Kledia Spiro, Oozing, 2023, part of Donna Dodson’s Sheroes exhibition, Boston Sculptors Gallery, Boston, MA
August 30 – October 1, 2023
In the Heels Of performance SEPTEMBER 1, 6PM, Boston Sculptors Gallery (486 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118)
Artist’s Reception: Saturday, September 9, 3 – 5pm, with artist talks at 4pm
Roundtable Discussion Heroine Herstories and Contemporary Visions: Sunday, September 10 at 2pm With Donna Dodson, Maya Rubio and Kledia Spiro. Co-moderated by Dr. Clareese Hill and Dr. Ali Terndrup. Join us for this virtual event on Zoom
Documentation: Darren Alexander Cole
Can you ever uphold your family's legacy? How? What if your family members had important jobs and were looked up to? What if your grandfather wrote and published four books, starting at the age of 85 - 95years old? What if your dad was the head of education for the whole country? What if his work and writing went against public policy and the political regime of the time? Can you ever uphold such a legacy? Can you ever uphold such a legacy and be a woman? I forgot to mention that my incredible grandfather's and dad's work would not have been possible without their partner's labor. My grandmother went to college after she had three kids, in the 50's. My mom typed my dad's entire dissertation on a manual typewriter, after coming home from working third shift as a translator for the National Telegraphic Agency and taking care of my sister and me. These often-unseen heroes, make it possible for us to see the other heroes like my grandfather and my dad. My grandmother and my mom not only made it possible for me to uphold my family's legacy, but they made it possible for me to create my own legacy, piece by piece. They inspired me to mark and make my own territory, as heavy as it might be at times, allowing for a new beginning, a new reality, a new process to reveal itself. I am lifting on top of my family's words, their words, their hardships, their successes. My family's legacy holds me up. Their words are my ground, they are carrying me, grounding me, so that I can continue doing the work. I will keep oozing and leaving traces.
“In Spiro’s most recent body of work, she considers the inheritance and upholding of her family’s legacy—one with significant achievements—as a weighty responsibility. Being a woman adds another layer of complexity, considering the historical challenges of prescribed gender roles. Yet, the support and contributions of unseen heroes, like Spiro’s mother and grandmother, play a crucial role in making such legacies possible. Her family's legacy in Albania, rooted in the remarkable work of her grandfather and father, became her foundation.
Supported by the efforts of her mother and grandmother, who defied societal norms, Spiro is empowered to leave her own mark, creating a new reality, and continuing their journey. In her performance Oozing, she stands on the shoulders of these unseen heroes, carrying forward their aspirations and breaking barriers. Their labor and sacrifices enable her to build her own legacy, step by step. She embraces the weight, leaving traces of progress as she goes, constantly evolving and opening up new possibilities for the future.“