This summer, as the Supreme Court decimated abortion rights, a group of Middlebury students completed a Public Feminism Fellowship that focused on crisis pregnancy centers—anti-abortion organizations that disguise themselves as abortion clinics to persuade people out of getting abortions. There are approximately 2600 crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) in the U.S. but fewer than 700 abortion clinics. There are also more CPCs in VT than abortion clinics. CPCs use many deceptive strategies to reach their political goals: they set up near abortion clinics or in buildings that were previously abortion clinics, they increasingly provide ultrasounds without making clear that those who are doing so often are not medical professionals and that the procedure is meant to be "non-diagnostic," and they circulate medical misinformation. Scholars have found that more than 80% of CPC websites contain false or misleading information. CPCs often claim, for instance, that abortion is linked to breast cancer, infertility, suicide, and depression. It is not. In fact, 95% of people who have abortions feel that it was the best decision for themselves.

Throughout the summer, Middlebury College's Public Feminism Fellows mourned the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. But they also found creative ways to resist anti-abortion sentiment through focusing on crisis pregnancy centers. This art exhibit is the culmination of their work. It includes more than thirty pieces of original student-made art. At the exhibit opening, student fellows will briefly discuss their art.

Immediately following the opening reception, Dr. Virginia Thomas will give a talk, "The World-Building Power of Queer Feminist Aesthetics," on the role of aesthetics in bringing about reproductively just practices. Virginia Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Women's and Gender Studies and Art History at Providence College. Please join us for the unveiling of the exhibit and for a discussion of how art can be used for feminist social justice purposes! A free lunch catered will be available.

Student Artists: Elissa Asch, Luci Bryson, M. Farley, Isabel Perez, Emily Ribeiro, Alexis Welch, Kamari Williams
Exhibit Co-Curator: Colin Boyd
Fellowship Director and Exhibit Co-Curator: Dr. Carly Thomsen

Event Info

Dec 28, 2024, 9 to 10:15 AM

Dec 31, 2024, 8:30 PM to 12 AM, Jan 1, 2025

Jan 3, 2025, 6 to 7:30 PM