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Bea Nettles

(Gainesville, Florida, 1946 - )

Snakes

From the series "Complexities"

1992

Gelatin silver print

15 x 15 in. (38.1 x 38.1 cm)

Collection of the Akron Art Museum

Gift of the artist

2011.33

More Information

For Nettles the word “complexities” represents a combination of the words ‘complex’ and ‘ties.’ These words together perfectly describe Nettles’s triple career as mother, artist and teacher. To untangle and examine the complex ties that bind mothers, Nettles blends her experiences of childhood, education, pregnancy, housework, and professional life in multi-layered images. In her introduction to the book Complexities, she states “All mothers are ‘working mothers.’… I belong to the majority of American women who happen to work outside of their homes…. What I do involves balancing priorities and making compromises. I function despite frequent interruptions, piecing things together in patches of time.”

Keywords
Face
Self portraits
Snakes
Black and White