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Biddeford, Maine

UNE Art Gallery in Biddeford presents ‘Light and Shadow: Motherhood, Creativity, and the Discourse of Ability’

Wind Seeker 2024 by Alicia Ethridge.
As a part of the exhibition, "Wind Seeker," 2024, by Alicia Ethridge, will be on display.

The University of New England Art Gallery in Biddeford will exhibit “Light and Shadow: Motherhood, Creativity, and the Discourse of Ability,” a series of works by five artists, from May 31 to Oct. 20. 

The collection includes artwork from Alicia Ethridge, Jodi Ferry, Amelia Garretson-Persans, Celeste Henriquez, and Cozette Russell with text by art historian Virginia Rose. The exhibit highlights the creative practices of artists who are mothers of children with developmental or physical differences. 

“Light and Shadow” focuses on creative processes as part of the family dynamic, specifically related to women’s experiences as artist-parents, in the context of a conversation around disability. 

“Work in the exhibit reflects the practice of each artist in a wide creative sense without always directly referring to family,” remarked Hilary Irons, director of galleries and exhibitions at UNE. “Creative work is by necessity a reflection of an artist’s life as a whole. ‘Light and Shadow’ is a way to honor families, mothers, artists, and creative practice.” 

This exhibit is presented in cooperation with the UNE School of Education in recognition of the University’s recently renamed Master of Science in Education-Special Education. This program prepares students to become special education teachers and is an approved program for preparation for the Teacher of Students with Disabilities (282) Endorsement in the State of Maine.

An opening reception will be held at the gallery, located in the Jack S. Ketchum Library on UNE’s oceanfront campus, on Friday, May 31 from 4 to 7 p.m., and the artwork is viewable from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The Jack S. Ketchum Library is located at 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford. 

For more information, contact Hilary at hirons@une.edu.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.