(s)mother stays home

an (online) exhibition curated by Anna Adler at Bethany Arts Community
May 8th – June 7th, 2020

Virtual Opening (via Zoom) : Friday, May 8th, 7-8pm

(s)mother gallery + studio open by appt

View (s)mother exhibition

a reflection on the trials and tribulations
an expanded definition
a de-romanticizing of
the myth of mothering

Artists: Julia Whitney Barnes, Grace Wilentz, Hannah Walsh, Erin Sweeny, Rakel Stammer, Jackie Skrzynski, Ahna Serendren, Jessica Pinsky, Steven Paneccasio, Laurie Olinder, Kacie Lyn Martinez, Sahar Muradi, Julie Mihaly, Maria Driscoll McMahon, Char McCutcheon, Ashley Lyon, Liz Luisada, Peter Leeds, Rita Leduc, Maria Kondratiev, Kate Starbuck Elliot, Sarah Drury, Mirenka Cechova, Alta Buden, Whitney Browne, Jo-Ann Brody, Jessica Bottalico, Irina Arnaut

about the exhibition:

“This exhibition idea came to me while in the throes of early motherhood, at one month or so of my baby being born…As my past life slipped away, somewhere in my desperate attempt to hold on, fighting off symptoms of severe postpartum anxiety and depression, somewhere amidst the joy and terror of this new little life intertwined with mine, somewhere in the midst of all the milk and shit that comes with having a newborn, I thought of this exhibition — a collection of the creative hearts and minds of the womxn (some of whom I know personally) who have done this whole birthing and raising another human into the world thing, and who realize how utterly absurd it is.

The idea has since then evolved into an exhibition centered around the idea of normalizing and de-romanticizing the dialogue and experience of motherhood, of mothering, of having (or not having) a mother, and of having, (or not having) children — with this there is a broader exploration of what it means to mother (verb) and the potential intensity, love, loss, and trauma that lies within this experience.

There are the motherless children and childless mothers, there are fathers who are mothers and mothers who are fathers, there are parents and partners, and then there is this earth, mother of us all.”

excerpt of curatorial statement & following addendum by Anna Adler

“Now there is an added layer — an exhibition about mothering in a particularly precarious time, a global pandemic. The idea of caring and loving in a time of crisis, the collective trauma of our society and social fabric coming undone. Social distancing, masking, isolation, grief, loss; a ripple effect of multiple realities. There are our collective mothers, the essential workers, those on the front lines, those in the trenches. There are those we have lost and will lose, including ourselves, and the ways that we have found to process and cope. There is all this and more…Wanting to incorporate some of this current dialogue into the exhibition we altered the exhibition format to include (s)mother studio — a space where artists and viewers can physically engage in a creative process (be it solitary, by taking turns, or in small groups) — an attempt to bring the conversation up to speed into this precarious yet present moment.”

About Bethany Arts Community:
Founded in May of 2015 by David Lyons, Bethany Arts Community, Inc. aspires to be a leading center for arts and culture, where the many forms of art can be seen, learned, and produced. BAC aims to inspire sharing, connection, and collaboration in a culture designed for the benefit of the local community and beyond.”

for more info:
www.bethanyarts.org | info@bethanyarts.org |
+1-914-944-4ART (4278) | @bethanyarts