Artists Frances McDormand and Suzanne Bocanegra have joined forces with Shaker Museum to present Cradled, a thought-provoking exhibition that explores the transcendent impact of the Shakers’ communal embrace from cradle to grave through objects, values, and inspired modern-day artistic expression. The new exhibition will open to the public on Sunday, September 15, with a reception from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Kinderhook Knitting Mill in Kinderhook, NY.
With Cradled, Frances McDormand and Suzanne Bocanegra have curated an experiential exhibition that illuminates the core Shaker values of compassionate care and support provided to all members of their community at all stages of their lives. Shakers built adult-size cradles to provide the nurturing care and respect at the end of life as well as the beginning. This exhibition showcases the craftsmanship of both adult and child-sized Shaker cradles and re-creates the environment in which they were used. Through the curation of objects, soundscapes, lighting, ephemera, and experience, Cradled invites visitors to feel the communal embrace and take part in the literal and figurative mending and communal care that were central to Shaker values.
Artists’ statement from Frances McDormand and Suzanne Bocanegra:
“To be cradled, held, supported by one’s community.
From birth to grave.
WITH RESPECT AND CARE.
To be mended by an exchange of trust, loyalty and compassion.
To be honored for one’s contribution to the whole and to believe one is contributing to the sustenance of the future.
The contemplation of these thoughts and possibilities is what we hope to offer you in this space.
TAKE YOUR TIME.
ROCK YOURSELF.
MEND, IF YOU LIKE.
YOU ARE WELCOME.”
Read the entire press release here.
