Mothering in place

So where are you going for Mother’s Day brunch? [dies of bittersweet, mildly hysterical laughter]

This year, I’m redirecting my brunch money toward helping another artist, photographer Steven Miller. On the other side of this window, he made a photo of me as part of his Pandemic Portraits series, in which he shoots contact-free photos from an appropriate distance — communicating via cell phone. I know I’m not contributing make-or-break money to his bank account. But at least Steven is letting me help him, which is more than I can say for my eleven year-old when I try to help him with school work. Believe it or not, my teenager humors me more often.

He allowed me a little mother-son bonding time over deviled eggs the other day. Of course, he’s kinda stuck with me during quarantine. But I appreciate the chance to be a little more motherly and protective than usual during this uncertain time. When I’m not in the studio, of course.