CreativeMornings Ottawa, June 2021: Matriarchy

Imagine a world run by women – one where the systems and structures were re-built to fit the vision for leadership that women have set out in the world.

This isn’t a purely theoretical question. Powerful women already lead societies, including Native and Indigenous communities, around the world.

This month’s CreativeMornings Ottawa talk aims to shine a light on all the leaders who are also women, from across the vast spectrum of identities and experiences of womanhood.

To do that, we’ll be hosting Ottawa artist Natalie Bruvels, who will trace her journey as a (single) mother and painter pursuing graduate studies to ask what strategies may we use to remember the foundational role that women need to play in our society.

Natalie is a multidisciplinary artist working primarily in paint. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Ottawa and is currently pursuing an MFA at the same institution. Her artistic research explores relational identity including representations of maternal figures and single motherhood in art through a matricentric, feminist lens. Her work can be found in the City of Ottawa art collection as well as many private collections. Natalie lives in Ottawa with her son.

Her talk will explore the valorization of mothers – think of the archetype of Madonna and Child – does little to empower them. The word matriarchy sounds glorious – a society where care is foundational infrastructure. The pandemic, however, has made it painfully clear how far we must still go in truly prioritizing care. Drawing from recent theories such as Julie Stevens’ post maternal which reveals anxieties around care perpetuated by an active forgetting.

Register for free HERE and join us at 8:30 am EST on Friday, June 25!