comes an amalgam of skills and ideas that advance goals and objectives, where cooperation is key. When we trust each other, we are willing to offer our good ideas, and they come to us more easily.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

The National Association of Women Artists has supported the activities and artwork of professional women artists for 136 years. NAWA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that would like sponsors and partners of all kinds who want to share in the value of creativity, beauty, and expression that adds to the richness of culture that enhances our lives. NAWA has a vibrant presence that emanates from the office at the National Arts Club on Gramercy Park in New York City, NY, from partner galleries, a vibrant website, social media platforms, and more. Women work together to present their creations, network, and learn together about skills and careers in art. Asked what sort of folks NAWA would like to collaborate with, what comes to mind is folks who present themselves professionally, courteously, compassionately, and know how to follow up on their commitments. Everyone’s life these days is complex with multiple responsibilities, and we understand the juggling that is required to do and be all of those qualities. To create mutual benefit and value- that is the type of partnership NAWA seeks. This could include corporations, galleries, art historians, art sales representatives, museums, curators, educators, designers and more, in addition, of course to the wonderful NAWA sisters who are the creators of beautiful, insightful and/or poignant works of art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thenawa.org
• Instagram: nawa_usa
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNAWA
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-association-of-women-artists
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theNAWA