• Photos
• Posts
• Groups
• Likes

MOTHER.CULTURE Photography Exhibition

California

Female

About

View the exhibition here.

Sacramento, California, "Mother.Culture", the socially influenced breastfeeding photo exhibition, will be booking venues through the summer, subsequent dates/venues will be announced soon. Contact Rachel Valley for exhibition information at rvalley@niftyimages.com.

Following her successful solo exhibition debut "Road to Reality" at Capitol Public Radio's Second Saturday Event in October 2006, the focus of Rachel Valley's work turned to the social examination of the attitudes toward breastfeeding in modern times. "MOTHER.CULTURE" blends the beauty and challenge of establishing and maintaining a healthy dyad and an acceptable outward nursing relationship. The exhibition's subject matter is currently a charged one, with old cultural attitudes clashing with modern sensibility. Rachel Valley's portraits touch upon nursing in public, "extended breastfeeding", the family bed, and the sexualized breast co-existing with the nurturing breast, amongst other timely issues therein. The exhibition will begin August 9 in Auburn, CA and will travel afterward.

Rachel feels fortunate to have been given this platform of art and discussion to widen the eyes of our communities, with the much appreciated Micro Grant from the Placer Community Foundation. Given the success of the exhibition, a mother might finally find herself in an environment that allows her to fulfill the needs of her young wherever and whenever necessary, and with the support and sound information from her circle of influence. The exhibition is sure to stir emotions and reactions from participants and patrons alike.

Valley was inspired to use her art to speak to the public from her own not-so-unique experience." After giving birth to my daughter, I started my journey into mothering and breastfeeding, and I was overwhelmed with conflicting information and hostile opinions," Rachel says. "My initial desire was to talk about it with other women, but constantly found myself in mixed company. In my attempts to receive and share good information about breastfeeding, I ended up stirring feelings of guilt, anger, and disappointment in others. On the rare occasion that I found someone that shared my positive nursing experience, I'd engage in stories and notions, and as a result made others feel left out, and unable to relate," she added. "Feeling frustrated and not wanting to upset, I was on the verge of silence, but my desire to challenge the "norm" ruled out and I decided to let my art speak for me, and that brings us to "MOTHER.CULTURE"

About the Artist

Rachel Valley is a Northern California resident & native.

From an early age Rachel learned the importance of documenting ones life through art, most notably, photography and writing. Rachel has taken photographs since adolescence, and is self-taught. She enjoys the gritty trial and error of self-expression. She grows as a photographer organically, responding to things close at hand, such as Women's issues, including being a wife, mother and friend. She also finds inspiration in the world's ever changing landscape.

email: rvalley@niftyimages.com
phone: 916.632.3399

About MOTHER.CULTURE.ART

MOTHER.CULTURE is a photographic exhibition consisting of nursing mothers, current attitudes and photographs.

Rachel Valley's web folio can be seen at NiftyImages.com.

Cheers!

Text(7)

• Follow MOTHER.CULTURE Photography Exhibition
• Following (42)
• Followers (35)
• Send a message

Followers(42)

Groups(18)

Likes(1)

First and Second Childhood.
by Eddleman