Making Creative Space for Mamas 

Motherhood, especially in the postpartum period, is often disorienting and exhausting. As mothers navigate new identities, mental health challenges, and the demands of caregiving, creative practice can feel out of reach. Many mothers lose access to the community spaces that once sustained them and are left without the time, support, or invitation to re-engage. “For the Mamas” reimagines creative space as one where children are welcomed, mothers are honored, and community is rebuilt. It envisions San José as a city that recognizes motherhood as a vital civic and cultural asset. 

Credit: Alex Knowbody

“For the Mamas” is a series of free community art workshops designed for mamas and their children in San José. Mothers, especially mothers of color, low-income mothers, and LGBTQ+ parents, are often isolated from creative and cultural spaces due to cost, childcare barriers, and lack of inclusive programming. “For the Mamas” directly addresses this gap by providing free, family-friendly arts programming where caregiving is welcomed rather than seen as a barrier.

Creating With Mothers and Children

The biggest highlight this year was connecting with other mothers and their children and sharing creative, intentional spaces. Mothers who attended the workshops expressed gratitude for offering a unique space by and for children and mothers. To celebrate the first year of programming, Jessica curated the gallery show “MOM: Mosaic of Motherhood,” which featured the art of the various mama-artist facilitators. Over 100 community members attended the opening show. Along with this showcase, Jessica also organized and moderated a panel with some of the artists in which they discussed the intersections and challenges of mothering as a creative. “For the Mamas” also formed many connections with other local community leaders, businesses, and organizations that led to additional funding opportunities and venue expansion for workshops. During her term as a City Champion, Jessica was a featured guest on KKUP 91.5 Radio Show “Un Poquito de Todo”. She also appeared in Content Magazine in the Creative Ambassadors Issue 11.4.

What Mothers Found in the Workshops

Since launching in March 2025, “For the Mamas” has received heartfelt feedback from mamas who value the opportunity for creative expression and the community it fosters. Throughout this fellowship year, “For the Mamas” offered a total of 10 free art workshops that were each hosted by a different local mama-artist. These workshops, in addition to some other community collaborations, were hosted nearly monthly over the course of the last year. Over 100 mothers, 65 children, and 16 partners/spouses attended the workshops. A majority of the workshop attendees identify as women of color. Most of the women that attended are in their late twenties to early thirties. Children that attended the workshops ranged from 4 months old to 18 years old. This project also supported the local economy of artists, teaching artists, and childcare providers. Each workshop provided an honorarium for a teaching artist, childcare providers, and lead program organizer. While some teaching artists have years of experience, for some it was their first time facilitating a workshop. 

Credit: Alex Knowbody

At the opening of the “MOM: Mosaic of Motherhood” showcase, a mother with two young children expressed joy and gratitude for hosting such an inclusive art event. She said she often feels like she is the only one in art spaces who brings her children, and that activities and environments rarely consider children and families. 

It was a special thing to see mothers celebrated with their artwork featured on a wall and witness families creating together in a community space.

Building Intention Into the Work 

Throughout this fellowship year, she learned how to systematize programming so that it ran seamlessly while maintaining intention and care. Planning and coordinating workshops, materials, communication, and partnerships became streamlined so she could pour more energy into connecting with mamas and their children and cultivating a welcoming environment for them. At the same time, she was reminded that growth and impact are non-linear. It is much better to develop a sustainable system that can maintain itself over time than to expand too quickly and stretch capacity too thin. 

About Jessica (Jess) Gutierrez 

Jessica (Jess) Gutierrez is a multiracial educator, artist, community connector, and mama. She actively engages people in meaningful creative expression and builds bridges across communities through event curation, workshops, and collaborations with other local creatives. Jessica emphasizes holding space and providing opportunities for mothers and children and many other folks of marginalized identities who are historically under-resourced, underrepresented, and not welcome to be their full selves in institutionalized spaces. 

Instagram: @forthemamazz  

Website: www.artnflow.com/forthemamas 

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