1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«As a mother to my children and now, as a mother to my mother, my aim was to explore how issues related to motherhood, marriage and the vicissitude of everyday domestic life affect or influence creativity and, in the process, hoped to contribute to contemporary discourses on feminism and maternal art.» (p. 12)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«Through personal reflection and exploration, my goal was to study how domesticity and familial bonds may be used to help others develop creative personal works, ensuing the question: As a married woman, mother, artist, and art educator -analyzing her own creative process- what meaning or meanings will be extracted from this research that can be incorporated in my art education teaching practice?» (p. 11-12)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The artworks and reflective notes in the journal were the primary data. A separate journal documented all my daily chores and activities. Documentary photos of the work in progress were also included. Secondary data consisted of family photographs and art works produced prior to the study. These served not only as inspiration but also as a means of introducing the point of entry.» (p. 25)

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«Although art-making may be a good motivational tool, sometimes it may address conflicts or dilemmas that are not in our power or training to address. For instance this year as a community art educator I worked with women who were mothers with very sad stories: mothers who have lost their children because of suicide or infanticide. These very devastating accounts made me very aware of the fragility of probing into lived experiences. In these cases, I understood the validity of using art making as a form of distraction. I reconsidered the value of facilitating feelings of transcendence or peak experiences in the art making process by practicing instruction that leaned towards a purely intuitive approach or geared towards the teaching of skills. Although in the past, I felt this undermined the significance of art on a larger scale, as a daughter/caregiver going through a substantial amount of stress, I now understand the relief of being able to move away from one’s daily troubles and search for a form of escapism through art not to mention as means of reconnecting with one’s self.» (p. 70)