Beatrice & Elaine Alder

Letters from the Mill quilt by Beatrice and Elaine Alder, blending storytelling with colorful designs.

NPS Photo/Beatrice and Elaine Alder

Artist-in-Residence: Beatrice and Elaine Alder

(January–March 2023)

During their residency in New Bedford, Beatrice and Elaine Alder, a married couple, explored the city’s queer and working-class histories through their project, Law of Salvage: Queer Stories of the South Coast. Through archival research and oral histories, they created a multidisciplinary exhibit that combined art and prose. The Alders used ceramics, textiles, and prints to reclaim stories of overlooked queer laborers and disrupt traditional binaries, bringing these untold narratives to life.

Their work culminated in Law of Salvage, which featured recreated “artifacts” paired with short pieces of prose to highlight composite characters inspired by local stories. Each piece delved into themes of identity, resilience, and labor, such as the lives of George Weldon and Rebecca Ann Johnson, whalemen who broke societal norms by donning trousers to go to sea, and Dr. Marie Equi, a New Bedford-born activist and labor organizer. By invoking the maritime Law of Salvage, the Alders symbolically reclaimed these fragmented stories and connected them to New Bedford’s rich history.

The residency also included community engagement. The Alders hosted programs like the "Artful Mending Workshop," where participants learned textile repair techniques, and offered open studio hours to connect with visitors. Their work fostered dialogue about queerness, labor, and history while celebrating the resilience of marginalized communities.

Law of Salvage stands as a testament to the power of art to honor erased voices, offering a vivid portrayal of New Bedford’s queer and working-class past and inspiring new conversations about the intersections of identity, labor, and history.

Visit their website at: https://alder-alder.com/