Frances McDormand's journey into the world of adult-sized cradles, an unconventional art project that raises questions about spirituality, community, and care, serves as a poignant reminder that empathy is at the core of her acting career. The actor's fascination with this concept was sparked by a performance she gave for the Wooster Group, a New York experimental theater company based on an album of five Shaker women singing songs passed down through oral history.
The exhibition Cradled, which features four adult-sized cradles on loan from Shaker museums across the US, is designed to be an immersive experience. The cradle, an object often associated with infancy, takes center stage in this context as a symbol of care and comfort for the elderly. It was used more frequently by the Shakers than its infantile counterpart, who prioritized community over personal relationships.
McDormand's collaboration with conceptual artist Suzanne Bocanegra has resulted in an experiential installation where visitors are encouraged to sit and contemplate. The sound designer David Lang created a haunting lullaby inspired by a Shaker spiritual about eternal life. The actor emphasizes that the intention behind this project is not performative, but rather experiential.
This initiative resonates with McDormand's own values of community spirit and simplicity. In an interview with her, she recalls Mother Ann Lee's philosophy: "Hands to work, hearts to God" and "Do your work as if you had a thousand years to live but as if you knew you might die tomorrow." This focus on practicality over decoration has left an indelible mark on the design world.
The exhibition is also marked by its attention to detail. The inclusion of a 1960s Barbie doll dressed in a custom Shaker outfit serves as a striking reminder of the group's entrepreneurial nature and commitment to self-sufficiency.
As McDormand reflects, "We're Shaker-adjacent." This sentiment underscores her affinity with the community spirit that underlies the Shakers' philosophy.
The exhibition Cradled, which features four adult-sized cradles on loan from Shaker museums across the US, is designed to be an immersive experience. The cradle, an object often associated with infancy, takes center stage in this context as a symbol of care and comfort for the elderly. It was used more frequently by the Shakers than its infantile counterpart, who prioritized community over personal relationships.
McDormand's collaboration with conceptual artist Suzanne Bocanegra has resulted in an experiential installation where visitors are encouraged to sit and contemplate. The sound designer David Lang created a haunting lullaby inspired by a Shaker spiritual about eternal life. The actor emphasizes that the intention behind this project is not performative, but rather experiential.
This initiative resonates with McDormand's own values of community spirit and simplicity. In an interview with her, she recalls Mother Ann Lee's philosophy: "Hands to work, hearts to God" and "Do your work as if you had a thousand years to live but as if you knew you might die tomorrow." This focus on practicality over decoration has left an indelible mark on the design world.
The exhibition is also marked by its attention to detail. The inclusion of a 1960s Barbie doll dressed in a custom Shaker outfit serves as a striking reminder of the group's entrepreneurial nature and commitment to self-sufficiency.
As McDormand reflects, "We're Shaker-adjacent." This sentiment underscores her affinity with the community spirit that underlies the Shakers' philosophy.
just saw this about Frances McDormand's new art project Cradled and I'm really feeling it 
it's like she's taking these massive adult cradles and turning them into cozy nooks for people to chill in... it's so simple yet profound 
. and the idea of community is at the heart of it all - it's not just about individual art, but about how we care for each other as a whole 
? It's how Frances McDormand is using art to explore the human need for care and connection, especially as we age 
. I mean, think about it - these adult-sized cradles, they're like a reminder that we don't have to be defined by our life stages, you know? We can still find comfort and solace in simple things, like a soft surface to rest on.
. It's like, what if we did that too? What if we focused more on building each other up, rather than tearing each other down? 
I think that's where empathy comes in - seeing ourselves in others, and trying to understand their perspectives.
. We could all use a little more of that Shaker spirit in our lives - simplicity, community, care...
. It's so cool that she's collaborating with an artist who shares similar values – I mean, Suzanne Bocanegra's work is always super thought-provoking! 
The fact that they're focusing on experiential art rather than performance is really refreshing – it shows that sometimes less is more, you know? 
And, tbh, that 1960s Barbie doll in a custom Shaker outfit is such a great touch 
. I'm all about community spirit and simplicity, just like the Shakers, so this whole project feels super authentic to me 
I mean, who wouldn't want to sit in an adult-sized cradle and just chill? It's like she's trying to tell us that care and comfort are super important, especially for our elders. And I love how the exhibition incorporates these Shaker songs and philosophies - it's all about community and simplicity, you know?
and i love how Frances McDormand's project is all about creating an immersive experience where people can just sit and think about their own mortality idk what the point is of all that but at least its a good conversation starter lol and omg have you seen those Shaker outfits they're soooo adorbs 
their philosophy of community over personal stuff is so inspiring. I mean, who wouldn't want to live by that motto? It's all about being practical and making the most of every moment. And the attention to detail in the exhibition is crazy impressive 
, Frances McDormand is just so cool for doing something like this, it's like she's really gettin into the vibe of it 
... I mean, who wouldn't wanna sit in an adult-sized cradle and think about their life? 
It's like, she's takin' these traditional symbols and turnin' them on their head, you know? 
And omg, the inclusion of that 1960s Barbie doll in Shaker costume is like, the ultimate Easter egg 
. McDormand's whole thing with the Shakers' "Hands to work, hearts to God" philosophy is just so inspiring... it's all about living simply and being present, you feel? 
. I'm definitely adding this to my list of must-see art exhibitions!
. Overall, I think Cradled is going to be an amazing exhibit - can't wait to check it out! 
I mean who knew adult-sized cradles could be so deep? It's like she took all these feelings of care and comfort and put them in a big ol' rockin' chair. And let me tell you, that Shaker doll with the custom outfit is giving me major 60s vibes... like they're trying to sell us on a dream or something