Dr. Lyneia Richardson stood in the center of Coley Rice Lounge, the low hum of anticipation and air conditioning flowing around her. Her vibrant earrings, shaped like a torso and adorned with floral decorations, swayed back and forth as she gazed at the poster she just plastered to the front podium reading: “A Celebration of Motherhood: Bonding, Becoming, Being.”
On Tuesday, March 4 at 5 p.m., Richardson, an Assistant Professor of Counseling, hosted the pop-up art exhibit at McDaniel College to celebrate the artistry and creativity of mothers in their local and professional circles. The event was accompanied by art pieces and spoken discussion about the impact of motherhood, as well as how creativity and motherhood intersect.
I spoke to Richardson about the connections between art and mothering, and the goal of the exhibit as a whole: to honor varied experiences across the spectrum of motherhood. In the far corner of Coley Rice, she explained the concept with a warm smile.
“You have to be creative in motherhood,” Richarson said, back to the window. “We often talk about that creativity that comes when you’re teaching children… so that really is what my idea of mothering as a work of art represents… it’s not stagnant, there’s not a book on motherhood, it really is a creative process in itself.”
The impact of this exhibit is particularly important during Women’s History Month, as the world celebrates the influence and impact of women across the globe.
“Many times, when we think about women, sometimes the conversation of motherhood is left out, and it’s not exclusive in that everyone identifies as a mother who may have children… but what we want to do is honor that experience… by displaying the work that mothers do,” Richardson said.
Richardson also noted that her work editing the novel Mothering as a Work of Art deeply motivated her to hold this event. The book itself is unique—an anthology of mothers convening to share their stories as a collective.
“That’s actually what inspired this [exhibit],” she noted. “…I hope people will feel inspired, especially those who are mothers.”
Featuring works such as belly casts—the act of molding and decorating a cast of one’s pregnant belly—as well as portraits of mothers and children in blue, pink, black and white, the pop-up conveyed the experience of motherhood as an ever-changing journey full of many challenges and stages.
Many of these themes resonate close to home for Richardson. Her smile brightened as she deliberated.
“For me, I have two children now, and so you can actually see the progression in my belly casts!” she said. “One is very black and white, and I wouldn’t say dull, but it is representative of the experience, and then you’ll see my second belly cast has more color, and actually I used flowers to represent the blooming of motherhood—the changes and phases you go through.”
Even outside of March, it is important to recognize the influence and lasting impact that mothers have in shaping lives and communities around the world.
Art serves as a powerful storytelling medium that draws beauty out of natural experiences. As a result, the event and its thoughtfully detailed pieces aim to continuously inspire others with the legacies of motherhood, long after the exhibit doors close.
Information on campus events commemorating March as Women’s History Month can be found on the Events or Calendar pages of the McDaniel College website.