Back in 2020, Liz Jordan sat on a neighborhood park bench while her young daughter navigated the terrible twos on the playground. Another local mom, Sarah Creasman Barnett, sat down beside her and the two began chatting and connecting over their shared love of art and struggles as young mothers during a global pandemic. Jordan calls that moment one of the most serendipitous meetings of her life.
Barnett introduced Jordan to the world of motherhood art, which depicts the power, emotions and stages of being a mother. “The first image that came to mind when Sarah said ‘motherhood art’ was work by Mary Cassat, the American impressionist who painted tender moments of mothers and children,” Jordan says. “But I soon learned that modern motherhood art painted a more complete picture of motherhood. The intimacy and beauty were still there but layered with a truer version of motherhood as I knew it. It was simultaneously dark, funny and reverent. It was real and honest.”
Jordan felt seen by these works and knew how strongly these representations would affect other moms and caregivers looking for their village. In the fall of 2022, her bond with Barnett led to the creation of thMTHRshp (The Mothership), a women- and disability-owned fine arts gallery that operates more like a collective, or a group of artists united by shared beliefs, ideologies or aesthetics. In this case, thMTHRship represents primarily women (as well as men), mothers, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities and artists of color in Dallas and across the U.S.
“All the best artists I knew, my favorite contemporary artists, were also historically underrepresented artists. Once you see the lack of representation of these artists in galleries and museums and in the art market as a whole, it’s really shocking,” Jordan says. “The effect that lack of visibility has on society is significant. We all benefit from the truth. I wanted to join a movement to change that for the better.”
In essence, they created an art gallery focused on social justice, community engagement and outreach offerings, intentionally designed to create the world they wanted for themselves, their children and those seeking equality of all kinds.
How the gallery works
Currently a fully mobile and online gallery, the thMTHRshp has the freedom to partner with like-minded galleries and businesses who support its mission of unity and inclusion by hosting in-person workshops and exhibits.
Everyone’s invited to be a part of thMTHRshp — and everyone is well-compensated with a disruptive 70% to 85% commission (as opposed to the usual 50/50 split), creating a path to a more equitable and profitable future for artists. “They bring in more money for their household, so it creates financial stability for the artist and their family. This provides them flexibility and creates a culture of value around art and artists, which is one of the missions of our gallery,” Jordan says. “Many artists work in multiple careers to sustain their livelihood. Our goal is that artists can be artists, no side hustle required.”
The local community has rallied around the gallery in support of a mission that resonates deeply. The Center for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) at Texas Woman’s University selected thMTHRshp for one of its StartHER Grants, while the city of Dallas awarded it an ArtsActivate grant.
ThMTHRshp has also partnered with local gallery Art on Main for its signature Bright Lights Workshops, a collaborative art and educational experience for children and their caregivers. “We make families with children feel welcome in fine arts spaces by providing activities for the kiddos that are fun and engaging,” Jordan says. “Historically, galleries have had an elitist vibe, and we really want to turn that on its head and prove that art is for all.”
The gallery’s first juried show was at Bath House Cultural Center, which is dedicated to multicultural arts in Dallas. Outside of Texas, thMTHRshp recently co-created and co-hosted a multicultural arts, music and spoken word festival in Kentucky called Verdant Vibes.
Get involved
As it works toward its goal of acquiring a physical gallery and workshop space, thMTHRshp has a lot going on to keep busy. During Dallas Arts Month, it’s hosting an all-female group exhibition at Ephemeral Space from April 6-12; the open-to-the-public event is supported in part by that ArtsActivate Grant from the Dallas Office of Arts & Culture, which helps create a more equitable, diverse and supportive arts ecosystem.
Throughout the week, thMTHRshp will offer paid and free workshops — yoga, meditative drawing, pet portraits, etc. — led by its collective of artists. “I will co-lead ‘Art and Hang,’ a workshop for teens facilitated by Ren Riley [see ‘Meet the artists’ below], where we’ll provide a safe, inclusive space for them to gather and create a piece of art inspired by their ideal version of diversity in Dallas. That work will then be displayed in the gallery,” Jordan says. She will also facilitate two creative learning workshops for preschool children on April 10. All of the youth programming for this pop-up is free with registration.
Plans for the future
Jordan’s decades-long experience serving in the nonprofit, arts and education sectors came in handy when she decided to partner with Barnett to create thMTHRshp. After earning a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Louisville, Jordan went on to work in art sales at the Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts in 2007, then later helped establish a nonprofit in the health sector before turning her focus to literacy. At every stop along the way there was one constant — the practice and appreciation of art, a source of expression and healing for her. As it turned out, Barnett had practiced law while simultaneously working as a highly sought-after commission artist in digital, acrylic and mixed-media art.
Together, they’ve combined their expertise to create something different. “Art is for everyone; it is an essential part of our humanity and I want to make it accessible for all, whether you are a collector or a mom who wants to turn her brain off for an hour in a beautiful, restorative environment while your kid takes an engaging art class,” Jordan says.
She looks forward to one day creating a welcoming, inclusive gallery space with workshops and educational studios where community members come to learn, heal and connect through art. Jordan plans to offer a range of prices on artwork (still with that generous commission for artists) because, as she says, everyone deserves to go home with a piece they love.
“The applications for art are infinite, and I have always been inspired by its ability to uplift and unite humanity,” Jordan says. “That’s ultimately what I’m after — using art as a way to connect with and create a healthy, thriving community.”
Spotlight on 4 local thMTHRshp artists
Sarah Creasman Barnett, sarahcreasman.com
Barnett is a mother of two and a practicing attorney in addition to a highly sought-after commission artist. She has been featured in many local and national arts publications. Her art invokes the influence of modern masters like David Hockney, Edward Hopper and Marc Chagall. She is skilled within a variety of media including digital, acrylic and mixed media. Her work often focuses on domestic scenes, a subject close to her heart.
Christianne Green, theotrmama.com
Green, a mother of two, finds inspiration in parenthood. Her comprehensive multidisciplinary art includes a varied portfolio of works in oil, water and archival inks, as well as fabrics and upholstered furniture. Her work includes a wide range of styles and subjects, from contoured nursery and maternity pieces to classically realistic portraiture and stylized conceptual art involving raw social commentary. Her Welcome Home series takes a hard look at homelessness, addiction and domestic abuse using nontraditional watercolors.
Dawn Elise Edelman
Edelman is a mother, acupuncturist, budding singer and artist who loves her family, friends and nature. She seeks out those moments when she can sink into the creative slipstream, where time does not exist and one can feel the forces of nature at play. She holds a Masters of Asian Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and has been practicing in East Dallas since 2007. The theory of the Asian medical system infuses every aspect of her life.
Ren Riley
Riley is a 16-year-old mixed-media artist and a second-year student in the visual arts program at Booker T. Washington School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She continues to push the boundaries of portraiture and experiment with a variety of media. At age 7, she was diagnosed with dyslexia and used art as a tool to support her studies and make reading and math accessible. In middle school, she came out to family, friends and classmates. Art allows her the freedom to express herself, to feel empowered and to share her vision of a more unified world.