Liminal Gallery is delighted to announce the second exhibition in their new permanent home in Margate. ‘Matrescence’ brings together the work of four artists Mothers, curated by a Mother, with a portion of sales going to local non-profit organisation MAMA to MAMA.

The term ‘Matrescence’ is the physical, emotional, psychological, hormonal and social transition to becoming a mother. The term, originally devised by anthropologist Dana Raphael, draws similarities to adolescence as children mature into adults, with raging hormones and bodily changes. Matrescence brings many new mothers comfort in understanding the monumental metamorphosis they experience. 

The artists Catherine Lette, Sarah Maple, Jennifer Nieuwland and Alexis Soul-Gray explore this concept in their works in varying ways. From the bold, brutal reality alongside a dose of good humour. Liminal Gallery Founder and Director, Louise Fitzjohn, who is also a Mother, brings together works from these four artists, which highlight the invisible ways in which we care for our children, the expectations society has of the ‘perfect mother’ and the unrealistic reality of this, the carving out of a new identity, the physical and emotional juggling act, alongside the unconditional and overwhelming love for your own creation. 

Liminal Gallery and the artists are delighted to support local Margate-based social enterprise and non-profit organisation MAMA to MAMA, with 10% of all sales donated to them and the work they do to ensure that no Mother is left unprepared for their baby, providing clothes and equipment for baby and mother to the most underprivileged across Thanet. 

All are welcome to join us to celebrate the opening of ‘Matrescence’ on Saturday 5th November 5-8pm, kindly sponsored by Old Dairy Brewery. 

 

–ABOUT–

 

Catherine Lette is a practicing painter from Cornwall, now living and working in South London. With a BA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins, Lette has developed her painting practice over the past few years at Turps Art School.  

Lette’s work is concerned primarily with the figure and questioning the impact of contemporary life upon body and mind.  Inspired by current events, Lette works from life, memory and collage to explore embodiment and disembodiment in the real and virtual spaces we occupy.  Her work often uses humour and irony to investigate the personal and societal anxieties that underpin daily life.

Since 2021 she has participated in numerous group shows, curator’s selections, prizes and exhibitions.  Notably she has been shortlisted for the Hari Art Prize ‘22,  featured in Business Traveller UK, included in Auc Art’s ‘Ones to watch’, shortlisted for Jackson’s Painting Prize ’21 and published in Art Maze Mag’s issue 21.  Her work is held in private collections in the UK and internationally.

 

Sarah Maple is an award winning visual artist known for her bold, brave, mischievous and occasionally controversial artworks that challenge notions of identity, religion and the status quo. Much of Maple's inspiration originates from her mixed religious and cultural upbringing.

Sarah’s artwork, film and performances have been exhibited internationally at galleries and institutions including Tate Britain, Golden Thread Gallery and Tallin Art Hall. Her recent commissions include The Baltic, New Art Exchange and Sky Arts.

 

Jennifer Nieuwland born in 1977, lives and works in London. She is Dutch by nationality and spent her formative years in Milan, Italy. She was mostly self-taught before embarking on an MA in Fine Art at City and Guilds of London Art School, completed in October 2021. This resulted in a marked shift in her practice, which now focuses on exploring bodily memory and the sensory. She has been shortlisted for a variety of prizes such as the ING Discerning Eye and the Jacksons Open Painting Prize. Since completing her MA, she has been selected for various collective shows in London and for the cover of Ache Magazine being released Autumn 2022.

 

Alexis Soul-Gray (b.1980), lives and works in Devon and is currently studying MA Painting at The Royal College of Art.  She is an alumni of The Royal Drawing School having completed the Postgraduate Drawing Year between 2006-7. Her undergraduate degree is in Drawing from Camberwell College of Art, graduating in 2003 after completing a foundation course at Central Saint Martins College of Art. Alexis has held lecturing positions in universities, worked as an independent curator and is a 2021 & 2022 recipient of The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant for Painting. She has recently been artist in residence at Exeter Phoenix Gallery and Artist House Kadenowka, Poland. In 2022 she had her first solo show in a publicly funded gallery and is currently working towards her first international solo shows. 

 

MAMA to MAMA was founded by Margate Mama Jayne Furniss. They wash, package and distribute beautiful boxes of preloved baby clothes and essentials through referrals from social care and community workers. The mamas who receive these boxes are experiencing one or more of the following challenges: living in poverty, escaping domestic abuse, leaving the care system, single parenthood.

Each box is individually curated to ensure there is a coherent collection for a new baby's wardrobe; from clothes and baby products to a maternity package for the expectant mama.  

From social media campaigns and community word of mouth alone, they are taking donations of over 1,500 items each month, all redirected from landfill and given another life.

MAMA to MAMA are currently Crowdfunding to become a registered charity, to allow the project to grow and to support these women further through a holistic package of support.

 

Liminal Gallery specialises in the representation of emerging to mid-career contemporary artists working across the UK and Ireland, showcasing the internationality and diversity of artists working across the countries. With artists at their core, Liminal seeks to nurture and encourage emerging talent, fostering a collaborative community to provide an exciting programme of specially curated exhibitions.

 

Liminal Gallery is delighted to announce their permanent home at 34 Fort Hill, Margate. The creative inclusivity of the community is the perfect place for Liminal to take root, to continue to present innovative initiatives to widen access to their artists works in order to wholly support their careers, aspirations and grand ideas.

To purchase please get in touch with us info@liminal-gallery.com