Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train by Rachael Grad

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

Rolling a toy train across my artwork is a not-so-subtle metaphor for being a mother and an artist. Motherhood hit me like a train. When I became a mother, my art changed course. Toys overtook my home and artwork. In this series I reverse the ubiquitous toy train and turn it into a paintbrush. To express motherhood in body and gesture, I use small toy trains to make fluid marks across watercolour paper. For the paint colour to show up on the paper, I must heavily press down on the toy train during the entire rolling mark movement. This sweeping motion is unexpectedly tiring for my arm and back, like the physical aches experienced when mothering newborns. I must work in short bursts and take many breaks while creating this painting. Resting alone and respite from one’s own kids is also highly recommended when mothering.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Rachael Grad is a Toronto artist and mother who left practicing law to study painting at the New York Studio School and New York University before transferring to OCAD University. Grad graduated OCADU as the Governor General Academic Medal and Mrs. W.O. Forsyth Award Winner. Trained to paint and draw from life, Grad is graduating from the MFA (Visual Arts) program at York University. Grad combines her experience as a mother and former lawyer into her artwork. Creating work based on parenting moments, current series include “Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train” works on paper that use trains as paintbrushes. A MNjcc International Womens Day exhibit.

RachaelGradArt.com

@RachaelGradArt

March 5-27, 2024