milk

MILK is an interdisciplinary exploration of the intersections between infant feeding and disordered eating culminating in a Gallery Exhibition at the Jean McDonough Arts Center Worcester Pop Up space in Spring 2026.

As a new mother, a primary source of stress has been feeding my child. I have found this stressor to be culturally pervasive: what is thought of as “the most natural thing in the world” - that is, the instinct to eat and the ability to feed - is actually so complex, and provokes intense feelings for many new parents. As a woman in eating disorder recovery, the near constant attention on food and the growth and the expansion of a human body has been particularly thought provoking for me. Over the course of the next several months, I will be putting this thought to artistic action, using self-reflection, scientific research and interviews to inspire a series of contemporary dance solos, which will be presented both live and as projections in the gallery space. The dancing will accompany a sound score of original music and excerpted recorded interviews and hung portraits of the families who shared their experiences during the research and development of the project.

Overall, the project seeks to explore and honor the struggles and joys of loving and nourishing the bodies and souls we know best: our own and those of our children.

I am currently seeking podcasts, reading materials and any media relating to infant feeding, early parenthood, and disordered eating. I am also seeking professional interview subjects - registered dietitians, lactation consultants, postpartum doulas, intuitive eating coaches - and parents who would be comfortable sharing their experiences feeding their young children. In February, I will be hosting two days of in person interviews and family photoshoot sessions to collect recordings for a sound score and images for the gallery walls. If this sounds like something you might want to be a part of, be sure to connect with me so I can send you the official participation application when it is live!

The Gallery Exhibit will be free and open to the public from April 29 through May 10, 2026, with a live event (details tbd) on Mother's Day.