On Art and Motherhood
Last night I went to my mom's art show where her colorful, layered, nature-inspired oil paintings were hung. I've been to many of her beautiful art shows over the course of my life, to the point where I kind of took it for granted. Watching her draw with ease, the smell of turpentine, unfinished paintings stuffed in closets, hand painted furniture featuring us kids, cards with her watercolor vignettes, were all just part of how I grew up. Now as a mother myself, I appreciate how enriching it has been to have a mother who is a painter, and more importantly, an artist.
I think our culture tends to think of creating art as “a nice hobby if you have the time." I'm not going to say what you think I might say, oh but art adds color to the world and wouldn't it be boring without it, etc. The real reason that art is critical to well-being and sanity is because it is an expression of our innermost beings. It's an expression of the nonsensical, the feeling parts of us that go beyond words, beyond explanation. Art gives us a space to experiment with leaving the box, leaving the cookie cutter and dig out what's really inside of us. To get out of our heads and into our hearts. In a culture that encourages us to squash our real selves and tuck them away tight, art offers us an avenue to let them out and be free.
As Mother's Day approaches, I am thinking about the artistic expression of the women in my family. I have seen the canvas, the camera, the clay, the voice as expressions of the feminine souls around me. The feminine souls who carried and birthed the children and put their heart and soul into raising them. They are the family bonders and the magic-makers. Like the work of creating art, the female work of mothering and kinkeeping is not always valued because it doesn't pay the bills or buy you a shinier car. But it is the heart-blood that runs through all of our lives - planning birthdays, staying up late to talk, holding our hands through our insecurities. It is the earthly expression of the Great Mother's Love where we are held in complete acceptance, shadows and all.
This week I write to honor the mothers, the grandmothers, the great-grandmothers, going back through the generations. Like artistic expression, mothering comes from the heart and doesn't always make sense, but it allows the souls to shine and be free. To all the mothers - thank you and we honor you. Happy Mother's Day.
