Ossining, New York. A conversation with artist, educator, and cultural worker Anna Adler continuing to explore the idea of the body as home through the lens of mothering - inspired in part by my own experience of pregnancy (we welcomed our daughter Josephine in January 2020) and the idea of literally providing shelter for another being. The real catalyst for this first conversation, originally recorded in May 2020, was a group exhibition Anna curated titled (s)mother at Bethany Arts Community in Ossining, New York. The second iteration of that show is happening again this year, (s)mother 2.0: care in (a time of) crisis, opening on May 8 and on view through May 29, 2021. In conjunction with the exhibition, a series of related conversations will be released in the coming weeks/months.

Ultimately, the conversation with Anna and those that will follow consider a broader exploration of what it means to mother and what it means to take care in a time of crisis. In this episode, Anna shares her own struggle with post-partum depression and curating as a means of catharsis. This episode also features original music by Char McCutcheon.

Anna, Graham, and Frida, Ossining, New York, February 2019.

Resources

If you are struggling with postpartum depression, know you are not alone. Contact postpartum support international at 1.800.944.4773 to find local support.

(s)mother 2.0: care in (a time of) crisis at Bethany Arts Community

Virtual Opening: Saturday, May 8, 2021, 5-6pm

Virtual Mid-Run Conversation: Saturday, May 15, 11am-12:30pm

Closing at Bethany: Saturday, May 29, 2pm

Bel Falleiros is a Brazilian artist with an Architecture degree whose artistic research focuses on land identity. Starting with her hometown, São Paulo, she has worked to understand how contemporary landscapes, city tissue and its monuments (mis)represent the diverse layers of presence that constitute a place. Since arriving in the U.S., she has continued working closely with the land, creating space for grounding and exploring the stories and symbols that can unite us.

During our conversation—originally broadcast live as part of Montez Press Radio’s summer programming from their Canal Street studio in New York City—we dig into ideas related to identity, displacement and what it means to trace lines towards home in different ways: from movement to monument to music. What is revealed when tracing the line in these cities back even farther in an attempt to find their starting point - or as Bel describes, their navel? Hers is an artistic practice driven by the relationship established with the land when we investigate the stories that each place can tell us. Imagining all cities as born from a zero, a starting point, a navel, she envisions each arising from a primordial force that makes a piece of earth become a place. This uncut interview also features music from Brazilian artist Luedji Luna.

In the final episode of this three-part series, Emily’s story is brought into the present. At the start, the story picks back up in Los Angeles, where Emily is at her wit’s end - but then connects with a doctor who serves as a critical link to a very unique program at the Mayo Clinic, setting her on a new trajectory with long game perspective as she builds her life in Richmond.

After relocating to Los Angeles, Emily describes her first conversation with a new doctor in LA, providing a promising new start with renewed hope. What follows is another series of twists and turns - from battling chemical addiction to healing and learning to forge new paths, finding alternative methods where conventional modes are just not cutting it.

In the first episode of this three-part series, Emily shares her early experiences with the discovery of a challenging medical situation. Revealing the important of a support system as well as a sense of humor, she ventures out on her own and eventually finds her way to Los Angeles.

For this first episode of Shelter, we set the stage with some real talk from a woman who has taken the road less traveled - and taken it by storm in her 25 foot Flying Cloud Airstream. Meet Lauren Lizardo: storyteller, data-lover and money boss. She’s a financial maven who left a lucrative career in the Bay Area five years ago to start her own business and take it on the road. Lauren also pens The Sheconomista Report, a weekly newsletter which began with a focus on women and money and has since evolved into a resource for aspiring to well-established lady entrepreneurs. Our conversation explores her trajectory over the past five years, digging into the discoveries and realities of life on the road.