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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

    Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.

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    15 Comments
    birdie
    birdie
    1 year 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.

    1
    Reply
    Joanna
    Joanna
    1 year ago

    Great cartoon, Gary. Per usual.

    1
    Reply
    Neal Leibowitz
    Neal Leibowitz
    1 year ago

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

    Last edited 1 year ago by Neal Leibowitz
    1
    Reply
    Manhattan parent
    Manhattan parent
    1 year ago

    Mother goose
    Mother Earth
    Fairy godmother
    Mothership
    Harvest mother

    Is this right?

    Motherboard is another suggestion.

    1
    Reply
    Debfrombrooklyn
    Debfrombrooklyn
    1 year ago

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

    1
    Reply
    Andrea R
    Andrea R
    1 year ago

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

    1
    Reply
    andy
    andy
    1 year ago

    Yes!

    1
    Reply
    Arline Shenker
    Arline Shenker
    1 year ago

    Thank you for this.

    1
    Reply
    Stacey
    Stacey
    1 year ago

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

    1
    Reply
    OPOD
    OPOD
    1 year ago

    Mother of anchor babies, until DJT.

    1
    Reply
    Griggles
    Griggles
    1 year ago

    Bravo! 👏 👏👏👏

    1
    Reply
    Susan M
    Susan M
    1 year 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. 🙂

    0
    Reply
    Therese Sargent Case
    Therese Sargent Case
    1 year ago

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

    1
    Reply
    UWSJMG
    UWSJMG
    1 year ago

    Mamma Mia! 💐

    1
    Reply
    Miriam Drachman
    Miriam Drachman
    1 year ago

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

    0
    Reply

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