ARTIST STATEMENT
My work represents my frustrations with domestic life by communicating the raw, unfiltered side of how sometimes my anxiety and motherhood coincide. I create moments from my life and bring them into the gallery. The inspiration is from the daily battles I have in a typical day as a mother. After a full day of work when I am already exhausted, my domestic duties are seemingly never ending and the sound of toys and arguing children burst through my house. These are the times, especially when my anxiety is high, that I experience a lot of self-doubt and became easily overwhelmed. “Mom guilt” is an experience I think anyone who is a parent has been tormented by. Being a parent is one of the hardest things one can do and unlike any other job there is no clocking out at the end of the day.
I choose domestic objects found in an average home with children. Yes, these are objects found in many homes but the way I have recontextualized each piece will tell you my personal story. By addressing the harsh stigmas society has towards both anxiety and motherhood, I hope to normalize the reality rather than continuing the cycle of these idealized notions of what parenting is supposed to be.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Casaundra Beard is an artist living and working in southwest Missouri. She received her MFA in Visual Studies and her BFA in Drawing at Missouri State University. While pursuing her degree she served as an advisor to design students and a teacher of record in 3D studies and Art History. Now, she works as Assistant Director of Academic Advising and instructor at Drury University where she gets to continue her passion for helping students achieve their academic, professional and life goals.
Her artistic practice is interdisciplinary using a wide range of materials such as fibers, found objects, and digital media to create sculptures and installations. Her work is centered around her struggles with anxiety and how that interacts with her everyday life, specifically the challenges of domesticity. She is a wife and mother of two young children, who keep her busy and provide inspiration for her art. Her work has been exhibited at Springfield Art Museum, is a part of the permanent collection of Artist Parent Index, and her thesis The Good, the Bad and the Unspoken: Complex Layers of Motherhood was published in the Journal of Mother Studies. The parent/child relationship is so complex and beautiful. Casaundra enjoys getting to tell her families story so open and honestly while also providing a voice for her fellow caregivers.
© Casaundra Beard