What began in 1993 as a one-time art exhibit in 16 years has become an annual celebration of the works created by Alameda female artists.

When Bonnie Randall Boller was asked to show her work at the Alameda Museum, she thought the space was too big for her own work and asked some of her female artist friends to join in the exhibit. More than 200 people attended it. After a second successful showing, Boller and others developed the group now known as Alameda Women Artists.

Beginning Saturday, the group will host its 16th Annual Alameda Museum Exhibit.

"It's the first opportunity to show all of our types of works," said Boller, president and founder of the Alameda Women Artists. "We show the whole gamut of work that people do."

Boller's work embodies a variety of mediums, including ceramics.

Nearly 20 members of Alameda Women Artists will display their work in ceramics, photography, drawing, oil and acrylic painting, watercolor, pastels, cartooning, collage, printmaking, digitally enhanced imagery and recycled and other sculpture and mixed media.

Boller, who was born and raised in Alameda, has been an artist for more than 30 years. Her artistic endeavors have included stoneware, pottery, mixed media pieces and images created with clay monotype, a one-of-a-kind printing technique using a clay-based ink on nonwoven fabric.

At the event, Boller's 15-inch-high mixed media sculpture "Wabi Sabi" will be on display. She

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described Wabi Sabi as the quintessential Japanese aesthetic; a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. Boller's interpretation of this style features wood, a ceramic bowl, a clay mask and feathers.

Art connoisseurs can also look forward to an AWA exhibit first — a cartoonist.

Boller said the exhibition opportunity gives women the courage to come forward with their art.

Boller is also looking forward to Leah Virsik's 3D book art. Boller recalled one of Virsik's books that was made out of old Coke cans.

"I just never know what she's doing next," Boller said.

A silent auction will feature 3D mixed media sculptures created by AWA members. Each sculpture will include recycled or found objects.

The Alameda Women Artists 16th Annual Alameda Museum Exhibit will run through Dec. 5 at the Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Ave., Alameda. The opening reception will take place 1-3 p.m. Saturday. For more information about the event and a complete list of artists, visit www.alamedawomenartists.org/index.html.