Posthumous Collections (a work in progress)

My beloved mother passed away in May 2023 after years suffering from Parkinson’s disease and dementia. My father took care of her until he was partially paralyzed by a traumatic spinal cord injury in June 2021 – then I became primary caregiver to both. My life was irrevocably changed. Elder caregiving is an isolating and profoundly lonely experience and is dominated by the management of complicated healthcare and daily living requirements.

By the time my mom passed away, I had stopped creating art for so long that it was impossible to pick up where I left off. I began by organizing her substantial, beloved collection of seashells and in the process, developed “Posthumous Collections”, a work-in-progress art installation celebrating her treasures.

Mom was an accomplished biologist and a lover of the natural world -- some of my fondest memories are of the moments we spent together combing the beaches for shells and sea glass while watching the seabirds dive for fish. Shells are intricately connected to the waters they are formed in and the creatures that live and die in them – some are thousands of years old. I feel a timeless connection to my mom while contemplating, holding and arranging shells that she lovingly touched countless times.