Ruminations – Mary Emma Gary (2025)
on view in the Elkins Gallery

A Dark Bath, "Ruminations" is a multimedia sculpture featuring a paper maché figure contained within a blank paper "tub", and chainlink "bubbles" containing headlines from the week it was created.

This piece explores the desire for relaxation when it seems impossible due to current events, social media, and the underlying disconnect between what self care looks like versus what it is. The accompanying zine further explores this disconnect as the artist recalls what first inspired dark baths- a setup from Andrew Clements novel Things Not Seen. Similar to the experience of the protagonist, light is what turns relaxation to rumination.