The First Year: accepting the healing space that mothering takes up is a solo show by Artist/Mother/Educator Megan Driving Hawk. In this self-curated exhibition, Driving Hawk weaves together three creative practices: Simultaneous Memories, Whispers, and Begging Poetics. Simultaneous Memories are photographic double exposures that unearth conflicting childhood memories and reflect on raising a child today. Whispers are beaded emblems that address her role as a white wife and mother in a Lakȟóta Thiwáhe while trying to heal generational trauma and prevent it from passing onto future generations. Begging Poetics are poems made from a daily practice of writing at least one line to a poem a day. These poems portray present day reflections on the artist’s experience of early motherhood and postpartum in the pandemic. Each body of work focuses on different eras of linear time yet the exhibition displays a nonlinear timeline as each body of work loops in and out of each other. Brought together, these three bodies of work demonstrate how present day choices can heal the past and the future.

The Last Day, 2020-2021. Archival inkjet print

Viewers are invited to find themselves and a new perspective within the work by reflecting on how their own childhood traumas may be manifesting today. Driving Hawk challenges each viewer to discover their own healing methods.

Schedule of Events

• Third Friday Opening: July 16, 6-9 pm 
  Celebrate with Driving Hawk as she reveals her first solo show at Eye Lounge!

• Opening Weekend: July 17, 1-5 pm & July 18, 11 am-3 pm 
  Join Megan Driving Hawk in the gallery as she continues the celebration of her first solo show at Eye Lounge. She will be available to answer questions about her work and demonstrate some creative components all weekend. 

• Artist Talk: July 24, 2 pm 
  Listen to Driving Hawk talk in depth about her creative journey and learn more about specific pieces in the exhibition. Bring questions for a Q&A session afterwards. 

• Community Run and Poetry Workshop: July 31
  This is a two-part event. Participants may attend one or both events. Pre-registration is required for each event. A $15 registration fee is required whether you attend both or just one portion of the workshop. All proceeds will be donated to Native Seeds/SEARCH to adopt-a-crop in low supply and help farmers reconnect with traditional crops and share them with their communities. NS/S is a nonprofit seed conservation organization based in Tucson, Arizona. 

  Part 1, Community Run 

  Meet the artist at Tumbleweed Park at 7:15am for a community run/walk/move. The artist will facilitate instruction on her process of walking/running/moving to make photographs. Later in the day, these photographs will be incorporated into part 2 of the workshop. 

  Details: This is not a race or timed event, it is for self identified runners, walkers, and movers. Strollers are welcome! We will meet in the parking lot off of South Hamilton St. The loop is 1.3 miles and you may do as many loops as you would like.  

  Part 2, Journaling into Poetry Workshop

  Meet the artist at Eye Lounge at 2pm for a poetry workshop. The artist will walk participants through a session of journaling to create poetry. Participants should bring their photographs from the morning event and a way to respond to journaling prompts. This could be the notes app on your phone, a sketchbook and pen, a piece of paper and a pencil or any other way of journaling. 

  By the end of both workshops, participants will have at least one photograph and poem pair. 

• First Friday: August 6, 6-9 pm 
  Join Megan Driving Hawk at the First Friday closing reception! A reception area will be set up just outside the gallery with light refreshments for celebration. Alcoholic beverages can be purchased at Greenwood Brewing just next door.

• Artist/Mother Meetup: August 7, 2 pm 
  Are you an artist/mother in the Phoenix Valley and are interested in being in community with other artist/mothers in the area? This meetup is for self-identified womxn who wear/wore the hats of artist and primary/shared caregiver to others in some capacity. This meeting serves to gather the needs and desires of those interested in being in community with one another. The intention of this group is to be a local branch of the Artist/Mother Network. More information will be provided at the meet up.

For more information about the exhibition or events, email the artist.