mothers memory project
This project works to capture the fleeting moments of connection that often slip through our grasp. Whether these relationships are eroded by the constant demands of our digitally interconnected lives or overwhelmed by life’s necessary, yet superficial tasks, my goal is to highlight how connections with others can be deepened. Through the deliberate act of sharing personal stories, the Mothers Memory Project transforms memories of nurturing into tangible objects, drawing them out from the unseen spaces of our past and revealing our intertwined histories. Using a needle and glass seed beads as metaphors for grains of sand, I weave, measure, and explore the ephemeral nature of memory and our shared experiences.
The Mothers Memory Project utilizes a storytelling framework, capturing memories of nurturing on 3×5 library cards and asking participants to share the colors they associate with those memories. These colors are then translated into individual beaded recordings, resembling frames of a film reel. By weaving these recordings together, I give physical form to the intangible nature of our shared histories. Through the process of sharing, stitching, and connecting these beaded frames, the project sheds light on the unseen labor of those who raise us and reveals overlapping memories of nurturing.
Participants are invited to share a memory of a maternal relative or figure who provided nurturing and guidance in their lives. They are then asked to select a sequence of colors they feel is connected to that memory. Participants will be kept updated on the progress of this collaborative project by providing their name and email. These addresses will also be used to create a map that illustrates the origins of these shared memories.
