Mothers, Eggshells, and the People Who Birth Us
Mothers, Eggshells, and the People Who Birth Us is an exhibition that was presented at Keystone Art Studios Gallery, Los Angeles in 2018. The event included more than 90 creative individuals and artist groups. The opening event included spoken word and poetry by Rosanna Albertini, Gloria Enedina Alvarez, Janice Bea, Beverly Lafontaine, Ellyn maybe, Alicia Vogl Saenz; and performances by Meg Madison, Sally Beagle Price + Antonia Price, and United Catalysts (Kim Garrison + Steve Radosevich).
There have been many wonderful tributes to mother-artists or about the nurturing tenderness of motherhood. This show is not that. Instead, it tackles the more challenging relationships we have with our mothers. Even if we don’t necessarily know a biological parent, there will be other people who birthed our essential selves.
Later in life, if our mothers are still kicking, we face the physical obstacle of caring for them, keeping them safe, whether at home or a retirement community. If a mother passes early or nears a century, she eventually represents our own mortality.
We tend to simplify our relationships with mothers, often referring back to an incident or series of effects that hang on the shoulder like a yoke. As adults, we imagine a chance to re-frame a new portrait with warm and fuzzy edges.
As an extension of the exhibition theme, I also invited 35 artists ranging in age from
one- to nine-decades to be part of a collective installation entitled, Mother (Portraits in Petri Dishes). Flint glass petri dishes serve as viewing containers to express a portrayal of the mother-figure who influences each path with complex connections forged in the past. Together, we might observe a multi-dimensional impression rather than hiding out in our memories.
A note: This website is in development and will include art and poems from the exhibit. It is also a space for you to include your writing and images about a person you consider to be important to your life. My mom passed recently and upon posting it on Facebook and Instagram, I was struck by friends' comments connecting all of us. For now, if you want to send along an image to include, send it to my email: kim@kimabeles.com or send text via this form.