motherhood Archives – HIGH ON HOOKING

We’re all affected in some way by motherhood…

Book cover: The Art of Motherhood: Our Lives in Colour and Shadow

I know I’m late to the party congratulating Karen Miller of Ontario on the release of her new book The Art of Mothering: Our Lives in Colour and Shadow, but I will NOT be the last, I guarantee you.

Karen’s book, published by Rug Hooking Magazine, came out in October. I think I received my copy in early November. Unfortunately, I’ve been très busy the past month, so I’ve only been able to scan through it thus far, but with the holidays almost here, I’m hoping to sit down soon and pore over it – no interruptions!

It’s a beautiful book, certainly, filled with all kinds of art. It’s vivid and colorful as it shines a light on how female artists have dealt with not just the topic of motherhood, but its actuality.

From the back cover:

Motherhood has been the richest experience of Karen Miller’s life. It has also inescapably changed her life trajectory: her career path, her energy levels, her commitments, her time, her marriage. It has affected everything. Join Karen as she and 21 contributing artists lift the lid on motherhood and peer inside to examine the reality of their lives through textile arts.

The Art of Motherhood: Our Lives in Colour and Shadow illuminates the feelings that so few of us talk about – but so many of us feel – as we navigate the journey that is motherhood.

Hooked art — “Rejection,” 14′ x 17.5″, hooked on monk’s cloth with wool strips and yarn, is one of my pieces in Karen’s book.

Karen’s known for a long time that being a mother hasn’t always been the best of experiences for me, so when she asked me to contribute to the book, I jumped at the chance. It’s always stuck up my craw sideways that women rarely feel comfortable being honest about motherhood and what it does to us. Even in a group of just women! How dare we speak up about not feeling quite like the Madonna and her perfect Child. News flash: I’m no Madonna and it took a lot of alcohol to get through my only kid’s high school years. (Those years made the previous 14 look like an f-ing picnic.) But after fertility problems and two miscarriages over two years, no one wanted a kid as much as I did. And I have no regrets. (Most of the time.)

That’s the kind of candid crap you’ll find in this book though in a much more eloquent form, LOL. And LOTS OF FIBER ART, hooked and otherwise. If you’re a mom or know a mom or ever had a mom, get thee online to order this book. It’d make a kick-ass and thoughtful Christmas or other type of gift. I promise. You can order from RHM HERE. If you’re in Canada, contact Karen through her website.

PS- Not all moms are biologic. And mother figures count as moms.

FYI-
Below is a list of the Instagram handles of all the artists who, in some way affected by motherhood, contributed work to Karen’s truly excellent book. Check out their work.

Karen Miller: @karendmillerstudio
Nadine Flagel: @pretextstudio
Meryl Cook: @merylcook
Laura Salamy: @highonhooking
Emily van Lidth de Jeude: @emilyvanartist
Jane Smith: @blogginthebay
April Deconick: @aprildeconickart
Linda Friedman Schmidt: @lindafriedmanschmidt
Rachelle Leblanc: @rachelle_leblanc_art
Trish Johnson: @trshjhnsn
Patti Colen: @woollycronedesigns
Alexandrya Eaton: @alexandryaeaton
Michelle Kingdom: @michelle.kingdom
Carmen Bohn: @carmenbohn_art
Elizabeth Miller: @northatlanticfiberarts
Ellen Skea Marshall: @twocatsanddoghooking
Amy Meissner: @amymeissnerartist
Michele Micarelli: @michelepmicarelli
Linda Rae Coughlin: @lindarae_coughlin
Sayward Johnson: @saywardjohnson
Lori Laberge: @lorilabergeart
Karen Larsen: I don’t believe Karen is on Ig but she is on fb

And to everyone in the US, mother or not,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hooked art, Holes, to be in A Vision of Hope and Healingart show — **“Holes” hand-hooked art**, approximately 68″ tall x 33″ wide. Materials: used children’s clothing and bedding, wool yarn, silk sari yarn, velvet strips, and crepe fabric strips. “…make no mistake, genetic programming all but ensures love and duty toward offspring. That love is patch-worked over our leaking selves, especially over pulse points where we feel the beating of our own hearts.”

“A Vision of Hope and Healing,” 2020’s art show at the Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey in Albuquerque opens Friday evening. It’s a perfect theme for this year, no? Most happily, like last year, I have a piece, “Holes,” that was juried into the show.

“Holes” was last year’s secret project; it’s to be included in Karen Miller‘s motherhood art book coming out in 2022. (More info on that later.) I finally finished it in February. I was also hoping to jury it into another show, but that didn’t work out. Nonetheless, it was accepted into “Hope and Healing” which pleases me inordinately. The Abbey is a beautiful, little place in southern Albuquerque. It’s quiet, even as it looks out onto the city, peaceful, even as you watch planes readying to land at the Sunport.

The Norbertines are committed to art; you can see it in the church they built. It leads you in, invites you to pray or at least reflect. Their mission and inspiration say it all:

Art at the Abbey gathers people of diverse stories, circumstances, beliefs, and perspectives together in community. We foster an encounter with the human experience and seek dialogue as the Holy Spirit inspires through art, a universal way of expression. By this, we hope to uphold themes of human dignity and openness in relation to overlying realities and movements in our world today to encourage resilience and hope.

In the spirit of Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” the Norbertine Community of Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey stands by the position that all are welcome to bear witness to and participate in their life as community, regardless of religious or spiritual background. They embrace their call to extend the grace and love of Christ unreservedly and appreciate the opportunity to do so through the universal language of art. As a sacred place and home to artworks by various artists of a shared inspiration, they are blessed by Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey to host art exhibitions, a work of art in itself.

“Holes” is a motherhood rug. Perhaps not the one you might expect. While the media, both traditional and social, proclaim the “nobleness” of motherhood, practically sainting mothers, it’s not that way in real life. Sure, it has its moments, more of them, if you’re lucky, but that’s not every mother’s experience. Certainly, it hasn’t been mine. Tom can attest, and he probably needs his own “holey” rug, but he’ll have to hook it himself.

Motherhood, parenthood – I won’t lie, it’s been a mixed bag – love and damage – and I wish a lot of it could’ve been different. But we only have the lives we’re dealt – the kids’ and our own. They’re what shape us.

“Official” Description of “Holes”:

Motherhood leaves behind holes, real, often un-patchable, irreversible. Damage is physical and deeply emotional no matter the child. Children leave holes just by leaving, from the womb or home.

The piece is hand-hooked using mostly recycled textiles. As children wear down their clothes, they can leave their mother in tatters as well.

But there is deep love for our children despite the wounds they inflict. We never lose love for our kids.

Swirls suggest the intertwining of life, blood, spirit. Life and love are dynamic, always flowing between mother and child. Life constructs life, but it also destroys. Some of that dysfunction can heal or at least be patched so that the life and love go on.

Poster for A Vision of Holiness art show — Note that there will be Covid-19 protocols in place. Visit the **website** for more information.

If you’re in the ABQ area, please visit “A Vision of Hope and Healing,” if only to experience the Abbey, its stillness, and its magnificent views.

HIGH ON HOOKING

Tag: motherhood

The Art of Motherhood

“Holes” in “A Vision of Hope and Healing” art show