Social Practice, 2025
Curated by Rebecca Pristoop
Speaking Body is a multi-language art project that honors the power and resilience of mothers who have recently immigrated and are living in Brooklyn’s Jefferson Street Shelter. Developed by interdisciplinary artist Tamar Ettun and curated by Rebecca Pristoop, “Speaking Body” aims to amplify the voices of one of our city’s most vulnerable populations while providing resources to support their livelihoods. The program builds upon Tamar’s existing relationships with migrant mothers she met through Kid Zone, a weekly mutual aid group that distributes essential supplies, art, and toys for asylum-seeking children in the neighborhood. The mothers participate in workshops that incorporate breathing and movement, using artmaking as a vehicle for conversation and connection. Sharing stories of their journeys, faith, and spirituality, they make ceramic beads and dye fabric. These works bring visibility to the stories of one immigrant population at a time when political action to protect the lives and livelihoods of immigrants is urgently needed.The blanket we made during the workshop is being used weekly as a play space for children at Kid Zone, a mutual aid group supporting asylum seekers. This project is developed through an invitation from ArtBridge and made possible by the Office of Councilmember Jennifer Gutierrez and Bushwick Ceramics. Project collaborators: Stephanie Blandon (translation, assistance), Amelia Golden (photography), Paul Rho (photography) English tutors: Yisel Garcia, Jemila MacEwan, Jamie Chan.
