Picturing Mother: Maternity Through the Ages
An invitation to join a series of creative lecture/workshops exploring concepts of (m)otherhood and maternity through time
I am so excited about announcing this workshop series, which has been brewing in my mind for the longest time. As a new term starts and our evenings here in the northern hemisphere are drawing in, I’d like to invite you to join me in uncovering the evolving concepts of motherhood and maternity through the lens of visual art.
From ancient depictions of fertility goddesses to modern portrayals of the mother-child bond, we will journey through history to explore how ideas, attitudes, and representations of motherhood have transformed across cultures and eras.
Course Description
Through a blend of historical context, visual examples, and personal reflection, we will examine the diverse ways in which motherhood has been portrayed and perceived. Throughout four lecture-workshops we will analyse iconic artworks, uncover some of the societal and cultural forces that shaped these representations, and gain insights into the changing roles and expectations of mothers/ carers throughout history.
In addition, there will be space to reflect on your own relationship to the concept of 'the mother'—whether as a figure in your life, a role you inhabit, or an idea that resonates with you.
The magic of art is its ability to offer us as visceral, immediate experience. This workshop series is ideal for anyone interested in art history, cultural studies, or personal exploration of motherhood’s multifaceted nature. It is suitable for all levels.
There are a limited number of places to keep the session as intimate as possible.
During the four workshops you will:
Gain an understanding of how motherhood and maternity have been depicted in visual art across different historical periods and cultures.
Develop skills to analyse and interpret visual representations of motherhood, understanding the cultural, social, and historical contexts behind them.
Explore how different societies and cultures have shaped and expressed concepts of motherhood through art, and how these perspectives compare and contrast with one another.
Engage in creative reflection to explore your own relationship with the concept of 'the mother,' fostering a deeper personal understanding of how these ideas resonate with your experiences.
Express and communicate personal ideas and emotions related to motherhood, whether through discussion, writing, or creative projects.
Join a community in thought-provoking discussions.
Acquire a toolkit of visual analysis techniques and historical knowledge that can be applied to understanding other themes in art beyond motherhood.
Draw connections between historical representations of motherhood and contemporary issues related to gender, family, and identity.
Why me?
I have a PhD in History of Art from the University of Leeds and have been a lecturer in the subject for over 13 years. Previously lecturer in Southeast Asian Arts at SOAS, University of London, I currently teach Global Art History at the Open University and am an adjunct professor at the Fulbright University Vietnam. I’m a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and have loads of experience in teaching online.
I have two children and have written about how connecting with visual art helped me navigate my own matrescence in an article I wrote for The Observer. You can read it here.
My ability for writing about art was praised in reviews of my nonfiction book MILK:
‘as a cultural historian Wolfarth is excellent at detailing how motherhood changes her perspective of art . . .’ Francesca Angelini ― THE SUNDAY TIMES
Feedback from earlier creative sessions on art and motherhood:
I wanted to say how much I enjoyed your writing workshop last night and what an interesting way I found it in to thinking about constructing motherhood - WRITING WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT
Thank you again for the wonderful workshop. It was so inspiring - WRITING WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT
Format
This is a live online course, which takes place on Zoom. The first workshop takes places on Wednesday 2nd October at 8pm UK Time.
Sessions will be recorded. You will need an internet connection, a computer or a tablet/ smart phone (the bigger the screen the better). If you need to balance this session with care-giving you are welcome to bring along babies, children etc.
What’s included?
Four weekly hour-long Zoom calls that blend lectures, discussion, and creative exercises
Recommended readings that connect to each of the weekly themes
Creative Prompts
Access to closed chat thread here on Google Chat to connect with others and build a community. I’ll be in there regularly, with reading recommendations, answering questions and checking in on how everyone is doing.
There are a limited number of places to keep the session as intimate as possible.
Cost
There are also two paid rates:
Rate 1: £150
Rate 2: £90
I am also able to offer two FREE places for anyone not in a position to pay at this time, no questions asked.
Please note that there is a minimum number of paid places required for the course to run.
The below guidelines are just for reference, you won’t be asked for any proof
Rate 1: Comfortably able to meet all basic needs and/or have expendable income
Rate 2: Are employed and/or have some expendable income
Rate 3 (free): Frequently stress about meeting basic needs and don’t always achieve them and/or have no or very limited expendable income
Refunds will be provided at any time before the course start date. Once the course has started you are no longer eligible for a refund. If the workshop is cancelled, you will receive a full refund. Payment processing fees may not be refunded. Class times are subject to change in the event of unforeseen circumstances, partial refunds will be offered.
ahh sounds amazing! so wish i was a nightbird! would love to do this in the daytime sometime 💚💚💚 will you record sessions at all?