UT Austin Studio Art Lecturer Katy McCarthy was featured in a group show, A Year In, presented by Target Gallery. On view from July 24 through September 5, 2021, the exhibition received special attention in The Washington Post.
A Year In brought together works from a range of artists to examine how they responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflecting upon their different and diverse experiences, each artist produced distinct pieces. McCarthy’s piece, Handle with Care, depicted her struggle with being separated from her mother by 1,000 miles. Within the piece, soft wax casts of parts of McCarthy’s body that experienced physical pain were shipped to her mother, a chiropractor, bridging the distance between them. From there, McCarthy created a video installation of Facetime recordings featuring her mother performing a virtual bodywork session. Through watching the work of a chiropractic session, her mother massaging the waxen body parts, McCarthy felt less alone and closer to her mother. Also displayed are boxes, packaging materials alongside the soft wax casts.
“I also had a ceaseless two-week headache and yearned for her touch,” McCarthy said. “The work came out of a place of need. I wanted to cultivate ways of being physically present while we are apart. Sending surrogate body parts to my mom was an attempt to satisfy this need.”
McCarthy’s work will also be featured inGalatine, a group show exploring themes surrounding femininity and motherhood, on view from September 3 through October 1, 2021 at the Berlinskej Model gallery.