Keeping Room part of the three artist exhibition OASIS
ChaShama’s Space to Connect
Fordham Plaza 2020 Window Exhibitions
Curator: Laura James
Keeping rooms date back to Colonial times. The keeping room, located directly off the kitchen, was also the warmest room in the house. By day, families gathered here to do indoor chores, and by night would sleep there during the colder seasons. This functionality engenders social engagement and the keeping room is not only a place to stay warm but a place for friends and family to gather. A staple of early American vernacular architecture this printed version of a keeping room also serves as a vanitas.
Vanitas still lifes are often appreciated for their visual appeal and for their deeper philosophical meaning. Although at first sight this casual assortment of objects may seem random, but each is selected with care and purpose. The fire, teacup and flowers, all speak to the ephemeral quality of life; the clock on the fireplace mantel symbolizes the passing of time; the ornately carved and upholstered furniture represent the fleeting nature of temporal power; and the citrus fruits signify the futility of monetary pursuits. Native plants, hummingbirds and flying insects support and frame the interior composition indicating the need for balance between the aims of human progress and the natural world.
At the nexus of several transportation lines on Fordham Road, Keeping Room presents a quiet sanctuary away from the noise and complexities of modernity, a mnemonic prompt for reflection, spiritual balance and finding beauty in unlikely places.