An Open Letter For Community Participation in an ART Project at MoM Next Week in St Pete!! Bring your household objects to MoM 2606 Fairfield Ave. S to participate in Courtney Kessel Art Project:
From Artist Courtney Kessel
To Those Who Care for Others:
For almost 15 years, I have been making artwork about my subjective experience being a mother. This interdisciplinary practice has manifested through sculpture, performance, video, photography, and writing. Exploring ways to both spend time with my daughter and make art became a methodology for creating new work.
Fabric of Life is an installation that grew from the sculptural aspect of In Balance With. A large-scale weaving of household objects, Fabric of Life, challenges viewers to contemplate the accumulation of possessions in the context of parenting. This floor-to-ceiling sculpture is comprised of things saved, and items donated or loaned from local communities. It references our shared memories and borderlines on excess, prompting reflections on our role in capitalism. By shining a light on the collective experiences of parenting, Fabric of Life advocates for increased support for reproductive and domestic labor. The sculpture invites families to consider the significance of objects, questioning the values placed on material possessions versus carework, and encourages introspection on memories, attachments, and the sometimes excessive nature of our lifestyles.
For this installation of Fabric of Life, I am asking the community to participate by loaning or donating items for the sculpture. The sculpture acts as a performative object; telling the story of your community of caregivers and the objects that you have used in your effort to maintain balance. Join me at the Museum of Motherhood during the conference, March 22-24, to drop off your loaned or donated items and help create this 2024 version of the large-scale weaving.
Thank you for participating in this community-based sculptural interpretation. This shows the universal maintenance and labor involved in raising a child. It is my hope that you will also see yourself, your care, your labor, your lived experiences reflected in this piece. #FabricofLifeMoM (https://mommuseum.org/mom-conference-2024/)
In Balance With is a performance piece that started in 2010 when I was a 35-year-old single mom going through a divorce and starting grad school. My daughter was five when it was first performed. This piece consists of a seesaw and household objects that represent our lives together. The objects are secured to her side of the seesaw until a balance is created. Once I am ‘in balance with’ the objects and my daughter, I attempt to maintain the equilibrium as every movement causes the need for a counter movement. The piece is over when she states that she is ready to end it.
We performed this last year at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond for the first time as two adults. Throughout the thirteen years performing this piece, the objects on the seesaw shifted and changed and at one point disappeared completely, only to return reflecting a move from home to her first apartment.
While the metaphor started as a direct reference to raising a small child and balancing work/play/life, it remained a consistent representation of being a mother. “The Work”- whether maintaining a household, career, or studio practice, could only be done if the child was content and occupied. Once that changed, “the work” had to stop or pause until the child was cared for once again.
With love, care, and the eternal maternal,
Courtney Kessel
To learn more about In Balance With from years 2010-2020 Scan QR Code on attached flyer! THANK YOU!