05/21/2026
NOW I KNOW WHAT NOTHING IS
Forty Four.4 Mother/Artist Collective is proud to present a new group exhibition at Centre d’exposition Art-image in Gatineau.
🗓 September 17 — November 1, 2026
⭐️ Vernissage: September 17, 6–8 PM
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Now I Know What Nothing Is, was inspired by a photograph published in Patti Smith’s A Book Of Days*, In this image, Smith sits in a chair, chin couched in the heel of her hand. She is lost in thought, a distinct heaviness to her gaze. The caption accompanying the photo reads: ‘This is just thinking of nothing. I remember my mother sitting like this. And I would ask, what is it Mommy? And she would say, Oh nothing. And now I know what nothing is.’
As mothers, we too know what nothing is. It is all the things we can’t share, speak, articulate, or even find words for. It is a moment of love so overwhelming and powerful that we can’t remember who or what we were before it. It is wishing time could both stand still and hurry up. It is not wanting to hurt, scare, or burden our children with what we feel. It is the feeling of too many things to do, of being paralyzed and not knowing where to start. It is a moment of peace. It is thinking of everything. Nothing is in fact everything, and everything is exhausting and overwhelming.
We look forward to share this work with you.
