Barbara Rehus

Thanks, Ma

Thanks, Ma revisits an old line of artistic expression.  In past works, my explorations on the theme of motherhood have centered around sweaters made of unwearable materials – cement, glass, wax, matted dog hair.  There is a harshness to these materials; a harshness that carries over to the type of mother who would wear such items.  This time around, I wanted to take a lighter look at motherhood and create a more benign and softer representation of that most basic and universal of all human relationships.  This is my first representation of knitting that most closely resembles something that can be worn, although it still can not be worn. Thanks, Ma is a life-sized kinetic sculptural puppet.  Follow the YouTube link below to see her in action.

  •  Thanks, Ma; Kinetic puppet installation, Mon Ton Gallery; mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011 Thanks, Ma; Kinetic puppet installation, Mon Ton Gallery; mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011
  • Thanks, Ma; Kinetic puppet installation, World Festival of Threads; mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2013 Thanks, Ma; Kinetic puppet installation, World Festival of Threads; mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2013
  • Thanks, Ma (detail); Kinetic puppet installation, mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011 Thanks, Ma (detail); Kinetic puppet installation, mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011
  • Thanks, Ma (detail); Kinetic puppet installation, mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011 Thanks, Ma (detail); Kinetic puppet installation, mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011
  • Thanks, Ma (detail); Kinetic puppet installation, mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011 Thanks, Ma (detail); Kinetic puppet installation, mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011
Thanks, Ma; Kinetic puppet installation, Mon Ton Gallery; mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011

Thanks, Ma; Kinetic puppet installation, World Festival of Threads; mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2013

 

Thanks, Ma (detail); Kinetic puppet installation, mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011

Thanks, Ma (detail); Kinetic puppet installation, mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011

Thanks, Ma (detail); Kinetic puppet installation, mixed media; 66"h x 72"w x 48"d; 2011