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Happy Mother’s Day Upper West Side

May 11, 2025 | 8:23 AM
in ART, COLUMNS
15

By Gary Martin

The term “Mother” has come to mean so many things — but all of them caring, essential, nurturing, a hub for other smaller things. All deserve to be cherished and celebrated today and all days. I’ve pictured a few here. Can you name them? What am I missing?

* * *

Gary B. Martin is an illustrator and animator who has lived on the Upper West Side for more than 30 years. His illustrations appear in the Rag on Sundays, chronicling life in the neighborhood, New York City, and the Universe. See them all here. For a broader range of Gary’s work, including animations and other motion graphics, please visit www.martoons.com

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Comments 15

  1. birdie says:
    8 months ago

    Ok. Here’s what I see: Mother Earth, Mother Goose, Fairy Godmother, Mother Nature , the Mothership (??) , and of course, a traditional mother. I can think of a few not pictured, but maybe they’re not ready for primetime…
    Regardless – Happy Mother’s Day to all of them and to all of ours, present and past.

    Reply
  2. Joanna says:
    8 months ago

    Great cartoon, Gary. Per usual.

    Reply
  3. Neal Leibowitz says:
    8 months ago

    I recognize the mother ship from “Plan 9 from Outer Space.”

    Reply
  4. Manhattan parent says:
    8 months ago

    Mother goose
    Mother Earth
    Fairy godmother
    Mothership
    Harvest mother

    Is this right?

    Motherboard is another suggestion.

    Reply
  5. Debfrombrooklyn says:
    8 months ago

    Aw. So sweet! I love the illustration so much!

    Reply
  6. Andrea R says:
    8 months ago

    Great sentiment, Gary! Happy Mother’s Day to all!

    Reply
  7. andy says:
    8 months ago

    Yes!

    Reply
  8. Arline Shenker says:
    8 months ago

    Thank you for this.

    Reply
  9. Stacey says:
    8 months ago

    Artistic talent + unique humor + love = Gary. I always love his weekly contributions

    Reply
  10. OPOD says:
    8 months ago

    Mother of anchor babies, until DJT.

    Reply
  11. Griggles says:
    8 months ago

    Bravo! 👏 👏👏👏

    Reply
  12. Susan M says:
    8 months ago

    A fine assemblage of mothers! I think you got the best ones. Of course many people play important mom-roles – and only some are called moms. Splitting hairs, there are Step moms, Gramdmas, mothers in law. Also: Den mothers, mother hens (for their broods), earth mothers, team moms, stage moms, “Mr Moms” (a term rightly gone from us), the motherboard (mentioned in comment), the “mother” for sourdough bread, the “mother-load” of something, ones mother tongue, a motherland (some languages and cultures have her; other have a fatherland!)….and the ones best not mentioned…no, I think you did get the best ones. 🙂

    Reply
  13. Therese Sargent Case says:
    8 months ago

    Amazing how many mothers there are in the world…and beyond!

    Reply
  14. UWSJMG says:
    8 months ago

    Mamma Mia! 💐

    Reply
  15. Miriam Drachman says:
    8 months ago

    The more the merrier when it comes to Moms. It really does take a village!😀

    Reply

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