Is It Real? Contemporary Artists Address Reproductive Freedom centers Southern voices on the critical issue of reproductive rights, with a majority of participating artists representing marginalized communities.
Curated by Emily Edwards & Sara Hignite | Organized by Hignite Projects
Lagoon Studio, Dallas TX | 10.5.2024 - 10.26.2024
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Looking for ways to support? Is It Real merch sales go directly to Texas Equal Access Fund & The Afiya Center!
Our Partners
TEA Fund | The Afiya Center | ACLU of Texas | The Goss-Michael Foundation | Sutton PR | Unified Fine Arts Services | Lagoon Studio | By George Partners | Texas Abortion Advocacy Network | Spacy | Planned Parenthood Advocates of Texas
Thank you, Dallas! Over 650 people attended the exhibition opening & more than 200 individuals and organizations donated to the project.
PRESS
Generous support for Is It Real? has been provided by:
Tonika Cheek Clayton, Selwyn Rayzor and Rich Moses, Joyce Goss, Lisa Kraus, Marlo Headlam Melucci, Gowri Sharma, David Liu and Michael Fountas, Rae Liu, Dina Light-McNeely, Elizabeth Hooper O’Mahony, Kelly Mason, Danielle Naylor, Benjamin Terry, Zak Loyd, Jenny Holzer Studio, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, First Unitarian Church of Dallas, Gérard Bertrand wines, Eve & Max, Grange Hall, Sanctum Med + Wellness, 24FPS, SAAVETX, and The Madison.
Autumn Breon | Ari Brielle | Jillian Marie Browning | Elvira Michelle Castillo | Sarah Elizabeth Cornejo | Bernadette Despujols | Madeline Donahue | Elliot Doughtie | Kayla E | Alicia Eggert | Lauren Frances Evans | Guerrilla Girls Broadband | Jonathan Horowitz | Sarah Jené | Nitashia Johnson | Jon Kessler | Ann Lewis | Katrina Majkut | Rose Marcus | Lex Marie | Yvette Molina | Cynthia Mulcahy | Laurel Nakadate | Lydia Nobles | Natani Notah | Erin M. Riley | Viva Ruiz | Aliza Shvarts | Thank God for Abortion | Brittany M. Watkins | Jasmine Williams
ARTISTS
Summary
Much of the US is currently experiencing a reproductive care emergency, from total bans on abortion to threats against birth control, Plan B, and IVF; to the horrific maternal mortality crisis, medical racism, and lack of access to life-saving medical care.
Artists are uniquely positioned to explore current societal issues like reproductive freedom in unexpected ways that stir empathy and change the way people think about matters that deeply impact us all. Art provides viewers with an entry point to approach polarizing topics as well as a safe space for processing complex emotions, resulting in greater empathy and connection.
Is It Real? reveals the horrific realities of the current political climate in the United States and envisions a more just country in which every human has the basic right to control their own body and determine their own future.
Curatorial Conceit
The exhibition is titled in homage to Juanita McNeely’s essential 1969 expressionist painting about abortion, Is It Real? Yes It Is!, to honor the artist’s legacy of feminist and disability activism and emphasize the mirrored (sur)reality of our present Post-Roe moment in relation to McNeely’s experience seeking an abortion before Roe v. Wade.
Is It Real? Contemporary Artists Address Reproductive Freedom will examine several strategies that contemporary artists employ to address the topic of reproductive freedom, including historical explorations, autobiographical reflections, storytelling, and activism. Leading with empathy and fact, and challenging (often deeply rooted) misinformation, the exhibition and its related programming seek to destigmatize and humanize reproductive care through the lens of Southern states where these rights are being stripped away most severely.
Examine artistic strategies used to address reproductive freedom;
Center an inclusive group of artists and artworks with a connection to states stripping away reproductive rights;
Raise awareness, build community through education, and promote healing around the topic of reproductive freedom in an accessible and open way;
Raise funds to support mutual aid organizations so they can continue doing this important work.
Project Goals
Dallas Program Schedule
OCTOBER 5 | 5-8pm | Opening Party & Voter Registration | Performance by Thank God for Abortion at 6pm | Lagoon Studio
OCTOBER 6 | 2pm | Reading by Aliza Shvarts & Encore Performance by Thank God for Abortion | Lagoon Studio
OCTOBER 7 | 5:30pm | Artist talk with Viva Ruiz & Aliza Shvarts | Texas Christian University, School of Art, Moudy North, 132
OCTOBER 12 | 2pm | Documentary film screening hosted by Spacy | First Unitarian Church of Dallas
OCTOBER 18 | 6pm | Sound Bath experience hosted by Sanctum Med + Wellness | Lagoon Studio
OCTOBER 23 | 6pm | Artist talk with Yvette Molina & Ann Lewis | Southern Methodist University, Owen Fine Arts Center, Room 3515
OCTOBER 25-26 | Autumn Breon’s Care Machine on site | Lagoon Studio
OCTOBER 26 | 1-5pm | Repro Rights + GOTV Art-Making Workshop led by Yvette Molina & Ann Lewis hosted by ACLU TX & Planned Parenthood Advocates of Texas | Lagoon Studio (final day of exhibition in Dallas)
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