Curatorial statement for LABOR group exhibition

LABOR: Eva Pushkova, Carla E. Reyes, and Esther S White

A group exhibition presented by MICA
(Mothers Institute for Collaboration and Art)

Curatorial Statement by Christina Balch

So much of what we do as mothers and primary caregivers is work. It is often talked about as a "labor of love," implying that we do this work because we love our children, because we want to do it, and even because we are biologically inclined to do so. This is certainly not true for all parents or mothers. These sentiments are rooted in patriarchal norms that do not serve women, gender non-conforming people, or anybody who takes on the role of a primary caretaker. We don't simply love doing laundry every day, potty training, or enduring the physical toll of repetitive caretaking work. The work of mothers and parents is demanding and often grueling - often unseen and taboo. The caretaking work of mothers and parents is labor, and our society should place higher value on and offer greater support for this labor.

The artwork of Eva Pushkova, Carla E. Reyes, and Esther S. White exposes the labor of parenting in innovative ways. White and Pushkova utilize fiber and quilts, traditionally associated with domestic craft created by women, to explore the labor involved in creating utilitarian crafts for the home while their subject matter reflects on the physical and emotional labor of parenting and mothering. The titles of their works are revealing. In Esther S. White's piece, I Left the Dishes in the Sink, the artist seemingly rejects domestic duties to pursue work in the studio instead. Meanwhile, Eva Pushkova's pieces, Influencer Influenza and TikTok Dopamine, hint at concerns regarding social media and technology's impact on our children (and ourselves!). Eva used Midjourney AI to generate source images for these works, which were ultimately transformed into hand-made rugs. Carla's paintings take a more direct approach, capturing snapshots of time from the perspective of a mother with a baby and a toddler. Some of Reyes' works, like Laundry (every) Day and Potty Party, depict the physical "stuff" that needs to be managed on a daily basis, such as clothes and toys. In Happy Hour / Nap-Time and Showing Up, the artist experiences a "break" from childcare labor while her baby naps and pursues her own important work in the studio.

Featured image: Repetitive Stress Injuries by Eva Pushkova