In this episode of Mother And …, socially engaged Diana Heise reflects on how motherhood has reshaped her creative and academic life. Working across performance, photography, film, and ecofeminist practices, Heise shares how projects like her “De-Assimilation Diet” series grew directly out of the visceral experience of feeding her first child, transforming caregiving into art. She discusses the complexities of raising two young daughters and a stepdaughter while navigating academia, confronting perfectionism, and challenging patriarchal expectations in art and family life. Her work, including the eco-activist project “We Are Of This World,” emphasizes presence, collaboration, and ethical engagement with both community and the natural world. This episode is part of the Mother And … exhibition, on view at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center in Kansas City from September 5 through November 21, 2025.
