the way i
split open
like a fruit
and from my center
delivered
an entire forest
of dreams.
tell me
that’s not magic.
— “womb work” by Emory Hall
As described in the pamphlet which accompanies an exhibit currently on display at The Launchpad, “matr” is the Latin root for “material,” “matter” and “maternity.” In essence, it means “mother,” suggesting all that is material (exists) has its basis in some mother.
This exhibit, aptly titled “subject/matr/mother,” was curated by Shawna Miller and includes works by seven artist-mothers on themes of embodiment and maternal subjectivity. “That is, the lived experience within her body as she mothers,” Miller stated. “The idea that a mother has a self to consider — thinking, feeling, fully fleshed and integrated — is vaguely transgressive in patriarchal societies, a prejudice that has always existed in the art world, but one that artist-mothers continually disrupt.”
Miller herself has three pieces in the show: two oil paintings in one room and a third illuminated by a projector in the other. In collaboration with LUCIA, a multimedia artist from Denver, “Held” makes use of sensors and audio speakers, so when the viewer steps closer, a glowing orb pulsates larger across the canvas, accompanied by a resonant frequency designed to increase oxytocin and reduce stress hormones.
“The artists’ voices blur the lines between self and other —whether that’s human, plant, animal or elemental,” Miller explained. “Their narratives and intentions bleed into a natural mystery that takes us into and beyond ourselves.”
Stepping inside the gallery, visitors are immediately greeted by a life-sized black wolf wearing a dental grill that spells “mother.” This and other whimsical creatures were created by Darla Jackson, a sculptor living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Large silk flowers colored with natural dyes grown in artist Courtney Dudley’s gardens adorn the walls. She is based in Kingston, New York and said her practice includes “research in earthly archaic processes that underscore the brevity of current power and social structures.”
Mya Cluff, another sculptor from another state — Belgrade, Montana — had her firstborn daughter while studying fine arts which inspired a focus in her work on the psychological, political and interpersonal ramifications of motherhood. Oil painter Maria Teicher, a resident of West Chester, Pennsylvania, delves in the intricacies of botanical beauty with dew-splashed petals, and a single intimate portrait titled “Emergence.”
Erin Morrison is a resident of Basalt who provided two large pieces for the show. Both make use of cast gypsum and “are reflections on the clinical aspects of reproduction versus the erotic aspects of sex,” she wrote. “These reliefs of embedded canvas and gypsum depict both our efforts in suppressing and supporting conception.”
Morrison struggled with a sense of rejection by her peers when she first became a mother while living as an artist in Los Angeles. No longer able to attend the late-night parties and indulge the corresponding lifestyle, she was made to reevaluate friendships and find a new community. “You go through this huge change as a human being to support this whole other human being,” she described. “I never stopped becoming an artist but the pacing of my work — the opportunities to show my work — changed.”
“Motherhood changes you on a cellular level,” Miller told The Sopris Sun. “And it also changes your sense of time. You realize that time is short. So anything you have to do or say has to be now.” She added, “You lose some of your inhibition and you gain a greater confidence.” A major motivation for the show was to discuss how not to exclude artist-mothers. Inevitably, given the political climate, it has also taken on an edge, advocating for bodily autonomy, and also a heaviness as many in the country stand to lose access to reproductive healthcare.
“I hope [this show] gets the work in front of new eyes, and I hope that some of those pieces find new homes. I encourage everyone to take a look at the price list because there are some things that are really accessible and can be purchased, even for a first-time collector,” Miller said.
“I love the idea of more female artists, especially younger female artists, coming to the show,” added Morrison.
The Crow and Key and Aspen Power are appreciated for making the exhibit possible, and White River Books has partnered to offer a small library of books to match the theme, available to peruse and purchase.
“subject/matr/mother” will remain on display through May 15. On Friday, May 2, all the artists will join a virtual panel open to the public at 10am. For details, visit www.carbondalearts.com/exhibitions/subject-matr-mother
