Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand co-curates 'Cradled,' an exhibition at Hauser & Wirth inspired by the Shakers' unique approach to end-of-life care, featuring adult-sized cradles and immersive experiences.
Frances McDormand, celebrated for her versatile and empathetic Oscar-winning roles, has co-curated 'Cradled' with conceptual artist Suzanne Bocanegra at Hauser & Wirth Downtown Los Angeles. The exhibition draws inspiration from the Shakers, a Christian sect renowned for their communal lifestyle and craftsmanship, specifically highlighting their distinctive culture of end-of-life care, which included the use of adult-sized cradles. McDormand and Bocanegra recently demonstrated this by rocking two prominent figures of the LA art scene in these cradles. The exhibition showcases four authentic Shaker cradles, each paired with tableaux of rocking chairs and baskets filled with mending projects, inviting visitors to engage with Shaker values of utility and care. Experts from the Shaker Museum explain that while adult cradles were not exclusive to the Shakers, they exemplify the sect's 'tender care from cradle to grave,' offering both physical comfort (such as preventing pressure sores) and emotional solace, ensuring no one was left alone in illness or dying. McDormand's fascination with the Shakers began after a performance for the Wooster Group, which led her to discover the adult cradles and subsequently collaborate with Bocanegra. She emphasizes the Shakers' successful 200-year existence, attributing it partly to their celibacy, which she believes eliminated 'possessiveness, jealousy, enviousness' associated with carnal relations. The exhibition is designed as an immersive, multi-sensory experience, featuring a 'last lullaby' composed by David Lang, intended to be experiential rather than performative. Formally established in America in 1774, the Shakers dedicated themselves to pacifism, natural health, and durable craftsmanship, resulting in an aesthetic of 'spare beauty' that prioritized utility over decoration. Their philosophy, encapsulated in sayings like 'Hands to work, hearts to God,' stressed simplicity and a singular focus. Highly entrepreneurial and self-sufficient, they also practiced charity, planting surplus for those in need, and even sold items like a Barbie doll dressed in a Shaker outfit. McDormand identifies as 'Shaker-adjacent,' embracing their ethos and community spirit, if not their theology. The exhibition runs until January 4th.
