The connection forged between mothers and daughters is one that is not easily replaced, and a girl who loses her mother to death at a young age can grow up forever trying to fill a gap within herself. While many women come to adulthood having found other women to fill parts of that missing role, their lives are irrevocably altered by this loss.

The installation will feature a 20'x20' exhibit area with 16 chairs spaced out evenly as though in a grid. Each chair will represent a woman who has helped to shape who I am - my sister, grandmother, best friend, mentor, etc. Each chair will be painted, collaged, or sculpted according to the individual woman. As the audience walks around the chairs, they will be able to sit in them and listen (via headphones) to a recording of that woman talking about her life, her joys and challenges. The one chair standing in for my mother will be the only undecorated chair and the only headphones that will play silence, as she is my own empty space.

If you are one of the participants in this project and need current information, click here.