rebuller

Mothering Synergy: CAA / WCA / TFAP

While the maternal body has been largely absent from art historical discussions on the national stage, Chicago 2014 was a welcome change: College Art Association, Women’s Caucus for Art, ARTspace, and The Feminist Art Project all hosted panels, presentations, discussions, exhibitions, and performances related to art and the maternal. The level of excitement around the topic was astounding to me, as were the emotional reactions of attendees who were so deeply touched, never having heard this topic engaged in a scholarly setting. I am thrilled to have participated, to have forged and solidified friendships, and to have met many virtual colleagues for the first time. CAA 2014 and its affiliated societies made for the best conference I’ve attended in years.

Panel discussion at the Korean Cultural Center, for the "Through the Eyes of the Mother" exhibition, curated by Hye-Seong Tak Lee (center).
Panel discussion at the Korean Cultural Center, for the “Through the Eyes of the Mother” exhibition, curated by Hye-Seong Tak Lee (center).
Niku and baby Nova, Christen, and my print in the background, at "Through the Eyes of the Mother"
Niku and baby Nova, Christen, and my print in the background, at “Through the Eyes of the Mother”
CAA gave us a grand (and enormous!) ballroom for the WCA-sponsored panel on "The Maternal Body Exposed." Many thanks to my very well-spoken panelists Melissa Gwyn, Anna Hennessey, Christina Stahr, and Tom Nys.
CAA gave us a grand (and enormous!) ballroom for the WCA-sponsored panel on “The Maternal Body Exposed.” Many thanks to my very well-spoken panelists Melissa Gwyn, Anna Hennessey, Christina Stahr, and Tom Nys.

Apparently I took no photos at the day of Feminist Art Project panels, but this link shows the truly amazing line-up that Jennie Klein and Myrel Chernick were able to pull together.

It will be hard for next year to match this one, but I’m looking forward already. On to New York in February 2015.

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Published by rebuller

Dr. Rachel Epp Buller is a feminist art historian printmaker book artist and mother of three. She has lectured, exhibited, and published widely on issues of mothering and the maternal body; her books include Reconciling Art and Mothering (Ashgate 2012) and Mothering Mennonite (Demeter 2013), among others. She is a Fulbright scholar, a board member of the National Women's Caucus for Art (US), regional coordinator of The Feminist Art Project, and Associate Professor of Visual Arts and Design at Bethel College.

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