KATHLEEN LARAIA McLAUGHLIN

I met Matusa (pronounced Matusha) Ileana in 1999 when i lived with her sister Maria's family next door. Matusa was not able to have children with her husband Vasile. Every time her cow gave birth she nursed it with a bottle and called it Florica. Sometimes they say at funerals in Maramures that when a childless older person dies, their life had no meaning. This exhibition is a memorial to Matusa because she had tremendous meaning to me and the people who loved her in the village Sarbi.

Easter marks the changing of everything. Spring demonstrates the earth’s resurrection in imitation of their Lord’s. Greetings change from “Good day, where are you going?” to the formal exchange: “Christ has risen!” followed by the response: “Truly He has risen!”

For women, it is an annual opportunity to show their artistic flair as they rival the gate carver with decorated bread.

A good man will plow more than an acre in a day.

A good woman will be sure his fried bread and soup arrive at lunchtime - still hot from home.

While the birthing mother stands, the family pulls out the steaming calf with the help of towels twined around its hooves. It will stay with its mother for a few hours, then be fed the rest of its life by her owner Matusa.

Even to the end, Matusa hoped that a buyer will take Florica as a milking cow, and not just for meat.

Vasile tosses the dried hay up to Matusa, who tamps it down so that it can be combed to allow the rain to run off. She must always stay within grabbing distance of the haystack’s central pole, lest she fall. When they are done, he will lay a pole on the side of the haystack, and she will slide down and into his arms.

Waiting for death to come so she can be with her sister Matusa.

She passed on 21 September, 2018. May she rest in peace.

Waiting for death to come so he can be with his wife Matusa.

Kathleen holds up one of Matusa’s head scarves.

Attaching it to the photographic canvas print suggests the presence and absence of Matusa.

Kathleen’s friend Monica and friends from Sarbi, Ioana and her daughter, help out.

Ioana is stitching kitchen utensils on one of Matusa’s handwoven dish towels.

Ileana, Matusa’s great niece, helps layout the installation, while Monica and family chime in.

Inside the Watch Tower at the Mogosoaia Palace where the exhibition is being installed.

The modest size room was perfect for this intimate mixed media installation.

Staff at the Mogosoaia Palace help install the show. They were not only physically strong and helpful,

they also voiced their opinions on how the work should be installed. I am forever grateful.

Installation of exhibition. The vertical center piece is a bolt of woolen woven fabric Matusa made for future tote bags.

These checkered totes are ubiquitous in the Maramures region.

Entrance to the Watch Tower, Mogosoaia Palace