Stories of Our Foremothers: New Work by Robin Brooks opens virtually at Curtis Library
My exhibit entitled “Foremothers and Others” will open at Curtis Library’s Morrell Meeting Room virtual exhibit space is on display through October, 2021. Almost all of the work in the virtual exhibit is from my studio explorations of the past year. To access the exhibit, follow this link: https://publish.exhibbit.com/gallery/283889724/marble-gallery-23494/ or visit the Curtis Library’s website.
Curtis Memorial Library is located on the corner of Pleasant and Middle Streets in Brunswick, Maine.
A Sneak Preview of the Foremothers Exhibit
Here are three of my Foremothers paintings from the virtual exhibit at Curtis Library: Rebecca in a Purple Coat, Flowers for RBG, and The Friendship Club. If you’ve been following my blog, you already know about the evolution of this artwork.
Reflecting
What does it mean to honor a Foremother? What traces of our foremothers can we find in ourselves? How can art help us go deeper with our explorations and understandings? How can we learn from the stories of our Foremothers that have come down to us? As we reflect deeply, let us live fully into the present moment while holding them in our hearts.
Share your story: Participate in The Foremothers Project
For the Foremothers Project, I will be collecting your stories on my blog. To participate, please share a sentence or two about a Foremother who has inspired you. To get an idea, you can check out the stories I have shared on my blog. https://robinbrooksart.com/category/stories-of-foremothers/
Stories of Our Foremothers is an ongoing project that is funded, in part, through a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
I always enjoy hearing from you, so please write and share your thoughts.
Hello Robin, I was remembering your previous ‘coat’ from the Harlow show years back. This new coat of yours compelled me to visit your exhibit. Such a tender and powerful subject. Thank you for taking this project on.
My mother, inspired me in so many ways: Her caring, loving nature, her devotion to family, her work ethic and her humor. She ran a business with my father, cooked for us, cleaned our home, sewed our clothes, washed our clothes, (in a ringer machine!) made all holidays memorable, and yes, I do remember her being tired sometimes, but she did not complain and was grateful she could do all these things.
My parents immigrated from Ukraine after WWII and felt blessed to be in this country and provide for their children. It was back in the day when the American Dream was alive and well…they prospered and had good lives.
Hi Lesia, Thank you for sharing some memories about your mother and how she inspired you. It makes me tired just hearing about all that she did! I picture her co-running a business with her husband while at the same time juggling the responsibilities of a busy household, and all with devotion and good humor. What you said about how she was tired at times but did not complain speaks to your mother’s strength! It also speaks to the gratitude she must have felt for all the opportunities this country offered her.