*reposted
Mom, look what I did!!! I designed the "Mountain Matriarchs" with mentorship from Greta McLean of the Community Mural Institute
@community.mural.institute . The mural is intended to honor women's work across all spheres of life, whether in caregiving roles or/AND as community leaders, emphasizing the importance of valuing all forms of women's labor. The Morganton community selected 3 women to be celebrated in the design: Maricela Lopez, Molly Mackay and Nettie McGimpsey McIntosh (more about them below).
On the left key symbols include a young girl studying in the foreground while women are multitasking by braiding hair, caretaking, and reading stories. On the right we see three distinct workplaces; a worker owned cooperative, a church and an artist studio while in the background, women are shown leading community initiatives, creating art, and using their voices to advocate for change.
In the middle, the three central figures embody the broader narrative of women’s leadership in both public and private spheres, from nurturing future generations to advocating for their communities and building creative legacies.
* Maricela Lopez of Guatemalan origin is the Production Manager and Owner of Opportunity Threads, a thriving worker-owned cooperative in Morganton. Her leadership emphasizes the entrepreneurial spirit of women in small business sectors.
* Molly Mackay is a ceramic artist and the co-owner of West Union Art Studios. Defying the stereotype that artists cannot flourish in small towns, Molly has dedicated herself to creating a vibrant arts community in Burke County.
* Nettie McGimpsey McIntosh was an extraordinary educator and community activist. She played a pivotal role in establishing the History Museum of Burke County. Her legacy of generosity and service continues through her daughter, Willette McIntosh.
A HUGE thank you to the whole CMI team, Greta, Britt, Kathryn, the Morganton community
@tossafter The Industrial Commons, Goodspace Mural and my incredible studio assistants
@jennhales @georgiatardyart @cusack.studios without whom none of this would have been possible. On to the next one 🥳
