As part of Topical Cream’s Youth Workshop Series and in collaboration with Artist and Mothers, artists Maia Ruth Lee and Cassandra Mayela Allen led an intergenerational workshop inviting participants to explore the theme of motherhood through material practice and active reflection. Caregivers and kids were welcome, and kids and mothers alike were encouraged to reflect on the meaning of motherhood through tactile participation. Attendees brought garments that held personal meaning—objects that symbolized the layered, complex experiences of motherhood. These garments were cut into strips, braided together, and transformed into a collaborative sculpture through a process of guided meditation and conversation.

Artist Cassandra Mayela Allen, whose practice centers on generational memory and material culture, often through her ongoing project “Community Braiding,” helped cultivate a space for creative ritual, emotional release, and shared authorship across all ages. Her “Community Braiding” project specifically explores the collective creation of woven narratives and shared histories, directly informing the collaborative spirit of this workshop.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in shaping this powerful, interwoven expression of care, identity, and connection.