How We Do Both: Art and Motherhood

By Michi Jigarjian & Qiana Mestrich, 2012

Contributors include: Marina Berio, Katharina Bosse, Susan Bright, Moyra Davey, Joanne Leonard, Joelle Jensen, Justine Kurland, Wangechi Mutu, Rachelle Mozman, Penelope Umbrico, Eti Wade, and Deborah Willis.

How do you logistically balance art making and motherhood?

This is a challenging question because I am not sure that there be a balance when one is a mother and particularly when one’s child is still small. My child is my priority. This is not a negative in my art practice. It does mean that I need to be quicker about my execution, and that I need to conceptualize more and experiment in the practical sense, less. The more I work about the process of art making I grow more aware to not fear change, but rather to understand that with new experience brings new perspective.  

I wouldn’t say that having a child has taken anything away, except maybe time. Sometimes I wonder what I did with all that time before my child. The insight I have gained into the human experience (and that of being a woman) has given me a lot to think about to apply to my work. 

Does your art making require a “room of one’s own”?

Yes, in some ways it does. I find moments when my child is sleeping or when I am on the train. I get a lot done in those moments. 

Did having children enhance your creativity?

Having a child gave me a different perspective on a woman’s abilities and a women’s body. Some things have to be experienced to be understood, and for me pregnancy and child birth were that. I am not speaking romantically because I do not think it was all pleasant. I recognized almost immediately that it was tremendous work and sacrifice to create a person, primarily of the physical sort, and yet, this how we are all here. In many ways this has deeply impacted me and my understanding of work and commitment-to one’s practice, one’s family and to life itself.