Bea Nettles - Life's Lessons: A Mother's Journal September 12, 2010

'Life's Lessons, A Mother's Journal,' is Bea Nettles' visually poetic study of her daughter, Rachel, and son, Gavin, as they mature in their first decade of life. Through 46 large-scale, black-and-white prints made during the 1980s, Nettles examines her children's growth and development evident in portraits and artifacts of their daily lives. These include toys and school work and even examples of popular culture demanding their attention and shaping their values. Ultimately, the lessons in this autobiographical visual journal are not just the children's education, but also Nettles' own introspective exploration of life and parenting.