YOU ARE INVITED! Free Museum Day is September 20th, 2025 in St Petersburg, FL. Together we are making love happen all around the Sunshine City. We will be open 12-6PM with fun activities for all. Just show up. Directions to MoM are here. Take the bus, the car or walk – we can’t wait to see you.
Then, Sunday Sept 21st is Black Maternal Healthmini-conference with brunch and learn. We are grateful to our entire team for making this event possible. Thanks to our sponsors, organizers, speakers, audience members and all those people who are interested in this essential subject matter because together we rise!
The CFP for our MoM Annual Academic & Arts Conference March 27-29, 2026 in St Pete and online is posted. Please join us by submitting your art, academic research, authoethnographic work on the subject of Reproductive Identities and Resistance: Mothers and Others in Culture, Community and Collaboration. The full Call for Submissions is at JourMS.org and on our museum site.
New programming at MoM aims to our ongoing work in the realm of health, wellness and education with new seminars coming soon supported by Community Empowerment Leader Sierra M. Clark and Radiant Dre Marie. Registration is here! Questions: write INFO@MOMmuseum.org or call 877-711-MOMS (6667) and leave a message.
Upcoming Seminars at the Museum of Motherhood
Seminar Series with Sierra M ClarkRadiant Alignment with Dre MarieRadiant Alignment with Dre MarieRadiant Alignment with Dre MarieRadiant Alignment with Dre MarieRadiant Alignment with Dre MarieRadiant Alignment with Dre Marie
Radiant Alignment with Dre Marie
Thank you to our Black Maternal Health Brunch and Learn Sponsors
Black Maternal Health Orlando HealthBlack Maternal Health Sponsor St Anthony’s HospitalBlack Maternal Health Sponsor Unlimited PediatricBlack Maternal Health Sponsor Healthy Start Coalition
Huge gratitude to FloridaRAMA and all our sponsors, presenters and organizers with a special shout out to Jill M. Wood for serving as conference chair and Mary Havlock of Little House nonprofit for organizing.
Courtney West on TV for Black Maternal Health Brunch and Learn at MoM
MoM Conference Flyer
Call for presentations Annual Academic MoM Conference 2026
We are thrilled to share HUGE NEWS: Community Foundation Tampa Bay awards the Museum of Motherhood a 25k grant to continue work in the area of Health, Wellness and Education.
We are incredibly humbled and grateful for this recognition. Our team has been relentless in our volunteerism and hard work facilitating free and open spaces for individuals and families from all walks of life, including those at risk and in-need as well as people seeking connection to resources and inspiration.
This grant will help us move forward and keep the lights on at MoM.
We have so many people to thank including our grant writer Samantha Church (SDC Strategies) whose time with us is made possible through a grant with Hypatia Collaborative. Team-wise we owe gratitude to our fierce fundraiser Mary Havlock and our committed Board of Directors as well as our Health, Wellness and Education team championed by Sierra Clark (Community Empowerment Facilitator) and associates Amanda Bartles (Lactation Loop), Courtney West (3 Gems Doula Services), Sara Hunter (Birth Photographer), Jill M. Wood (Penn State), as well as our We Build Tampa Bay partnerships for special events. Please watch our Team page as we welcome new members for workshops including Unlimited Pediatrics, Embracing Joy Perinatal Wellness, The Natal Network, and Keesha Brundridge; This is Me – Whole Girl Summer Camp, to name a few. Press Release to come. (Special thanks to Jesse English for beautiful music during our Board Building Event!, Mother Kombucha for beverages and 15th St Farm for cake!))
Scenes From Our Board Building Event and Barbara Birthday Party
Board Building Party at MoMHealth Wellness and Education at the Museum of Motherhood
We Are Pleased To Announce New Programming at MoM
Health, Wellness, Education Committee MoM 2025
The Fourth Trimester: with Rachael Somerman, Founder of Unlimited Pediatric and a Child Development Therapist. This Monthly Group is for pregnant people and those post-natal moms looking for support during this time of vulnerability, recovery and rapid growth. Rachael will be onsite at MoM to answer your questions and to support your physical and emotional journey. Bring you bellies! Bring your babies! Adoptive moms welcome too! We will make sure you have a safe and inclusive space to share your questions, concerns, milestones and emotional & developmental needs. Free with a suggested donation of annual MoM Membership in the Mothers Club $30.
Thursday 6/26 & 7/24 10-11:30 AM. SIGN UP HERE or CALL 877-711-MOMS (6667)
Embracing Joy – Perinatal Wellness and Maternal Mental Health with Shamella (Mel) Joy. Mel is a licensed therapist and certified perinatal mental health specialist. Her personal and professional experiences have shown her there is a dire need for humans to come together and relearn what it means when we say “it takes a village” to bear and raise a child. Mel wants to be a part of your support system to ensure confidence in yourself, remove the guilt and actually enjoy the experience of parenting. She is excited to embark on this journey with you, and hopes the connections we forge will be helpful as they are informative, empowering, and a catalyst for positive change. Mel will meet bi-weekly alternating a week at MoM followed by a virtual meet up. Dates TBA. Free with a suggested donation of annual MoM Membership in the Mothers Club $30.SIGN UP HERE or CALL 877-711-MOMS (6667)
The Natal Network– Loss, Grief and Resiliency – Knowledge is Power: The Natal Network launched in 2024 by Tracie Williams who is a Licensed Practical Nurse as well as certified doula with sixteen years of healthcare experience. Tracie has rendered care to different age groups from birth to geriatrics. With a strong background in direct care and management she decided to navigate her critical thinking skills towards helping others have healthier outcomes with growing their families.
Outside of professional passions she has had her own journey with motherhood which has anchored her in compassion for families. Her first pregnancy resulted in preterm delivery at 19 weeks. Williams’ gave birth to a daughter she would never have the oppourtunity to raise. Babies are not viable outside of the womb until around 24 weeks. Thankfully motherhood became sweeter and she was able to have her rainbow baby in 2012 along with another addition in 2023. Tracie will be creating content for MoM through our social media connections that aim to elucidate the joys and pain of m/otherhood, backed by science and herstory. In-person and virtual groups begin taking place monthly in June. ree with a suggested donation of annual MoM Membership in the Mothers Club $30.SIGN UP HERE or CALL 877-711-MOMS (6667)
This is Me – Whole Girl Summer Camp; A Body Education Program for Learning, Growing, and Thriving From the Inside Out.
This camp balances empowerment with body-knowledge, appealing to 12–16-year-old girls by emphasizing confidence, familiarity, and control over their own health.Each day has a theme, a mix of interactive activities, reflection, and safe space discussions. It blends science, self-awareness, and practical tools with creative, age-appropriate learning. Limited to 12 per session. Led by Keesha Brundridge – Science Teacher middle school & the MoM Team. Sessions are:
Four countries, 17 cities and 100% Mother-made art from multiple perspectives in partnership with OXH Gallery at The Spiral Staircase(a new gathering place of m/others): MoM is making HERstory once again!
The MoM Executive Board is pleased to present the 2nd MoM Art Auction, taking place Oct 22, 2024 from 6-8pm. Special invite registrationonly for this not-to-be-missed event.
If you have not received your email invitation, please reach out to team member Mary@MOMmuseum.org. Registration and auction preview: https://auctria.events/momartauction
Original art works by a curated mix of established, mid’ career and emerging artists will be auctioned at an exclusive catered event to raise funds to support the mission of the Museum of Motherhood to be followed with an exhibition at OXH Gallery co-curated by Courtney Kessel, Assistant Director of Experimental Design, COFA Scripps, University College and OXH Gallery founder/director Odeta Xheka. This pioneering party elevating the art of m/otherhood would not be possible without fundraising champion Mary Havlock of Little House non-profit.
Join this exciting opportunity to partner and participate with a visionary museum and leader in the field of Motherhood and Mother Studies. MoM collects, preserves, and disseminates Mother Made Art with a passion for the cultural, social, and historical issues and experiences that affect women, inclusive of all reproductive identities. This call to action to elucidate the art, science, and herstory of women, mothers, and families is at the forefront of the Museum’s mission and vision. More HERE.
MoM Is Moving
MoM is moving: Same street, different space, St Pete – in The Factory. MoM is excited to announce this move in response to the recent sale of The Factory to developers. “We aim for a soft opening with new murals being unveiled in an open, child-friendly area by Oct. 1, 2024 next to Florida Wildlife Corridor in Gallery Row,” says museum founder Martha Joy Rose. “We’ll be proximal to Leroy King of Art and in the new artist area adjacent to FloridRama.” Our last day in our current location will be Saturday, Sept 21, 2024 from 12-6PM: FREE MUSEUM DAY St Pete!
Visitors will be free to roam, interact with the murals, watch the videos on display, and lounge in the space whenever the Gallery doors are open to the public. “We’re still figuring out our new MoM hours,” says team member and community organizer Sierra Clark, “but the idea is that the space can be utilized for inspiration and and relaxation whether we are staffed or not.”
MoM’s newest feature will be it’s carefully designed ‘Escape Womb‘ experience. An obvious play on words, the Escape Womb highlights fun facts about conception, gestation and birth. The experience is a first of it’s kind and has been designed with teamwork in mind. Scholar and educator Jill Wood, Penn State U., has been pivotal in terms of the academic content, while MoM’s longtime curator, Rose has put her personal touches on the red room, adding “This summer, the MoM team visited Great Explorations Escape Room in St Pete for inspiration.” “Everyone had such a great time,” MoM executive board member and local mortgage broker Deanna Barcelona gushed. “We think this is going to be an incredible way for people to learn a lot of important stuff in a totally cool environment,” agreed board secretary and writer Barbara Lynch.
The escape womb will openon November 1st with advance tickets going on sale October 23. Prices for visitors are still being discussed. “We want to make it affordable to everyone but encourage an ongoing funding stream for our non-profit to thrive,” says Rose. “Excitement is at an all time high.” The room will be available for private bookings as well. Sneak Peek.
Journal of Mother Studies is Published
The Journal of Mother Studies is LIVE online!Shout out to each contributor for their brilliance, talents and labor – with a special shout out to Lead Editor, Meagan Welch for this year’s awesome publication.
So many people contributed to the 2024 Conference and then many of those individuals stuck with us over the last few months to organize the 2024 journal.
Art for all is ashort video clip highlighting some of the creativity that was on display in March. Artists Courtney Kessel ‘Fabric of Life, Martha Joy Rose, Museum of Motherhood welcome, Vanessa Marr; Tokens of Resistance/A Mothers Work is Never Done, Madison Hendry; Womb Project, Judy Lyons Schneider & Alice Harrison (the Bag Ladies) intergenerational conversation, Christine Carrig; Proudly Shamed in the USA – Art Installation w/ invitation for community collaboration, Emily Fitzgerald and Molly Sherman; The People’s Republic for Reproductive Empathy Workshop, Batya Weinbaum paintings, Alicia Campos Massó arts, Vanessa Hansen; n You Are Not Alone, and Victoria Bailey spoken word as well as Ayakoh Furukawa-Leonart Flower of the Womb works were all on display, with installation assist from Liliana Beltran.
The academic presentations were thoughtful, provocative and as always thoroughly fascinating. Those who submitted papers are represented the journal.
Congrats to Christine Carrig for the Journal Cover Photo from her installation “Proudly Shamed in the USA”. The schedule of conference presentations are archived online, and links to the videos of presentations can be accessed from the same page. JourMS 2024: LINK TO THE ’24 JOURNAL.
Mother Studies
CFP 2025: 25th Annual Conference!Fun, Sex and Crying Out Loud: This international call for papers invites artists, scholars, poets, sociologists, maternal psychologists, philosophers, anthropologists, women’s, sexuality, and gender studies professors, masculinity studies experts, birth-workers, doctors, researchers, students, and lay-people to share their work and tie it to this year’s theme. Works that are inclusive of all identities of birthing folx are encouraged.
Pls circulate widely & SHOUT IT! Deadline to submit Dec. 15th.LINK TO CFP
RECENT PUBLICATIONS: The Mother Wave from Demeter Press: Theorizing, Enacting and Representing Matricentric Feminism. Matricentric feminism seeks to make motherhood the business of feminism by positioning mothers’ needs and concerns as the starting point for a theory and politic on and for the empowerment of women as mothers. Based on the conviction that mothering is a verb, it understands that becoming and being a mother is not limited to biological mothers or cisgender women but rather to anyone who does the work of mothering as a central part of their life. The mother wave of matricentric feminism invites conversations with others and offers a praxis of feminism that aims to coexist, overlap, and intersect with others. Edited by Andrea O/Reilly and Fiona Joy Green. Read Martha Joy Rose’s chapter here too: ORDER HERE
When the headline “Strong Moms & Grandmothers Are the New Superheroes” crossed my desk recently from a prominent media outlet – I thought, “Yes, we ARE.”
There is a certain sense of achievement in some communities today. While we still have a long and challenging way to go in terms of women’s progress, many are celebrating the voice and strength of women on the national stage this week.
We cannot ignore the palpable excitement streaming through the airwaves as women, grandmothers, and women-of-color raise their allied voices. We cannot ignore that access to healthcare, safe birth, and children’s well-being is forefront on our minds. We cannot ignore our herstory or deny the anniversary of the ratification of women’s right to vote celebrated at the beginning of this week, Sunday, August 18th, representing 104 years of hard won American success.
Know Your HerStory
Wanna know more about world events in the context of the Suffragette movement and progress towards women’s right to vote in the USA? There are so many ways to learn more. Make a field trip to the home of the first Convention Days where Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and others argued for women’s equality in Seneca Falls, NY. Or, head to NYC where the musical SUFFS is on Broadway for an extended run. If you can’t get to New York, you can still watch the more serious accounting of the movement in England online with the movie Suffragette (2025) or the depiction of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns who risked their lives for freedom in IronJawed Angels (2004) online. Women’s voices are everywhere. Or you can visit the Museum of Motherhood in St. Petersburg, FL and learn more about activist Sojourner Truth and the journey towards justice as well as the four waves of women’s activism in the maternal sphere.
Celebrating MoM’s Successes
Last week also represents an incredible month of successes for the Museum of Motherhood with our active team of volunteers, including Sierra Clark, Barbara Lynch, and Mary Havlock. These achievers demonstrated a whole lotta grit and hard work securing three grants that demonstrate MoM’s success in our local community.
We are beyond pleased to announce the Foundation for a Healthy St. Pete and Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital recognized the Museum of Motherhood as a partner through their new Catalytic Capacity-Building Grant with funding for $10,000. We are so incredibly proud! Thank you Sierra Clark for your hard work on this.
We are also pleased to announce a 1k award from the St. Pete Arts Alliance with Barbara Lynch & HypatiaCollaborative for bookkeeping and IT (in-kind services) with champion Mary Havlock
Is Mother Made Art the “Last Taboo?”
The New York Times headline August 16th 2024 stated that “Camille Henrot has filled a gap in the canon by investigating the labor of motherhood.” The article discusses this ‘new’ art form of art made by women who are mothers and how not much has been done in this arena. The author of the article, Sasha Weiss, goes on to state that Henrot “scoured books and the internet for images of breast-pumping” and that “because [motherhood] is still stigmatized in visual art [she] resists characterizing work as being about motherhood.”
At this point in the article I wish very much that the artist had accessed the work of Jess Dobkin‘s lactation station (2006) or Sarah Irvine’s Infant Feeding Log, the student researched exhibit online at the Museum of Motherhood depicting the work of artists representing themselves breastfeeding, or even the photographic work of Renee Cox, Yo Mama (1992–94) who “decided I’m going to give you pregnancy in your face and found inspiration there.” My point being, that the art of motherhood is a developing field established and thriving over last thirty years.
When the author perpetuated the interviewed artist’s statement that she had “stumbled into a gap in art history… and that while there’s no shortage of representations of mothers with children, Henrot could find few of mothers on their own,” I moaned. Not from happiness but from despair.
My question to Sasha Weiss (and to Camille Henrot), is – How do we stop perpetuating the invisibility of the art made by mothers about motherhood by refusing to notice, research, and share the great body of work that currently exists all around the world? Every time an new article, exhibit, or piece of literature is published that refuses -or is oblivious to- the great accomplishments of literally hundreds (if not thousands) of women at this point in herstory, the patriarchal stereotype that legitimate art is only exhibited in specific types of galleries and museums is perpetuated.
The Museum of Motherhood (USA) has been devoted to art about art made by women about their reproductive experience and labor since 2003. Other organizations include: Procreate Project (England), Spilt Milk Gallery (Scotland), Artist Parent Network (USA), A.M.M.A.A. Archive for Mapping Mother Artists in Asia, and multiple artist residencies that support, collaborate and share the art made by mothers about their identity, experiences, and labor. I hope somehow we might shift this narrative together, starting NOW.
~Martha Joy Rose, Founder, Director MoM
Call For Submissions
The Art Exhibition and Auction of October 2024. Read more about submitting art here (by August 31) for this auction and exhibition sponsored by OXH Gallery with Committee Chair Odeta Xheka and organized by MoM’s Executive Board members Courtney Kessel, Deanna Barcelona, Barbara Lynch and Anna Lieggi. [LINK]
25th Anniversary MoM Annual Arts & Academic ConferenceCFP is LIVE! The Conference is being organized under the leadership of Brittany DeNucci and our Academic and Conference committee. The Museum of Motherhood is calling all scholars, artists, and community members for presentations and papers on the subject of ‘Fun, Sex, & Crying Out Loud’. [LINK]
New Internships
Welcome Kayla Foster, woman, mother, student. Her project will include archival research, ethnographic interviews, and collaboration efforts with the University of Oklahoma and the Museum of Motherhood to identify the cultural postpartum practices and traditions of Hispanic mothers in the Southwestern United States. The research will be multigenerational resulting in a final research paper focused on her findings and discuss the importance placed on traditional postpartum practices.
You may remember Whetley Earnest who came to us at the beginning of the summer as a local high school junior, interested in pre-med. Whetley is still with us, volunteering at MoM and we couldn’t be prouder! Here she is pictured with friend and ally Lucky Leroy who is currently featured in a solo exhibit at The Factory in St. Pete in partnership with FloridaRama. Leroy is our local ‘King of Art’ and his exhibit titled Florida Famous is up through August in the gallery next to the Museum of Motherhood. Come visit – You will love it!
Hold the Date
Experience some of St. Pete’s most popular museums during Arts Alive! Free Museum Day on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Select St. Pete museums will waive admission fees to allow the community to experience some of the fine art that makes St. Pete a premier arts destination. Arts Alive! Free Museum Day is produced by the City of St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, and participating cultural organizations based on the currently paused National Smithsonian’s Free Museum Day. [LINK]
We will be moving to gallery row. But, not yet! We are awaiting word from our new landlords about the projected move date, but right now, it looks as if we will remain in our current location across from FloridaRama and DaddyCool until at least mid-September. We’ll keep you posted on progress for sure!
*M/other (noun): is a self-identified individual who is relationally connected through pregnancy, birth, surrogacy, genetics, care-work, and/or adoption. Historically female; they are one who divides (time, labor, emotion, and/or genetic material) and are paradoxically increased by the experience. Best explained by the equation: me + other (m/other) a mother is one who is connected, or disconnected, to another, genetically through procreative activity or linked through identity, care-work, and/or association. This special relational status incorporates the phenomenon that motherhood is otherhood, which is its most fundamental principle. While gender identity has gone through multiple identity shifts in recent years – and MoM is super supportive of all folx.
Mother-made art recognizes the works and endeavors of those making fine and performing arts who are mothers and those whose work is impacted by, or is focused on, experiences of pregnancy, birth, care-work, fertility, loss, adoption, fostering, surrogocy, and m/otherhood inclusive of all reproductive identities. This includes artistic interpretations highlighting the lifespan of makers of maternal experience, action, matrescence, and embodiment, within personal and relationally organized emotions, biologies, technologies, and behaviors. [LINK]
ANNOUNCING EVENTS – PROGRESS – RHYTHMS at MoM in August and Beyond.
Our team sure knows how to have fun. Last week we did a little research in St. Pete. We explored local escaper rooms for inspiration as our volunteers continue to design and plan for our future ‘Escape Womb Experience‘ – (Anticipated opening in October). We also celebrated the opening of friend and neighborLucky Leroy’sFlorida Famous exhibit in the gallery at The Factory. The exhibit is up through August. Make sure to experience it when you visit MoM in August this summer.
Yes, to those who have been following the news that I’ve been having some health hiccups this summer. I am moving much better now as is evidenced in these pictures. Yay Team! I aim to continue with the healing process. Also, on a recovery note – if you’ve seen the weather reports, Hurricane Debby just came raging through Pinellas County, and thankfully we are okay here with only one event cancellation on Monday and ourlactation event with Amanda Bartles on Wednesday, August 7th this week at 6PM, still happening! (Our hearts go out to anyone impacted by extreme weather everywhere). August is Breast Feeding Awareness Month: raising awareness about the challenges and rewards of chest feeding! Whichever direction you choose, MoM is here for you. We are in Florida – HOME OF THE ENDLESS SUMMER. It’s hot, hot, hot at the Museum of Motherhood where Christen Clifford’sINTERIORS: we’re all pink inside Exhibit is up all month along with a Womb of Our Own – Seeing RED and Molly Duffy’sLil Dicki.
Joy, Leroy, Barbara, Tracey, Mary, Sierra, Deanna, Allen
You may have heard the news that The Factory property – where MoM is currently located was recently sold to investors. The transition has been a bit chaotic with no firm news of our future spot in Gallery Row and many of the artists are also up in the air. We anticipated moving at the beginning of September. Now it may be later in September and we’ll let you know as soon as we have any news. The arts make everything great, so I hope St. Pete can keep the cool vibe going with all the recent gentrification of the city.
Meanwhile, we persevere with all our committees are meeting regularly. We still need onsite volunteers. If you have 3 hours a week and are local to St Petersburg we are looking for responsible volunteers to spend time with us as a docent in a beautiful, warm, and inviting space, MoM needs you! Even if you are only available once or twice a month – Sign up on our volunteer form here. MoM is open for regular hours throughout August.
Lots and Lots of Love – Enjoy the end of your summer,
JOY(Martha Joy Rose, Founder, Director)
Here’s the rest of the GOOD NEWS report – Keep reading below:
MoM Art Auction for the Museum of Motherhood
An upcoming MoM Art Auction is planned for October in Tampa with chairperson and arts gallery owner Odeta Xheka and our entire Executive Board spearheading the event. The goal is to raise funds for MoM and build on our permanent collection. The submission announcement is live and open for artists to submit through August. We will have a great big bash and a post auction exhibition. Please spread the word! In collaboration with OXH Gallery.
MoM was awarded three grants last week! We can’t wait to announce all the details – but we can spill that one of them was with the Arts Alliance of St Pete for their Pitch Competition. Congrats Barbara Lynch for that team success on behalf of all of us!
25th Anniversary MoM Annual Arts & Academic ConferenceCFP is LIVE! The Conference is being organized under the leadership of Brittany DeNucci and our Academic and Conference committee. Thanks to all and Deanna Barcelona and Mary have visited USF and are actively seeking to coordinate conference space on campus in 2025. Artists, Scholars, Activists, SUBMIT NOW!
Thanks to New Community Partner/Sponsor, BayFirst Financial. Headquartered in St. Petersburg, BayFirst Financial offers personal and business banking services, including checking & savings accounts, loans, and more. MoM thanks BayFirst Financial.
