A Mother's Labor Original Artwork

The artwork measures 5.5 W x 25 H x 2 D inches. A loop on the back allows it to hang from a hammered nail. 

Details

This wall hanging is my interpretation of a branch of a family tree. Amid the leaves are little marks of embroidery, symbols of effort as a mother tries to create something beautiful for her children and family. Yet little holes of incomplete pattern also dot the leafy branch. They represent the imperfections and shortcomings of the parental relationship, because no matter how hard she loves and works and worries, a mother will always fall short of her own expectations and of those around her. This artwork tries to reconcile the beauty and the failures of our familial bonds and reminds the viewer that the branch still grows despite it all.

Materials

Pressed plants, archival paper, acrylic paint, thread, archival paper clay

Will My Artwork Last?

This artwork is created from real pressed plants. Although they may seem delicate, pressed plants are surprisingly durable. Back in 2016, archeologists found a pressed flower inside a 3,000 year old axe handle dating from the Bronze Age. The flower was still in tact! A more "recent" example is an herbarium, a collection of pressed plants glued onto paper, made by Gherado Cibo in 1532 that is still being preserved today in Rome. Cibo's herbarium is just one example of many pressed plants that have lasted centuries and can still be enjoyed today. 

Even though pressed plants are resilient, I wanted to make my artworks more archival by taking additional steps. In this artwork each flower and leaf has been painted with lightfast acrylic paint, which means the color will never fade. As long as it's handled with care, your artwork can last centuries, just like the examples I've mentioned.  attached.

Care

Avoid water or cleaning solutions. Dust lightly with a soft duster when needed.