MICAfest Art for Change: The M/others' View

MICAfest The M/others’ View Art Exhibition at BOMBYX Center for Arts and Equity.

The visual art exhibit at BOMBYX is featured in the Peacock Gallery.

BOMBYX Center for Arts and Equity
is located at 130 Pine Street, Florence, MA.

Visual artists exhibiting at BOMBYX Center for Arts and Equity

Elena Allee | Christina Balch | S.T. Gately | Robin Griffith | Barbara Hageman Sarvis | Amy Kotel | Sarah Marquesen | Matthew Mattingly | Ellen Pollock  | Alyona Skripka | Jamie Tara | Michelle Vigeant |

MICAfest The M/others’ View Art Exhibtion at NCFA

The visual art exhibition is featured in the Split Level Gallery at Northampton Center for the Arts 33 Hawley on the ground floor and the Mezzanine.

5pm - 8pm: An art reception

The exhibition will be celebrated on Arts Night Out, with featured musical guest MICA artist Elena Ciampa.

Arts Night Out

Celebrate MICA Artists during Arts Night Out Northampton!

Join us for a vibrant evening of art and music celebrating the creativity of MICA artists. In a special reception at Northampton Center for the Arts and Anchor House of Artists, discover diverse and captivating works. Special performance by Elena Ciampa and Friends.

Motherhood Unbound: Navigating Identity, Ambivalence, and Resilience

This exhibition challenges the sanitized image of motherhood, revealing a complex spectrum of emotions, experiences, and transformations. The artists confront themes of loss, self-sacrifice, societal expectations, physical and mental strain, and the struggle to maintain personal identity amidst the all-consuming role of mother.

The artworks range from intimate reflections within a handmade book to bold sculptures exploring the impossible demands of motherhood. We encounter explorations of postpartum mental health, critiques of domesticity, surveillance of mothers, and the blurred boundaries between self and child.

Yet, amidst these challenges, a powerful thread of resilience emerges. Artists find their voices through painting, mixed-media, photography, and installation work. They offer unflinching honesty about motherhood’s complexities, fearlessly exploring the ambivalence that society often silences. Ultimately, they celebrate the creative power that thrives despite, and even because of, the transformative journey of motherhood.

Key Themes:

-Loss and Longing: Artists grapple with loss – loss of self, loss of a past life, and the profound fear that accompanies pregnancy and motherhood.

-Ambivalence and Societal Pressure: The exhibit exposes the conflict between the idealized image of motherhood and the raw, often unspoken, emotions surrounding it.
Physical and Mental Strain: Artworks visualize the toll of pregnancy and postpartum mental health struggles, highlighting the lack of societal support.

-Transformation and Resilience: Despite the challenges, artists assert their creative voices, exploring motherhood as a catalyst for personal growth and defying unrealistic expectations.

-This visual art exhibit features artists from across the United States, including Boston, Springfield, Northampton, Kansas City, and California.

Visual artists exhibiting at Northampton Center for the Arts

Myrrh Brooks | Nancy Bulma Fields | Mayté Castillo | Jill Danenberg | Helen Ellis | Laura Green | Jane Hesser | Lyn Horan| Jane Keddy | Catherine LeComte-Lecce | Lynn Lovell | Isabelle Marantz/IzzyLightScapes| Nilou Moochhala | Emily Mulder | April Powell | Eva Pushkova | Carla E. Reyes | Amber Scoon | Ellen Wetmore | Esther S. White | Cynthia Zeman |

Image: Painting by Cynthia Zeman, Woman on Couch, 52×58, Oil.

Featured Live Music: Elena Ciampa

Experience the soulful sounds of Elena Ciampa, a pillar of the MICA community since the inaugural MICAfest. Her thoughtful songwriting, melodic arrangements, and expressive jazz vocals will transport you on a captivating musical journey.

A MICA Success Story

Elena’s artistic dreams were given wings at the first MICAfest, where she shared the stage with her 8-piece jazz band. Celebrate her continued growth and be inspired by her dedication to her craft as she shares new music from her current collection, “A Wind in the Door.”

Explore Unique Visual Art

Mingle with fellow art enthusiasts as you explore the work of featured visual artists. Discover a range of styles and mediums that showcase the breadth of MICA’s artistic talent.

Location: Northampton Center for the Arts
33 Hawley Street
Northampton, MA 01060

MICAfest The M/others’ View Art Exhibtion at AHOA

5pm - 8pm: Art reception

-Passway Gallery
-Bumpus Gallery
-Experimental Performance Arena
-The new unnamed hallway gallery

Celebrate MICA Artists during Arts Night Out Northampton!

(free event)

Celebrate Northampton’s vibrant art scene with MICA! During the Arts Night Out artist reception, immerse yourself in captivating visual art by m/other artists and witness a mesmerizing live performance that will transport you. Join us at both NEVAmuseum at Anchor House and 33 Hawley for this unforgettable evening.

Featured Live Performance by Stefanie Weber

Experience the immersive world of Stefanie Weber and her captivating performance piece, ‘The MOTHERLESSSHIP‘. This interactive work blends physical poetry, movement, and audience participation, inviting you to step aboard and become part of the evolving artistic journey. Perfect for an intimate setting, prepare to be transported and transformed.

Visual artists exhibiting at Anchor House of Artists

Lisa Andrews | Laura Dickstein Thompson | Jasmine Errico | Paulina Fuenzalida-Guzman | Reshma Gorde | Ruby Henry | Juli Kirk | Tony(a) Lemos | Gena Mavuli | Laura Moorehead | Amy Nolan | Elizabeth Menges | Terre Parker | Amber Scoon | Ellen Shattuck Pierce | Mollie Thonneson | Mary Warren Foulk | Ellen Wetmore | Sam Wilde |

Image: Lisa Andrews, A Mother’s Tears, 24” x 36”, Acrylic on Canvas.

Location: Anchor House of Artists
518 Pleasant Street
Northampton, MA 01060