Bedtime Stories

BEDTIME STORIES
June Ahrens & Rochelle Rauchberg
53' L x 22' W
2D framed 40" W x 48" H
Multimedia Installation

Click on photos at right to enlarge

Bedtime Stories is a collaborative work created as an interactive piece that seeks common ground with homeless mothers. As a mother myself, I wanted to make the homeless problem personal and human; and to create an emotional connection between the gallery viewer and the homeless.

We photographed homeless mothers and their children, interviewed the mothers, and helped the children draw their self-portraits.

Being photographed gave the mothers and their children a sense of importance and identity. A chance to feel special without any strings attached.

For many, these were the only photos they had of themselves.

The interviews (which were later played in the gallery during the exhibit) gave the women an opportunity to express their feelings and concerns.

The families seemed to gain a rare sense of empowerment and insight from these photo sessions.

Throughout the 18 months we also invited a diverse group of other community members (business people, grandmothers, and other artists) to interact during some of the sessions.

This work was shown at Silvermine Gallery in New Canaan, CT and two exhibits in New York City.