MAGIC, MIRTH, AND MORTALITY: Musings On Black Motherhood Exhibit Opening

Young At Art Museum (YAA) is thrilled to invite the community to the opening of its latest exhibition, MAGIC, MIRTH, AND MORTALITY: Musings On Black Motherhood, on Thursday, September 28th, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, with a panel discussion starting at 7:00pm. The museum welcomes all to join in the celebration of this thought-provoking exhibition’s unveiling originally from Jacksonville, FL. The opening reception is free to the public and promises lively discussion with the artists, accompanied by light refreshments. Families are especially encouraged to attend this enriching event inspired by the lived experiences of BIPOC artists, who celebrate the resilience of Black mothers through the lens of visual and literary art. The exhibit is on view from September 28, 2023 through June 9, 2024.

MAGIC, MIRTH, AND MORTALITY: Musings On Black Motherhood is a powerful exhibition inspired by the experiences of writer, curator, wife, and mother Shawana Brooks and co-curated by Laura Marsh, YAA Curator of Cultural Development. This exhibit explores the resilience of mothers through visual and literary art. At its heart is the “Womb Room,” a unique installation that offers visitors an immersive experience of the mother’s womb. The exhibit touches on Shawana Brooks’ own journey of pregnancy and her son’s premature birth and mirrors experiences of participating artists, Cheryl McCain, Marsha Hatcher, Tatiana Kitchen, and South Florida local, Shawna Moulton. Interspersed with artistic expressions are poignant statistics highlighting the challenges faced by BIPOC mothers, including infant and maternal mortality rates, healthcare disparities, and institutional biases. The exhibit is designed to spark conversations and reflections on these pressing societal issues.

In conjunction with the exhibit, YAA proudly launches its innovative art education pilot program, Parent to Kid Connection (PKC). This initiative, running from September through June 2024, aims to address the needs of parents and children within our communities through parent and child health coaching and museum artist workshops.

By partnering with organizations across Broward, PKC will host 10 free monthly parent and child group sessions at YAA. These sessions explore a unique blend of creative play, art-making, and open dialogue, facilitated by partnering early childhood experts and women artists. These artists and mothers will engage participants creatively in their artistic practice and stories of how motherhood has influenced their body of work. The program focuses on fostering healthy parenting skills, promoting positive mental health practices, encouraging creative approaches to raising families, enhancing communication skills between parents and children, and building lasting community bonds.

This inspiring coupling of the MAGIC, MIRTH, AND MORTALITY exhibit with the Parent to Kid Connection program promises to create a nurturing space for learning, understanding, and growth. By fostering meaningful conversations and interactions, Young At Art Museum is furthering its mission to create a positive impact within the community.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to celebrate the beauty and resilience of black motherhood while engaging in a transformative dialogue. Join us at the Young At Art Museum and be part of this extraordinary event!

For more information, visit the Young At Art Museum’s official website: www.youngatartmuseum.org

Program support has been provided by the following Funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: Deinhardt Charitable Fund, Kiwanis Club of Fort Lauderdale Charitable Fund, Mary and Alex Mackenzie Community Impact Fund, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation Broward Community Fund

Programming is in partnership with Yellow House, Broward Healthy Start Coalition, Beautiful Bonds, and The Early Learning Coalition