'Communal Nest' represents recovery from violence

Reception for the nest raised money for a local shelter.

By Megan Donohue

Published Sept. 22, 2009

An art exhibition supporting women who were victims of abuse called, "The Communal Nest," by local artist Susan Taylor Glasgow, will be on display through Oct. 1 in the George Caleb Bingham Gallery.

The nest began a countrywide tour of the United States in Pittsburgh, where local shelters, the Pittsburgh Glass Center and artists contributed twigs in support of women who are victims of abuse.

"Each twig in that nest is unique, and each woman that we work with and serve is very unique," Director of the McCambridge Center Beth Berhorst said. "And also the nest itself takes at least 12 hours to take apart and to put together, so I think that represents the women because that's what we do here. The women are very determined and must be very willing to change their complete lives."

"The Communal Nest" is meant to represent the recovery from violence against women and addictions.

"The way the twigs and everything are intertwined and laid out, that's kind of how it is here as well," Berhorst said. "The ladies all have to build relationships with each other and intertwine with other people and build support systems."

There was a reception at which local artists created masks that were auctioned off along with a piece of Glasgow's at a viewing of "The Communal Nest" to raise funds for the McCambridge Center.

Berhorst said the artists made masks with different themes to represent the women of the center.

"Some of them were related to birds and nests, but some of them didn't," she said. "They had whatever spin the artist wanted to make on it."

The night raised about $9,000 for the McCambridge Center.

The nest is built of more than 500 twigs contributed mostly by Glasgow and the communities to which the nest has traveled. Twigs are sent in nationally as well.

"The idea of 'The Communal Nest' came from an existing series of my work involving the concept of the 'bluebird of happiness,'" Glasgow said in a statement on her Web site. "In that series I combined images of bluebirds and housewives, and paid homage to the feminine nesting instinct. I wanted to explore this thought further with an installation piece representing growth and shelter."

The work continues her themes of domestic spaces and safe shelter.

"I think a big part of it too is actually being able to incorporate the community into making this piece, and she is using it to help raise money for people in the community," Bingham Gallery Director Daniel Farnum said.

The piece will be displayed 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Bingham Gallery.

It can be seen as an inspiration not only to women suffering from the aftermath of violence or addiction, but to the community at large, Berhorst said.

"I think the nest is phenomenal in everything that it can represent," Berhorst said. "It's amazing if you see it."