SAMANTHA HAHN

Opening Party: Saturday March 10th, 7-10pm

213 Bond St. Brooklyn, NY 11217 (917)446-8681 info@MFgallery.net

In honor of International Women's Month, MF Gallery is hosting an art show that explores the joys, challenges, and body-politics of breastfeeding and motherhood in the 21st century. Part of the proceeds will benefit La Leche League.

Co-Curated by Leigh Pennebaker, (founder of @breastfeedingart feed on instagram) and Martina Secondo Russo, (owner of MF Gallery) this show will feature artwork in a variety of media from two dozen international artists, including Nicoz Balboa, Christa David, Jess Dobkin, Debbies Drummond, Marina Font, Geertje Geertsma, Aimee Gilmore, Jenna Gribbon, Samantha Hahn, Sigal Arad Inbar, Kasey Jones, Raeleen Kao, Lucy Knisley, Rachel Marcotte, Tara McPherson, Anna Melo, Jenny Middleton, April Rose, Martina Secondo Russo, Debra Sheldon, SWOON, Lexx Valdez, Anna Wiggins, Megan Wynne and more.

Today, many female artists are moving beyond the ancient Madonna archetype and creating fresh and exciting work using their firsthand experience with breastfeeding to explore what it means to be women, mothers, and feminists. These artists are making work that celebrates the naturalness and normalcy of breastfeeding and pushes back at a culture that penalizes and censors women’s bodies at every turn. Breastfeeding can be one of the most beautiful and fulfilling journeys in life, but women who wish to nurse their babies often face an uphill battle in a culture that doesn’t provide adequate postpartum support, and in which women are constantly judged and criticized no matter what they do. Even street harassment takes specific form, as strangers admonish mothers to ‘cover up’ while breastfeeding in public spaces. Artists are harnessing such experiences and using them as fuel to create while deepening the discourse around mothers, babies, and our mammal bodies.

A portion of the proceeds from artwork sales will be donated to La Leche League of Brooklyn, the local chapter of La Leche League International, whose mission is to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.

Join us on Saturday March 10th, (7-10pm) for the “Art Of Breastfeeding” Opening Reception. Many of the artists will be in attendance. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free and open to all ages.

MF Gallery is located at 213 Bond Street, between Baltic and Butler Streets in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn. Take the F or G to Bergen St., the A or C to Hoyt/ Schermerhorn, or the R to Union.

The artwork can also be viewed and purchased online at: www.MFgallery.net

After opening night, the show will be open by appointment only.

Email info@MFgallery.net or call (917)446-8681 to schedule a visit or for any other inquiries.