Good Mother Myths Exhibition Opening Night

Join us to celebrate the official book launch of The Good Mother Myth by Nancy Reddy and the accompanying group exhibition Good Mother Myths.

What makes a “good mother”? For most of us, it’s an amalgamation of the stories we’re told, the values we’re raised with, the “research” that’s popularized and distilled in media, and the slick photos and reels that appear in The Algorithm. But what is the purpose of these rules and expectations for motherhood – and what’s the cost for parents, children, and how we think about caring and caregiving in general?

In our next exhibition, Philadelphia Small Works presents artwork across mediums that responds to the idea of a “good mother myth.” The artists in this group show are mothers, parents/caregivers, children still unwinding the threads of their own experiences with or without a mother,and people interested in expanding the idea of mothering into how we might live and walk in the world.

This exhibition coincides with the publication of The Good Mother Myth by Nancy Reddy (2025, St Martin’s Press), a book that blends memoir, cultural criticism, and history of science to debunk many of the “expert” insights and advice that inform collective ideas of who is, and how to be, a good mother. The opening reception is also the book’s launch party and will feature activities with the author throughout the evening.

Featured artists:

ALINA AMADOR

ALYSE BOWD

DEVYN DAIS

MO FOWLER

JUDY HA

WILLIAM HARPER II

LIZZY HINDMAN-HARVEY

CECILIA JOHNSON-CHAVIS

TERRELL MAURICE

OLIVIA NIKOLIDAKIS

GENESIS PEREZ

PENELOPE RAMIREZ

ROMEO SAUNDERS

DAPHNE SMALLWOOD

CAROLINE STOUGHTON

ALEXANDRA WOOD

EMILY ZILBER

Details:

~January 25, 6-9 pm

~Free to all - but please RSVP on our Eventbrite 🔗

~Free parking across the street or around the corner on Susquehanna

~Accessibility info: One half-step at entrance; bathroom is not wheelchair accessible

~Masks optional

~Beer, wine, and NA beer and seltzer available for $. No outside beverages.

~Books available for purchase; CAKE FOR EVERYONE

About the author:

Nancy Reddy is the author of , forthcoming with St. Martin’s Press in January 2025. Her previous books include the poetry collection Pocket Universe and the anthology The Long Devotion: Poets Writing Motherhood, which she co-edited with Emily Pérez. Her essays have appeared in Slate, Poets & Writers, Romper, The Millions, and elsewhere. She writes the newsletter Write More, Be Less Careful. You can find her on Instagram at nancy.o.reddy.

About Philadelphia Small Works Gallery:

Open since December 2023, the Philadelphia Small Works Gallery organizes and hosts exhibitions, workshops, readings, and performances by Philly-based artists. We're a space for artists who build community through work that reveals our obsessions, resists oppression, and celebrates our complex connections. Folks who are weird and real and know great things are possible in/for our city. Visit our website for a full list of upcoming events and follow us on Instagram at @smallworksphilly.

Host or Publisher Philadelphia Small Works Gallery