OurMothers/Ourselves
The Dan and Trudy Regan Foundation amassed over a hundred mannequins with the goal of distributing them to artists and staging a reopening post pandemic. 100 Mannequins was an opportunity to collaborate on a large installation of artist created mannequins.
It was an interesting challenge for a non-painting photographer. As I worked I found out how much I didn’t know about this process and spent hours in the planning, deciding on a path and rejecting that as unworkable repeatedly. OurMothers/Ourselves was always the theme and I solicited photographs from friends and family.
Images start with my Grandmothers and continue with my Mother, Aunts, Mother-in-Law, Daughter-in-Law, my children, siblings, cousins and the Mothers provided.
The black dress is mine and was worn at both my Sons’ college graduations. The white topping was purchased on Long Beach Island, a barrier island beach loved by my Grandmother, Mother and myself. The bling includes two of my Mother’s necklaces and a teapot necklace from a friend.
The text on the dress, printed backwards, was solicited and represents Mom’isms and the complex communications between mothers and their children.
Filling out the composition are images of the 2017-20 Women’s March on NYC prompted by the repeated restrictions and attacks on women’s healthcare and self-determination.
