Our Animal Selves: A Creative Workshop
Once upon a time I wrote, I am no more animal than when I am nursing.
Maman, Louise Bourgeois
In my book MILK, I wrote of Louise Bourgeois; her mothers and spiders and fierce headless-canines. I explored mythical wolf mothers, the lore of semi-divine babies fed by deer.
I've been learning how to lean into my animal side.
I am mammal.
In Mother Animal Helen Jukes recounts her - perhaps at times obsessive - research into what motherhood looks like in other species. This information guides her throughout her own pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, and in doing so, she explores her own animality. I recommend the book wholeheartedly.
I’ve been plotting a creative workshop around this theme for ages. But I realised, while running the Picturing Mothers workshops last month, that all the images we were looking at depicted humans, in one form or another.
I wondered where thinking with the animal would lead us?
So this one-off workshop invites us to explore our own animality.
We will dive into the evocative world of Louise Bourgeois, whose sculptures and drawings use the spider as metaphors for motherhood, protection, resilience, and the complex dynamics of womanhood and familial bonds.
We will use these works as visual prompts to reflect and explore our animal selves through guided creative writing and collaborative exercises.
Book A Place
When
Thursday 5th November 10am - 11am, UK Time
Where
Zoom!
This is a live experience and will not be recorded. This is intentional: the discussion and intimacy of the group is central to the workshop. Slides will be shared with all participants afterwards.
Tickets
Please choose the tier that reflects your current circumstances.
There are two free places for those with limited financial means on a first-come, first-served basis. Please send me an email to request a place; there is no need to disclose any reasons or personal information. Just asking is enough.
Book a Place
Why me?
Led by me, Dr. Joanna Wolfarth, an art historian with over 13 years of experience, this workshop series blends my academic expertise with personal insight.
I currently teach art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art and The Open University. I previously lectured at SOAS, University of London, University of Leeds and Fulbright University Vietnam. I am the author of Milk: An Intimate History of Breastfeeding (Weidenfeld & Nicolson) and write and teach on art, gender, culture and motherhood. My work has been featured in The Observer, Hyperallergic & Wellcome, and reviewed favourably in The Sunday Times.
‘as a cultural historian Wolfarth is excellent at detailing how motherhood changes her perspective of art . . .’ Francesca Angelini ― THE SUNDAY TIMES
Feedback from Previous Workshop Attendees
‘Your perfectly curated session was so ideally pitched and felt like a real treat. I felt very held and that was your incredible facilitating/hosting.’
‘Thank you for the art history context to the imagery - the whole course was accessible and unpretentious.’
‘I absolutely loved it! It was very accessible to people without any art history background. And it obviously gathered thoughtful participants. I could happily attend three days on this!’
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this workshop for?
Anyone interested in art, history, feminism, visual culture, motherhood or identity. You don’t need any prior knowledge of art history, just curiosity and an openness to discussion.
Do I need to be a mother to attend?
Not at all. The workshop is relevant to anyone interested in these ideas, regardless of their own experience of motherhood.
Look forward to seeing some of you there!
