The Beautiful Sacrifice: Honoring Invisible Labor Through Art

8/1/20025

This past May, I had the honor of participating in a group exhibition centered on the theme of Mother's Day at the Nina Baldwin Gallery, located in the vibrant Peter Street art district of Downtown Atlanta. The show brought together diverse voices reflecting on motherhood, care, and the many forms of sacrifice that comes with nurturing others.

My contribution to the exhibit was a mixed media paper sculpture titled "The Beautiful Sacrifice" an underwater tribute to the quiet heroism of the octopus mother, and the coral reef ecosystems that mirror the unseen work of motherhood on a micro and macro scale.

The Story Behind the Piece

In nature, the female octopus, is one of the most self- sacrificing mothers. She lays her eggs in a protective crevice and dedicates herself entirely to their safety - fanning them, cleaning them, and guarding them for months without eating. She gives everything she has until her energy is depleted, and often dies shortly after her young hatches.

Coral reefs, sometimes referred to as the "mothers of the ocean" also became central to the piece. They protect, nourish, and support entire ecosystems, offering refuge and food for countless marine species. The textures, colors, and structures in my artwork mirror these intricate environments, each element handcrafted using time intensive technique called quilling.

The Art of Quilling: A Meditation on Care

Quilling involves coiling, shaping, and arranging thin strips of paper into decorative designs. Every swirl, curve, and layered piece in this sculpture was created by hand, an intentional meditative process that felt like a dialogue between creation and purpose.

Honoring Mothers in All Their Forms

Though this exhibition has ended, its meaning continues to unfold for me.. Whether we are biological mothers, caregivers, mentors, or simply people who hold space for others, the work of mothering is essential, expansive, and worthy of reverence.

I am grateful to have shared space with fellow artist who explored this theme from so many angles and the curators who made room for these stories to be seen.

What's Next

"The Beautiful Sacrifice" is currently available for future exhibitions. I'm also continuing to explore marine inspired themes in my work using paper as both a material and metaphor.

Thank you for witnessing this piece and the story behind it.

Bolanle Pace