Mary Porterfield’s drawings reflect her mother’s struggle to care for her father who had Parkinsonism and was homebound. The life-sized images, which are cut out and attached to the wall, represent the mounting difficulties Porterfield’s parents faced, made worse by the pandemic. She overlaps translucent layers to signify her father’s gradual evanescence before his passing, using the vastness of the wall to represent her mother’s perseverance, hardship and love. Although Porterfield’s father is no longer alive, the assistive devices remain as witnesses to the weight her mother bore, both physically and metaphorically. She continues to embrace the memories of what was while acknowledging the impermanence of what is. In sharing her parent’s story in the exhibition With/In, she hopes to elevate those who have had such an impact on our past, while making visible those who assist in their care.

RSVP for the opening reception on Friday, May 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the link below: REGISTER HERE